With their return to the Premier League, Southampton appears to have a busy summer ahead of them.
Even though July has only just begun, Southampton and Russell Martin have had a busy transfer window thus far, as the South Coast team has welcomed seven new players in less than a month.
After successful loan stints the previous season, Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Flynn Downes have both joined the team permanently. Adam Lallana has also returned to St. Mary’s on a free transfer after a ten-year absence.
With the addition of defenders Charlie Taylor, Ronnie Edwards, Nathan Wood, and Yukinari Sugawara, their total spending has risen to slightly over £50 million.
The Saints still have a lot of work ahead of them if they want to be in the Premier League this time next year, though, as teams like Leicester and fellow newly promoted Ipswich are also active in the transfer market. In addition, they lost a vital player in Che Adams when his contract expired.
As the season draws closer, it is said that adding an attacking midfielder and striker will be the top priorities; however, there are still many other areas that many believe need work.
Before the transfer window closes, Southampton may be interested in signing these five players.
Aaron Ramsdale
While Southampton won the Play-off Final, he was in the stands dressed as Harry Potter’s Hagrid. It’s safe to say that Saints supporters would love to see him wearing their team’s uniform the following season, even though it might require some magic.
After proving to be surplus to requirements at title-chasing Arsenal the previous season, the 26-year-old Englishman was signed by the North London club on a permanent basis, with David Raya, a loanee, being his first choice.
Ramsdale’s future is now uncertain, but Southampton might be the perfect place for him to do so given that the goalie has made it known that he wants to play football for the first team once more.
Gavin Bazunu’s Achilles tendon rupture will keep him out of action until 2025, so Southampton’s starting goalie for the time being will likely be 34-year-old Alex McCarthy, with Joe Lumley serving as backup.
Securing the services of a quality goalkeeper, however, could only guarantee survival in the Premier League, where his skills could mean the difference between safety and relegation.
While many Saints supporters believe Ramsdale is capable of playing at a higher level, a loan move might be the best solution to meet everyone’s needs.
Matt O’Riley (Celtic)
It’s safe to say that O’Riley is a hot prospect because Southampton, Brighton, and Leicester are all vying for his signature. Like most attractive prospects, though, they are not inexpensive.
Over the past few seasons, the 23-year-old Danish midfielder has lit up the Scottish Premiership, scoring 18 goals and dishing out 13 assists in the most recent campaign alone. He is a goal threat that Saints supporters could only imagine.
These kinds of impressive figures allow Celtic to demand a premium price; there are rumors that the Glasgow club may be willing to sell for as much as £30 million.
Although this might be over budget for Southampton on paper, it would undoubtedly send a message to the rest of the division about how serious
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Beşiktaş)
Armando Broja (Chelsea)
Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (Crystal Palace)
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