Saints were being linked with several signings ahead of the play offs, but the reality was that although they could do some planning it all had to be done with two what if's, but now with promotion secured they know what path they can follow.

Already two ex Saints have been linked with a return to St Mary's, Danny Ings and Adam Lallana, Ings at the moment is probably not a lot more than agent talk, but from the comments made by Adam Lallana, his return has some substance.

Our online poll at time of writing has around 54% in favour of his return, plus another 10 % saying that they were open to the idea, 26% thought that he was past it now with another 10% saying that they would not accept him back as he burned his bridges in 2014.

So it seems that around 64% are not against the idea.

The problem that Saints fans will have is getting their heads around the idea that not every signing needs to be a nailed on started for 38 games a season.

In the case of Lallana it is about getting him in as a player coach, using his experience to help on what is still a vey young squad and one with little real Premier League experience, if Lallana does return on a free transfer, his contributions will be about experience and knowledge of the Premier League more than how much game time he gets.

At Brighton in the season just ended he was usually used as a sub, coming on at the end of a game to close it out or chase a late goal.

Many have cited Theo Walcott as an example as why we should not sign him, but Walcott was a player who had no ambitions for coaching after his career, Lallana does have.

So the key to our success next season will be about getting the right balance between youth and experience, one thing we have lacked this season is a leader in the playing squad, Lallana might not be a leader in the role of Jimmy Case, Alan Ball etc but he can bring something to the party.

Southampton supporters have moaned that Sport Republic have concentrated their efforts in the transfer window in buying young unproven players from Manchester City and Chelsea, they should be glad to read that they are now accepting that their strategy needs to be tweaked.

Of course Adam Lallana or Danny Ings will not be the saviours of the club alone, we need to identify those that will not be able to step up to the plate next season and may be more squad players and then make some shrewd signings, both youngsters and experienced Premier League players.

We also need to look within the club to see who can perhaps come up from both the ranks and even from those loaned out, Charley Alcaraz and Armando Bella Kotchap have the ability return to yet be great players for this club.

One thing to remember is that although we have only been back in the Premier League a matter of days, we are being linked with a lot of players, that doesn't mean that we are actually after them, it just means that the agents are getting to work.

It will be an interesting couple of months, let's not get too worked up until players actually sign !

Photo: Action Images

IanRC added 09:18 - May 29 Does anyone know if we have an option or even a gentlemen’s agreement to buy Flynn Downes. With H-B wrapped up clearly a priority to sort out. Really hope we don’t bring Ings back but could live with Lallana returning.
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HythePeer added 09:46 - May 29 It's less than 64% cos they didn't ask me!
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kenis added 10:09 - May 29 Back up to 64% as I didn’t vote either and I’d welcome him back! Ings not sure about, every club needs goals and he’d probably be good to have, but might take up too much budget given what he’d be looking for. Be good to have ABK, Charly (and even Tall Paul given his form) reintegrated and firing but if they think they are bigger than the club - or any non-top four club - we have to move on. They don’t bring the experience we need either. What happens with Sulemana? Wasn’t trusted and didn’t deliver in a dominant team, is it just youth inconsistency or “betterthanthis” syndrome or is he actually just not as good as we thought he was when we thought he could be another Mane…

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JoeEgg added 10:12 - May 29 I have never been a true fan of Russell Martin's preferred tippy tappy style of football, but he has earned the right to continue as manager, and perhaps, JUST perhaps, he has started to find a Plan B, for occasions such as the final Leeds match. Our transfer strategy has to provide the manager with the players effective at using his possession based tactics. In previous years the number of crazy mid season transfers and signings has failed to follow a carefully planned strategy, and RM must now be given the backing to bring in the type of player his chosen playing style demands. We must be aware that Sheffield Utd, Burnley and Luton were promoted only to be relegated the next season; I'm not convinced that the prospects for Leicester and Ipswich remaining for more than one season in the Premier League are much better! As things stand we should be aiming to put together a squad at the very least capable of reaching mid table next season - Bournemouth and Brighton are proof that this can be done. RM has to be ruthless and remove from the large existing squad the players that simply are either not good enough, or not suitable for his chosen style of play. We desperately need to find some proven goalscorers to play alongside Adam Armstrong who, although a great success story this year, is yet to prove he can be as effective in the Premier League .. We need to bring in an experienced Leader, possibly as a new Club Captain, to help organise our in-play changes in strategy. There is plenty more that could be included in any 'need to buy' list. This is the beginning of a new chapter in the history of our football club and although RM insists he will not change his favoured playing tactics, he is going to have to adapt his style of play when taking on sides in the Premiership. If not- we will join the long list of failing Clubs that returned the very next season to the Championship.

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DellBoyWally added 10:51 - May 29 We have a top grade keeper in Lis to come back - if he can now get a work permit. ABK has had an horrific time. Just doesn't look the part. Tall Paul is a big yes to me: if he wants to come back. Seems he and his family are settled in Turkey. Charly? Not been too successful at Juve but the incoming manager likes him and it is a big club. Adama, Stewart, Tall Paul and Ings? Not a bad strike force. Wee Man, Sulemana, Brooks (?) out wide. Downes (a big question mark) Smallbone, Aribo, Charly, Charles, Lallana, etc., etc. in midfield. We need a third CB to replace Stephens, a LB till Larius comes good (Perraud?) a RB as back-up to KWP. Simples!!!

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SanMarco added 11:36 - May 29 JoeEgg has said most of what I intended to say. RM has already said he intends to play his preferred style next season. In the play-offs he did show some flexibility so we can hope for a 'plan B'. The truth is though that the club will need to be hard-headed, even brutal, in culling those players not good enough for the higher level and they must back RM with players that he wants for this way of playing. We can't be kicking off at Anfield, or wherever, in August with several players 'getting used to' the style and others not good enough for the top level. As for Lallana - if he will fit in re coaching then why not? Given his age/fitness I wouldn't think signing him just as a player would work, but I would hope to be wrong if he does come. The Ings of his peak with the Saints would be very welcome but are we going to get that? He also wouldn't come cheap, so probably no on that one. Presuming he is fit I wonder where Ross Stewart will fit into the plans?

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highfield49 added 15:58 - May 29 If the recruitment and departure side of things follows recent patterns it's going to be difficult to get players signed early. As we all know most players want their "loyalty" bonus at the end of June and quality loan players like Downes will be touted around by their agents even if they're not wanted by their current club. Signing Fraser, Lallana and possibly Brookes would give a lot of experience and quality without too much of a gamble on form or fitness. It'll be interesting to see if Stuart Armstrong is offered and accepts a new contract. Personally I can't see how Tall Paul fits with the preferred style of play. Tbf I don't think Che Adams was suited to the tactics either but he did put in a shift and will probably do well at his next club. If, a big if it seems, Ross Stewart can avoid further injury setbacks then Adams won't be badly missed up front. Should the transfer market play out as expected and several new players aren't available to sign until the end of the window then we are going to need a core of experience and not intrepid, gung ho youths to start the season.

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kristianJ added 17:12 - May 29 We are clearly going to need to strengthen. We will definitely need a new left back and a keeper. We have a quality right back and 3 decent or better CBs. We could definitely do with keeping Downes if possible. Given Stueys age we could probably do with another attack minded CM. There’s plenty of deadwood , or more kindly players that don’t fit the style of play to sell. Charley doesn’t fit the style of play and I’m not convinced Perraud does either. Tall Paul simply isn’t good enough for the EPL and is get rid of Sulemana too (who had a disappointing season). Off those out on loan I could only really make a case for keeping ABK, who with time could turn into a decent player for us.

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Bowlercow added 18:36 - May 29 First step must be getting those of the loanees you want to keep signed up and get rid of those out on loan that you don't rateThen he can see what else is needed I would suggest a new keeper (Liss possibly) A full back Wan Bissaka from Utd £20m Two centre backs or one if ABK comes back Varane on a free from Utd would give us the back line experience we have missed since Fonte left An attacking m/f as well as getting Stu A to signe a new contract It's going to be a very interesting summer window

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halftimeorange added 09:13 - May 30 We need experience if we are to survive in the EPL this time. We already have one example of experience paving our way to promotion and that, perhaps somewhat surprisingly, came in the return of (and return to form of) Alex McCarthy. Llalana and Ings know how to play successfully in the EPL. Look how the battle-hardened Tarkowski has performed for Everton this season. We could with a couple of defenders in his mould (and he's thirty-two).

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IanRC added 12:38 - May 31 Broja please
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Peterx added 12:55 - May 31 To me before we do anything we need to sort out the DM. We got relegated because we could not call on Lavia (injury) / Romeu (sold), we looked totally different this last season when we had quality in DM with Flynniesta. She Charles is OK and could come good this year but probably needs to be third choice for the position with hopefully with Downes and one other hopefully older grizzled no nonsense tough guy to call on.

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