New Southampton signing Livramento makes instant impact in friendly

Southampton confirmed the signing of hot prospect Tino Livramento from Chelsea last Monday for what looked a bargain fee at £5m.

There is said to be a 20% sell-on clause and a big buy-back clause inserted in his Saints deal for Chelsea to take advantage of in the future and the 18-year-old could really blossom at St Mary’s.

Livramento was introduced for his first piece of Saints action in the second-half of the final pre-season friendly against Athletic Bilbao and he made an instant impact.

Having come on as a half-time sub with Theo Walcott, he won the ball in a central position and lobbed a perfect ball over the visiting defence for Walcott to control and finish smartly.

More signings needed to boost Southampton and their fans, but it is not all bad…

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Saints fans were shocked when it was announced that Danny Ings had signed for Aston Villa last Wednesday. This deal had overshadowed what had the potential to be a very good summer window for the club.

Tino Livramento was signed on the Monday and it really is a coup for Saints to snap up someone of his quality. The arrivals of Romain Perraud, Theo Walcott and Dynel Simeu beforehand saw quality, experience and youth added.

Now more players must be signed before the transfer window shuts at the end of August. More depth and quality will help Ralph Hasenhuttl and his squad this season, and supporters need to feel that their team is capable of having a solid Premier League campaign without any worries.

It is important to emphasise that everything is not all bad though.

Players like Livramento and many others in the current squad are talented and provide a very solid basis for signings to add to.

There would clearly be worrying signs if no other players arrive, but that will not be the case. It is now up to the club to complete the business they want to do and prepare in the very best way for the upcoming season.