Football Season Guide

Southampton

In


Dusan Tadic (mid)(FC Twente), Graziano Pelle(att) (Feyenoord), Ryan Bertrand (def)(Chelsea - Loan)

Out


Tom Leggett (def)(Aston Villa), Isaac Nehemie (mid)(Aston Villa), Guly do Prado (mid)(Released), Rickie Lambert (att)(Liverpool), Luke Shaw (def)(Manchester United), Adam Lallana (mid)(Liverpool), Dejan Lovren (def)(Liverpool), Calum Chambers (def)(Arsenal)

Last season was a major success for Southampton. The Saints finished a very impressive eighth in the table and had that position secure with a couple of League games remaining. It was manager Mauro Pochettino's first full season in charge and he made a huge impact. It came as no surprise that he was subsequently linked with a number of bigger jobs, and a few weeks after the season had ended he opted to quit the club and join Tottenham Hotspur. Southampton appointed Ronald Koeman to the top job in the middle of June. The club have been victims of their own success to a degree. Along with Pochettino, a number of first team regulars have been sold. Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Dejan Lovren have all joined Liverpool, while full back Calum Chambers and Luke Shaw have also departed for top dollar. The club seem willingly to let further top players leave also, so it remains to be seen just how many of last season's team will remain once the new season kicks off. Koeman has not as yet replaced these players and the Dutchman has admitted that the squad is lacking in quality and depth.

Target


Koeman has a very tough looking task on his hands. He needs to quickly get some players in, preferably with experience of the Premier League. The mood around the club seems to already be one of disappointment as a result of all the departures. . As things stand it is hard to see Southampton match last seasons position. The club are at a crucial juncture it seems.