With the Premier League season now only a little over three weeks away, where do Saints need to beef up their options ?

So far this summer has seen three major departures in Victor Wanyama, Graziano Pelle & Sadio Mane, four if you include Juanmi, but only two major incoming signings in Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Nathan Redmond, from a purely numbers point of view that would suggest the squad is weaker than last season, but that would not be the full picture.

So far Saints have brought in somewhere in between £60-70 Million in transfer fees this summer if you include the compensation we received for Ronald Koeman and of that sum we have spent around £23 million on Redmond and Hojbjerg, suggesting that the club has around another £35 million minimum to spend before the season begins.

It is obviously not as simple as that though and it should also be remembered that the club has spent a lot of money in tieing up its top stars to long term deals and that has not come cheap.

Some fans forget that there is more to the financial side of the squad to just transfer fees and to keep the likes of Bertrand and Forster etc we have had to pay top dollar, that means that the money to pay their wages has to come from somewhere and the income from the Premier League alone will not cover everything.

That is why the club have been cautious over the past two years and although they have re invested all transfer income received in buying replacements, in the main they have not spent the Premier League income on anything that the average fan would be able to pinpoint, the reality is that most of that sum is needed for not only running the club but paying bonus's, signing on fees for new contracts, not to mention wages.

So Saints fans should not expect to see much over money generated from player sales spent on new signings, this is reality, Katharina Liebherr wants the club to be self sufficient, as he Father also did.

That is the right way to do things !

Having said all this, the squad does need some improvement, the question is just where should Saints spend the £35 million or so that they still have in the bank.

In the goalkeeping department we need to consider an experienced back up to Fraser Forster, I would like to see Paulo Gazzaniga go on loan to a Championship club to get experience and confidence, that means getting in a back up, before Ronald Koeman left that was going to be Stekelenburg, now he has joined Koeman at Everton we will have to look again.

I would hope to see a good experienced keeper come in on either a free transfer or cheaply, I think this will happen.

In defence we need a new central defender and perhaps one with the ability to play as a full back, to be blunt Martina and Yoshida are not up to the job and I am still not sure about Florin Gardos, I would like to see a major signing come in here, perhaps £10 million or so spent on a good quality addition who can put pressure on Fonte and VVD as well as cover them in the event of injury and suspension, we got lucky with both of them in this department last season, we might not be so fortunate this coming one. Also Jose Fonte cannot go on for ever and we need to start to look at options for the future.

The midfield seems to have plenty of options at present, in the centre it has Hojbjerg, Clasie & Romeu all able to play a central holding roll, that is three players for two, possibly one position judging by the fist friendly, we are strong here even after Wanyama's departure, the only question is that we haven't got anyone with the power of the Kenyan and we could perhaps bring in a similar sort of player, if we did I would expect Clasie to leave.

In the other midfield positions we are well served, Davis, Ward Prowse, Tadic, Rodriguez and Redmond will all be competing for a variety of roles, so I am not sure why we are being linked with more midfielders of a wide nature. Indeed we also have the option to move Bertrand forward with Targett in the left back spot, this worked well last season, but then Koeman stopped using this tactic.

Up front we could probably do with a major signing, Austin is a direct replacement for Pelle and it could be said that he was signed in advance of the Italian leaving, but Austin's injury record is poor and he cannot be relied on for a full season, obviously we have still got Shane Long and Jay Rodriguez is able to play as an out and out striker, but we could still do with more options.

Firstly we need a bit of pace up front, I would like to see a striker come in who contrasts with a traditional number nine as Pelle was, a nippy inside forward as we used to call them, Juanmi was this type of player but was not strong enough, perhaps Redmond will be used in this role, but I do think we need someone experienced in the job. Sadio Berahino has been linked.

Likewise with Austin's injury record we do need to consider a direct replacement for Pelle, several names have been linked including Das Bost and latest rumour Sebastien Haller.

So I think that we need to consider four distinct signings, a central defender, a physical midfielder a pacy striker and a target man.

Not all of them need to be major signings with big fees, I think we could perhaps look at three of the four being of that ilk and then a fourth a younger player with potential rather than experience.

If we make these four signings then I think we will have again improved the squad, although I would say that if we do bring in another central midfielder then I fully expect Jordy Clasie to leave, probably joining his mentor at Everton.

Modern football is all about evolution and that is what Saints have done over the past two summers, it is about continually improving, sadly we do not have the money of the top six clubs, we cannot fund that each summer from the coffers and hope that it works, we have to employ a strategy and that does mean generating income from other sources.

Going forward more of that income is being generated from commercial areas, the deal with Virgin Media and Under Armour should not be under estimated and it will continue to increase, but the reality is that it will still be dwarfed by the commercial income that at least six other clubs can generate.

We are taking on the top six on our own terms, terms that we can win on.

Photo: Action Images

SanMarco added 11:36 - Jul 20 "So I think that we need to consider four distinct signings, a central defender, a physical midfielder a pacy striker and a target man." - Yes that sums it up + back-up keeper. My main worry is this mood music about Austin directly replacing Pelle and Redmond providing Mane's pace. I hope it is a smokescreen behind which a target man and a speed merchant are being sought.

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BaselSaint added 11:41 - Jul 20 Les and the Club are surely aware we are light on the Striker front. A Central defender too. I think there will be more activity in the next fortnight.
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Jesus_02 added 12:04 - Jul 20 Perfect signing for me would be Chambers or someone similar. Chambers is more than capable at RB but his future is at CB A 20 goal a season striker would be fantastic but If one exists i cant see us committing to one, we simply do not take the kind of gamble required in terms of wages and fee. I think we will have to make do with Jay Rod and Austin, I would like us to get a youngster in case of injury here but i think we may end up with Bas Dost or someone similar Apart from a reserve GK I think we don't have any particular weakness so we will just get someone in that is better than we have got anywhere, I dont think that anyone's position is safe including Targets

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surreysaint added 12:16 - Jul 20 Yeah i agree with some of that, although we can't rule out other departures, it seems! GK - Forster, Gazza RB - Cedric, Cuco LB - Bertrand, Targett CB - VVD, Fonte, Yoshida, Gardos (Stephens, Turnbull) CM - Romeu, Hojbjerg, Clasie, Davis, JWP, Reed (Hesketh) WM - Tadic, Redmond (Isgrove, McQueen?) ST - Long, J-Rod, Austin (Gallagher, Seager, Olomola) I think we could definitely do with: a Keeper - no one else even with a league game under their belt is a big worry; a centre half unless Stephens or Turnbull have moved up the pecking order after their (successful, by all accounts) loan spells for the last couple of seasons; a physical central midfielder with a bit of 'nasty' about them; a Winger 'cos Redmond is a kid and Tadic is a bit patchy, form-wise. Not sure we need a Striker in terms of numbers, but maybe in terms of quality. I would like to see Gallagher get a bit of game time this season so if we sign someone else we should probably let someone go. Same goes with Reed in central positions. We need to make sure these kids still see a path to the first team, or they'll stop coming!

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SonicBoom added 12:49 - Jul 20 Clasie is an odd one. Like everyone else I was pleased with his signing and whilst he did sustain a serious injury early on, that cannot explain the lack of impact he made in his first season. Don't get me wrong, he wasnt "bad" he just just wasn't "good". He went through games doing a reasonable job but I had hoped for shots on target and penetrating passes. so far that's not happened.

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BUCK added 13:01 - Jul 20 If, and it's a big if, Charlie Austin stays fit through the season, I fully anticipate him to be hitting 15 or 20 goals this season.redmond should chip in with around 8 goals,long a further 10. Jay rod half a dozen. Defenders with a further half a dozen. Tadic with half a dozen. I think we'll be fine. We need a central defender desperately. And a back up goalkeeper. Oriol romeu will replace wanyama with ease. Hes strong and loves a good hard tackle.i think this season, we need to get off to a flyer this season to show life goes on after koeman

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larry12 added 13:03 - Jul 20 Where are the goals going to come from? That attacking midfield is laughable. 5 goals between them. 3 attacking mid fielders who are not complete crap at goalscoring would be nice and a new Director of Football, of course. Saints were 28/1, 2 weeks ago, now 18/1. Bookies aren't stupid.
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saint22 added 13:13 - Jul 20 Its the same as we always need! decent back up GK another quality CB striker
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ChristchurchSaint added 13:16 - Jul 20 Larry12- are you referring to odds for relegation? On one site, we are 25/1, same as WH, and better than Everton at 22/1. The only clubs better than us are the usual top 6 i.e MU,MC, Liverpool, Arsenal, Spuds and Chelsea, all 500/1
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SaintNick added 13:28 - Jul 20 Interesting about the 20 goal a season striker comment, only 3 players managed that in the Premier league last season, Kane, Vardy & Aguero, in fact only 8 players got 15 or over
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BoondockSaint added 13:49 - Jul 20 Nick the 20 goal number is because Pelle and Mane scored a total of 23. I'm still waiting for the name of the player that can easily replace Mane and we can "build a team around"
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Sanguin added 13:49 - Jul 20 I think everyone’s forgetting some of the youth talent we have at the club and the supposed new commitment to bringing players through. There are a few good young strikers, and Harrison Reed in midfield. We may even see some of the young central defenders and goalkeepers being given a shot. I’d be interested in reading a piece that highlights what youngsters we do have available for these areas we need to strengthen, what first team exposure they’ve had and where they’ve been on loan.

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SanMarco added 16:47 - Jul 20 Isn't it about what we are aiming for? I think that we look solid for mid-table or slightly under but we've sold three of the players who gave us a 'top six' look. I remember us 2 down at half-time to Liverpool - we looked like a bottom-half side. The three that turned it round and made us look top 6 in the last half an hour were Mane, Pelle and Wanyama - obviously just one game but when the extra something was needed those were the three...

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Saidou added 17:55 - Jul 20 We should go for Stefano Okaka from Anderlecht as a new target man. much faster than Pelle and can improve a lot with us as most of our signings usually do. That was just a throw in..... Here is whats in my mind at the moment: I would be happy if we have 2 to 3 quality (not big money) additions, but I'll be equally happy if we do not bring in new players, do not let anyone else leave( No loaning out as well) and keep all players very fit. I mean extremely fit. Fitness levels will be the key. Look at what MP did with us a few years ago. We were the fittest team in the league during his full season with us. That meant he could bring in any young player and know that they would deliver. pressing high up the field and out running opponents. He tried to the same in his first year with Spurs it didn't work well because he didn't have the "right" players, but perfected it last season. Many fans would like to see more high profile signings. Granted that is done. The same fans would complain about the lack of playing time for our academy at the end of the season. huh?! This time last year MP was busy looking for a central midfielder, and the transfer market closed without him finding one. He switched to Eric Dier who would become the perfect fit. This should remind us that sometimes (in fact most of the time), the answers to our queries are closer to us than we think. Judging by how our pre season is going, Puel is getting the Players' fitness levels up and it looks like he loves to press opponents high up. He also encourages quick passing as well. We need to stop looking at what other teams are doing in the transfer market and start worrying. Remember, We are Southampton,...We have our own way of doing things. We have a very good manager with well groomed players to work with. If He can get the players fitter than they were last season, we will another positive season.

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DPeps added 18:54 - Jul 20 Most crucial thing we need is a striker. Jay and Austin are too risky to bank on, and although I like Long for his effort, he has never scored more than 10 league goals in the PL. I'd love Jay to get back to his old form but he's suffered a massive ACL injury. His foot injury last season was probably a result of his body having to adapt to a new running and playing style following the ACL, so even if he does get back to near his old self there might be other knock-on injuries in the pipeline. Austin hasn't suffered a massive injury but seems to have problems with his physical frame, much like Andy Carroll, which leads to him picking up lots of small injuries. I'm sure our sports science team is excellent but there are some things that can't be fixed, only managed. Having said all this, i agree that we should be developing youth players so maybe a loan signing up front is best. Worth considering anyway, as that would give us more time to assess Jay and Austin. On the youth player updates issue - I saw a bit of Jason McCarthy playing on loan for Wycombe Wanderers last season. Decent RB: good in the air, likes going forward, didn't get caught out of position often.

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Bettwsresident added 19:19 - Jul 20 Agree we should look to the academy this year. They were frozen out by Roko. If it is going wrong we will always have £35m in the bank for Jan. I can't see us in danger of relegation. Our defense is too good for that. time to go back to the 2014 slogan that was emblazoned on St Marys.... "we don't buy them we breed them"
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ExiledSupporter added 21:48 - Jul 21 Ok Nick I agree with the first half or so of your post; but puzzled that you have only now accepted that Saints are a selling club having been in denial for quite some time...you make the case very well, although you don't actually say that we have to sell to buy (because we are not prepared to spend any of the TV cash on transfer fees) unless in extreme circumstances. The consequence is that there is no chance of being a top four club ( a realisation that perhaps contributed to RK's decision to leave since we had no real ambition to go further and we have proved it again by not doing enough to retain Mane and perhaps Wanyama too. Now we can all settle down to mid table mediocrity as per usual after havinbg been deluded for the last 2 or 3 seasons. By the way we really need a top class No.10 (and have done for years) a player to make chances for others and score 8 to 10 goals per season - where will we find our Payet, Mahres or Wijnaldum or will that be JWP again...

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