With the headlines being an eighth place Premier League finish and a first major final in 14 years last season, Southampton fans endured a surprisingly underwhelming campaign, ending in the contradictory unsurprising sacking of manager Claude Puel.
While the argument as to whether or not the Frenchman’s dismissal was fair or not may never be settled, there are more important issues to address at St. Mary’s, namely their form in front of goal.
The southerners scored a paltry 41 goals last season, four less than when they finished 20th and were relegated in 2005. In fact, only Sunderland scored fewer goals in front of their own fans than the Saints last season and, while many will blame Puel’s approach for such a shortcoming, there was a real lack of creative spark from the players entrusted to get the job done.
Most fans will be hoping that a change in tact can solve the problem, however a shake up in the middle of the park could well be what’s needed.
New manager Mauricio Pellegrino has, it would seem, at his disposal all the criteria needed for a team capable of bagging far more than 41 goals next season. The Argentine has talented, attack minded full-backs, speedy wingers and two top finishers in Charlie Austin and Manolo Gabbiadini, so what’s the problem?
It wasn’t necessarily putting away chances that caused Puel issues last term, you rarely watched a Southampton game and saw them pass up a host of glaring opportunities, it was the clear dearth of chances being created. The Saints lacked that spark in midfield to find the likes of Austin, Gabbiadini or Shane Long.
The creative talents of Dusan Tadic, Nathan Redmond and James Ward-Prowse failed to deliver, and with that in mind they could do with some top quality competition.
While the club’s last foray into Ligue 1 was not exactly successful, there is plenty on offer in France for the Premier League clubs who can’t go chasing the £50m playmakers.
One man who could certainly get things ticking in the middle of the park is Marseille midfielder Morgan Sanson. The £10.2m-rated Frenchman racked up 14 assists in the French top flight and, although he only made the move to Stade Velodrome in January, he could well be what Pellegrino needs to get his side scoring in the new season.
In addition to his 14 assists last season, split evenly between Montpellier and Marseille at seven each in the league and more than any Saints player by an impressive nine, the 22-year-old is an adept finisher and more often than not can draw a foul from the opposition with his troublesome movement in and around the area, handing the likes of Ward-Prowse a fantastic opportunity to convert from set pieces.
The fact he made the switch from Montpellier so recently does complicate things for the Saints. But given the pulling power of the Premier League nowadays and the riches on offer over a few seasons in comparison to the French league, Sanson could kick up a fuss if interest is lodged.
If the powers that be at St. Mary’s are serious about continuing their push for European football, having missed out last term after two consecutive seasons of Europa League qualification, and challenging the likes of Everton, then they’re going to have to start throwing their weight about in the summer market sooner rather than later. Sanson could be the start of that.
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