The football media on the continent is reporting that Saints are making a last minute bid for Utrecht Striker Sebastien Haller.

Saints have been linked with Haller over the summer and now it seems that Saints are about to make their bid with several media outlets in Holland claiming that Haller's agent has confirmed that he has been speaking with Southampton and that he expects them to make their move imminently.

That suggests that the player and his agent have already agreed that he wants to move to St Mary's in principal now it is down to the clubs to sort out.

Personally I do not think we are as short on striking options as some would have you believe, with Charlie Austin, Shane Long & Jay Rodriguez all out and out strikers and Nathan Redmond and new signing Sofiane Boufal able to play up front, we have an abundance of firepower up front.

Austin and Rodriguez have had 15 goal plus hauls in the Premier League, Long has hit 11 and both Redmond and Tadic got 7 last term, that is a strike force many clubs would kill for, if that cannot score you goals then the issue is more about the style of play than the quality of players.

The problem is playing to the strengths of our strikers and creating the right chances for them.

If this window closes witout us signing a defender of note then I would say that will be a big mistake.

Photo: Action Images

the_saint added 19:15 - Aug 30 Sorry you are wrong we do need another striker a target man like pelle A very long season Austin and j rod injury prone and redmonds not a striker and also no hieght in the box for crosses but I do agree need centre back cover
5

AmericanSaint added 19:16 - Aug 30 I think another defender would be a wise move as we are now one serious injury away from a less than ideal back-line. I would say get Haller if we can as it may take him a year to adapt. Plus, if JRod or Austin get hurt, then we would need to go out during the winter transfer season and pay through the nose to get another striker. 24 hours or so of madness left before we can settle down. Plus, I see that MU want to try and clip Fonte from us at the end. We need to hold firm on keeping him.

3

corkcitysaint added 19:37 - Aug 30 I think we do need height in attack. It gives the opposition something else to think about and us a plan B. What is worrying is though is that we seem to be ignoring our defensive frailties. We do need back up as it is a longer season now with European matches. Also, we have failed to keep a clean sheet in what, 14 consecutive matches now?
8

ItchenNorth added 19:57 - Aug 30 Haller will be just the ticket for our system. Tall, fairly pacey, can score, good in the air. Go get him Les.
6

vanmans added 20:07 - Aug 30 Nick how many goals have we scored. you are wrong we need more height in attack. We need a tall striker plus we also need a good CH. We need at least 2 more new players just to stay in the Prem.
4

SaintPaulVW added 20:29 - Aug 30 Agree with a lot of the above. I'd like Haller to happen. I can see a loaner like Caulker turning up for defensive cover.
3

SaintNick added 20:47 - Aug 30 Van Mans, you are right how many have we scored, but one of the reasons for that is we are not creating chances, as I said we have three strikers that have scored around 45 goals in a season between them, that is serious firepower, we are not getting the chances made for them
0

DPeps added 20:59 - Aug 30 I agree Nick, but it's a chicken and egg situation. If you don't have different options up front then you're not going to create many decent chances. We've been a bit predictable so far so another, different type of striker would make the opposition think a bit more. The reason Pelle was so good was because there was always an out ball to him, and he was equally good when the ball was into his feet or on his beautiful brylcreamed bonse

3

SanMarco added 21:29 - Aug 30 Hopefully not exactly like Caulker SaintPaulVW...I agree with you that that may well happen - although the fear is that the versatile Yoshi will be seen as an option for CB and RB. Don't understand why Haller, if it is going to happen (and I hope it does), has got to be so last minute. And on the point about creating chances - if we are not creating as many then we need better forwards (ie goals to chances ratio).

4

RogerToye added 22:01 - Aug 30 we need goals fire power can miss boufal is a tadic and mane combined hopefully he can get there goals from the midfiled also Jay Rod CA will find it hardest because of the Diamond S long will give us the same as last year or there about' when we break I think we need cover for Fonte he will collect red's this season, Yoshida as improved season on season and is cover but of course Florin hasn't even figured... however Haller ???? if he gives us Pelle's goals and more then great but look how long it takes for Eredivise to adapt to the Premiership..

2

Ali_Diarea added 23:49 - Aug 30 Sounds like we tapped him up...we're such a bunch of hypocrites!!!
0

Blogs 31 bloggers

Southampton Polls