This season has been varied for Southampton overall, as it’s fair to say that looking back upon the campaign fans won’t be too disappointed but the Saints themselves would have hoped for better fortunes and more success.
The Premier League is notably the area where they’d want to improve, after a Europa League adventure this season ended very prematurely. Whilst they can still finish in the European spots again, they’ll need things to go their way in the final games of the season.
Leicester City, West Ham and Tottenham have shown this season that with good players and management you can fire yourselves up the league standings, so Ronald Koeman will be looking to complete the right sort of business in the transfer market.
As ever though, outgoing deals are equally as important as bringing new faces to the club and we believe Koeman should accept the departures of these players come the end of season window.
Hit the image below to see FIVE players Southampton should axe this summer!
[ffc-gallery]
[/ffc-gallery]
Sadio Mane
Hot property heading into the close season, Southampton have kept hold of the midfielder for one more season than many expected but will find it difficult to maintain his services for another year. With a host of clubs interested in his services, Southampton should cash-in.
It’s clear Mane wants a bigger move and he deserves that chance, whilst there’s no point keeping a player that doesn’t want to be at the club. Koeman can also get a phenomenal fee for the player’s services too, potentially more than the transfer record fee they received for Luke Shaw in 2014.
Maarten Stekenlenburg
The 33-year-old, currently on-loan from Fulham, will return to the Championship club this summer. Whilst a permanent deal will likely be available, Southampton would be wise to pass this opportunity up and spend money elsewhere.
With Fraser Forster, Southampton have an extremely capable goalkeeper and a number one for years to come. Stekelenburg would have to play understudy to the former Celtic man and, in truth, he’s too good to sit on the bench every week.
Shane Long
The 29-year-old is a quality player, and one who’s given great service to Southampton, but whether the Republic of Ireland international is still needed is up for debate, as the Saints boast Charlie Austin and Graziano Pelle amongst their striking contingent.
Jay Rodriguez is also back available and the young Juanmi still has a lot to offer- but five quality strikers is too much for one squad and it’s likely someone will have to be offloaded. If that is the case, it’s likely to come down to Pelle or Long and the latter would command a higher fee, which could be spent elsewhere.
Kelvin Davis
The 39-year-old goalkeeper will surely leave this summer, having made just one appearance all season, and he doesn’t have the ability to play regularly in the Premier League anymore- and it’s a squad space that young Paulo Gazzaniga can step into.
Having spent a decade with the Saints, Davis’ contribution to the side cannot be forgotten after what’s been a dramatic sequence in the club’s history. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the veteran given a coaching role and that would certainly be a good move from Koeman.
Victor Wanyama
Like Sadio Mane, there’s plenty of risk involved with keeping a player who doesn’t want to be at the club anymore. Southampton did very well to keep the Kenyan at the club last summer but with bigger sides lurking, the Saints should let go.
Again, like Mane, Southampton will get a lot of money for Wanyama and the club have a strong history of recruitment, having kept afloat in recent years despite losing a host of top names to bigger sides. Unfortunately for Koeman’s side, they could face a similar problem in the summer.
