Football Season Guide

Premier League

England

Premier League

2015/2016

Southampton

In

Juanmi (att)(Malaga), Soares (def)(Sporting CP), Martina (def)(FC Twente), Clasie (mid)(Feyenoord), Stekelenburg (gk)(Fulham)

Out

Boruc (gk)(released), Clyne (def)(Liverpool), Schneiderlin (mid)(Man Utd), Alderweireld (def)(Tottenham)

Despite losing a number of key players, Southampton managed another successful season in the Premier League last season. Ronald Koeman's men finished a very respectable seventh in the table and on their day were a match for all the top sides. Ahead of the new season they have once again lost a couple of first team regulars in Nath Clyne, Toby Alderweireld and Morgan Schneiderlin, but Koeman has been busy in the transfer market and on paper at least seems to have added numbers, strength and depth to the squad. With Florin Gardos facing an extended spell on the sidelines the Saints probably need to add another centre back before the start of the season and if possible they could also do with some cover in midfield to make up for the loss of Schneiderlin. Striker Jay Rodriguez finally seems to be over his injury hell and will be hoping to re-establish himself in the startling eleven and rediscover his form of 2013/14.

Target

Southampton are expected to make it through to the Group Stages of the Europa League and if so it will be important that their domestic form does not suffer, particularly in the first half of the season. The club have a long term aim of breaking into the top four, but that would seem to be unlikely just yet.