Saints Marching
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Southampton’s defensive depth analysed with imminent signing added

By Marc Walker

Brest's French defender Romain Perraud (R) vies for the ball with Saint-Etienne's French defender Wosley Fofana (L) during the French L1 football match between Brest and Saint-Etienne, at the Francis Le Ble stadium in Brest, western France, on February 16, 2020. (Photo by Fred TANNEAU / AFP) (Photo by FRED TANNEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
Brest's French defender Romain Perraud (R) vies for the ball with Saint-Etienne's French defender Wosley Fofana (L) during the French L1 football match between Brest and Saint-Etienne, at the Francis Le Ble stadium in Brest, western France, on February 16, 2020. (Photo by Fred TANNEAU / AFP) (Photo by FRED TANNEAU/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Southampton are set to confirm the signing of left-back Romain Perraud after agreeing terms with his club Stade Brest and the player himself.

This according to a detailed report from the Athletic’s Dan Sheldon, who also states that the deal should be complete in early July. Hampshire Live’s Tom Leach also provided fresh information on the deal on Sunday.

More signings can be expected this summer with very little depth in places for Ralph Hasenhuttl to work with, but things will be off to a good start with Perraud and Theo Walcott through the door.

With Perraud arriving though, how do things currently look defensively at St Mary’s?

Brest’s French defender Romain Perraud (L) (Photo by FRED TANNEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
Brest’s French defender Romain Perraud (L) (Photo by FRED TANNEAU/AFP via Getty Images) /

More signings are needed to give Southampton’s defence all-round strength

Centre-backs

Jannik Vestergaard, Mohammed Salisu, Jan Bednarek, Jack Stephens

Full-backs

Kyle Walker-Peters (RB), Romain Perraud (LB), Jake Vokins (LB), Yan Valery (RB)

First-choice backline?

LB: Romain Perraud LCB: Jannik Vestergaard RCB: Jan Bednarek RB: Kyle Walker-Peters

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There have been some reports stating that Jake Vokins and Yan Valery could potentially be leaving Saints this summer. Dan Sheldon’s report claims that Vokins is likely to leave on-loan, whilst Valery’s fall to beyond the fringes of the first-team means that he might need to find a new home.

For that reason, at least one more full-back is needed this summer. Saints have been linked to four players who can play on both sides of the defence and it remains to be seen whether a move will be made towards a favoured target.

Having just one player as backup for two roles in the squad could give more motivation to the chosen candidate or could leave Saints short again when it comes to dealing with injuries in the future.

What could become very clear by the end of the transfer window is the level of healthy competition. Mohammed Salisu and Jack Stephens will be pushing hard to get a start ahead of Jannik Vestergaard and Jan Bednarek, and both showed they are both equally as capable last season.

Four solid individuals at centre-back also gives the opportunity to play with a back three/five and push the naturally attacking Walker-Peters and Perraud forward.

If Saints can replicate this high level of competition and, of course, quality throughout their group then they have a good chance to make 2021/22 an enjoyable campaign.

Next. Saints defenders pictured hard at work in summer training. dark