One thing for certain about next season's return to the Premier League is that we will need to spend and more to the point we will need to spend well, but what are the key positions that we need to fill.
These days it is just not possible to make the jump from the Championship to the premier League and stick with the squad that got you up.
In most cases clubs who get promoted have the foundations but are far from the real deal, so where do Saints stand and what areas do they need to improve.
In early June and with several loan signings from last year mooted for a permanent move, it is difficult to predict just where we need to strengthen, so for the purpose of this article I am going to assume that Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Fraser Richardson & Flynn Downes all return to St Mary's on a permanent basis and that everyone else stays, if they don't then we would need to consider who would replace them.
The first position is goalkeeper, Gavin Bazunu is unlikely to play much before the end of next season, Alex McCarthy did well at the end of the season, but ultimately in his time hear he has shown that he is not the answer as a number one and Joe Lumley has never played in the top flight.
So we need to bring in someone to take over the Number one spot, I would think that we will be looking at who is on the benches at other Premier League clubs and looking at loan signings, there are several candidates, but Russell Martin will want a keeper who can play with his feet.
One thing is for sure it needs to be someone with experience at the highest level.
Alex McCarthy & Joe Lumley are back ups and nothing else, Alex McCarthy staying as number two would not be a bad option, but with Liverpool being linked with him, if you were McCarthy whose bench would you want to sit on next season.
Next is the defence, we need another central defender, someone who can organise and be a leader, someone like Conor Coady could fit the bill, we do not necessarily need a 38 game a season started, just someone who can come in and offer something we don't currently have.
We also need a left back, there is no one at the club who is at the moment truly Premier League quality, Romain Perraud had a very mixed time in his two Premier League seasons, Jack Stephens is not a left back, Ryan Manning is not Premier League quality, Juan Larios could well be, but he is still an unknown quality, we need to cover the position and then see if he develops.
In the midfield we also need a leader, we have a plethora of options, but with Stuart Armstrong gone, none with much Premier League experience, James Ward Prowse returning would be a great option, but if it is him or someone else we need another experienced leader in the side.
We have a vacancy for a wide player, we do have options, so I don't see this as a major issue, but we are still a man short both in terms of quality and numbers.
Lastly we need a central striker, Che Adams looks likely to leave, he may stay, but truthfully he has never really shown that he can get into double figures in the four years he played in the Premier League, yes I would be pleased if he stayed, but up front you need someone who can get 10 goals a season and he isn't that man.
These are the six key signings that we need to make and that is assuming that no one leaves, if a key players goes we will need to reassess
The one key issue for me though is that we need a leader, we need someone who is respected and can lead and organise, that used to be the case over the years, we always had that man, Alan Ball, Jimmy Case in the centre and then the likes of Claus Lundekvam & Jose Fonte at the back, this man is not Captain Jack Stephens, a great club servant, no one disagrees with that, but he is not the man, nor for that matter is anyone else currently at the club.
There are many players being linked at present, but how concrete the rumours are I am not sure and the truth is little will happen until July.
But every signing does not need to be a candidate for player of the season, Adam Lallana looks likely to be returning, he is not returning as the Adam Lallana that left 10 years ago, he is returning as an experienced leader, if his wages are £30 k a week, that is still only £1.5 million a year, given there is no transfer fee, this is a small price, a drop in the ocean for a Premier league club and a bargain for the experience he will bring in.
So it is going to be a busy period for Southampton FC, we need to stay calm and see what happens and hopefully see the right signings made.
Remember though, there will be little or no business done before July 1st when players get their loyalty bonus, so there is no need to panic, after July 1st we have 6 weeks to get our business done before the start of the season, but as we all know, the big deals get done in the final week of the window..