With Premier League football assured and Ralph Hasenhuttl stating that the rebuilding begins, we take a look at who should stay and who should go.

Ralph Hasenhuttl needs to clear the squad in order to make room for some new signings, the general consensus is that we need at least one quality central defender along side an attacking player.

The squad needs to be thinned not just to provide a transfer kitty but also to trim the wage bill.

Saints already have around £11 million in the transfer kitty after the sale of Manolo Gabbiadini back in January and he will need to generate funds from the sale of players both experienced and not so experienced, here we take a look at who is likely to go and who is likely to stay and the likely money it could raise.

1 Alex McCarthy (G)
I think that McCarthy could well be sold, if only due to the fact that Fraser Forster is on big wages so can't be shifted, that being the case, i think Saints will try to move on McCarthy if they do so then they could expect around £8 million.

28 Angus Gunn (G)
I think he is now established as number 1, so going nowhere.

44 Fraser Forster (G)
As said a little earlier, his wages are a stumbling block so I think he will stay and make a decent back up to Gunn albeit an expensive one.

3 Maya Yoshida (D)
Difficult one, if Saints sign another central defender, then they will be top heavy in this department, with Yoshida turning 31 he is not a long term prospect nor is he likely to raise a big fee, I would expect him to stay but be used mainly as cover.

4 Jannik Vestergaard (D)
Big signing last summer, dodgy start but improved under Hasenhuttl and could be useful alongside a quality defensive partner so stay.

5 Jack Stephens (D)
Im not jumping on the recent Stephens backlash bandwagon here, I have never been truly impressed with him and he lacks the quality needed at this level, at 25 he is as good as he ever will be, only problem is that he has three years left on a decent contract he is unlikely to get anywhere else, unless we can get someone like Sheffield United to take a punt on him it is unlikely that any other Premier League club would be interested, I expect him to be on loan next season.

21 Ryan Bertrand (D)
Matt Targett Is coming through, he has two years left on his contract, we could see him leave and rake in £10 million or thereabouts, but I think he will stay.

33 Matt Targett (D)
Goo prospect although hasn't played much of late, he will be here next season.

35 Jan Bednarek (D)
Showing why we bought him stay

43 Yan Valery (D)
One of the highlights of the season has been his breakthrough Stay

66 Kayne Ramsay (D)
Reasonable prospect so stay.

11 Mohammed Elyounoussi (M)
Again one whose wages could be a problem in shifting him, a difficult one to call, he has the talent, but it hasnt worked out for him here, again if he will take a pay cut could raise £10m, but more likely to be a loan move.

14 Oriol Romeu (M)
Consistent he will stay.

16 James Ward-Prowse (M)
Finally becoming the player he has threatened to be Stay.

17 Stuart Armstrong (M)
At times has been very good at others less so, he could find himself moved on due to the sheer number of midfielders we have so 50/50.

18 Mario Lemina (M)
Still got three years on his contract stay.

22 Nathan Redmond (M)
Likely player of the year stay.

23 Pierre Hojbjerg (M)
Other candidate for player of the year stay.

39 Joshua Sims (M)
Reasonable squad player stay.

1 Tyreke Johnson (M)
Good prospect stay

55 Callum Slattery (M)
I think next year he will play a lot more and could become the next to break through stay.

Shane Long (F)
Only a year left on his contract but Shane is very underated by some, has played a big part in getting us over the line in the last month or so. Stay.

9 Danny Ings (F)
He has played more times than you would think, his goals to game ratio is good and like Long he does a lot of work off the ball to create space for other, permanent deal and stay.

10 Charlie Austin (F)
Has been worth the fee we paid and contributed, but I think it is time for him to move on and us to get about £3 million.

15 Sam Gallagher (F)
I would have loved Sam to succeed, but when he has come on I don't think he has what it takes at this level i'm sad to say, there are reportably a number of Championship clubs keen to offer him a contract with £7 m being mentioned, with several in front of him already I think we should take it.

61 Michael Obafemi (F)
Looked a good prospect, but there is just something about him Im not sure about, we will find out next season. Stay

Wesley Hoedt
Hoedt is not as bad as some would have you say and had several decent games earlier in the season which his critics conveniently forget, I ask the question of whether you would have preferred Jack Stephens or Wesley Hoedt against Bournemouth, all those I ask somewhat reluctantly said Hoedt. He will go though and we will get around £10 million.

Cedric Soares
He will not be here next season only question is will the fee we get be a loan fee or a full transfer fee of around £8 million.

Harrison Reed
He has not made the breakthrough at St Mary's that 3 years ago some said he would, I expect him to be sold and pull in 2-3 Million

Jake Hesketh
Like Harry Reed he has not made the breakthrough and although he has done well on loan, scoring in League One and Two is far from the Premier League, I think he will go and we will get a small fee of around £2 million.

Jordy Clasie
Probably another loan deal or possibly a permanent transfer of around £4 million if we are lucky.

Sofiane Boufal
Some would like to give him another chance but I think that with two years left on his contract and on a big wage we will be keen to try and do a deal, with a transfer fee of around £7 million well short of his true value but allowing us to pay off his wages.

Guido Carrillo
Funnily enough he might suit Hasenhuttl, I think that he may return to the club and be given a chance to show what he has, like many his wages will be an issue in selling him, so depending on who we bring in could be here as back up or loaned out again.

Thats my brief assessment of the squad, so what do you think, one thing for certain is that the squad does need a clear out and it will be done by Ralph Hasenhuttl who will do so based on what he he seen over the last six months and will not be based on historical bias.

We have to look at who has contributed and who hasn't.

So give your opinions below.

Photo: Action Images

Consigliere added 20:01 - Apr 29 I agree with almost everything in this article with the exception of the reference to Boufal. As I've said before if we can get someone to take him off our hands then all well and good but otherwise render him down for spare parts and tallow. I've never seen the point of this lazy prima donna and I doubt even Ralph will get anything worthwhile out of him.
-3

Saint_Chunk added 23:02 - Apr 29 Great analysis as ever. What I will say is JWP is a Southampton buy become a man. He's a keeper. Maybe a one man club legend or am I just getting too old.
-3

SaintBrock added 18:05 - Apr 30 At least Nick you have avoided the nonsensical musings of many others that reckon on 9 players out and 4 in. Quite a good analysis and as you say we ought to let Hutch assess all of our players, incumbents in house and loanees at other clubs before final decisions are made as to who should go. For sure a shed load of ex-Academy fringe players who have no future here should be moved out but the "expensive misfits" who "failed" under Puel & Pellegrino deserve a chance to work with Hutch if they have the mind to do so. Trouble is they've been away and maybe from outside looking in they may not fancy coming back here at all especially perhaps having to face yet more abuse from so-called fans on social media.

1

Blogs 31 bloggers

Cheltenham Town Polls