Southampton have had a relatively mediocre season thus far under Claude Puel. Although they may have reached the League Cup final, they went on to lose and were also knocked out of the Europa League at the first hurdle.

For a side with bigger aspirations they must simply be chasing the top eight at least! Our landlord here at the Transfer Tavern feels that a good summer window and their fortunes could change next term.

Claude Puel has made some brilliant additions to his side especially with the recent arrival of Manolo Gabbiadini from Napoli – more of those signings and they’ll be right were they want to be.

It’s not only about the players that he brings into the side but also about ensuring that some players who haven’t quite pulled their weight this campaign are shipped off in order to allow funds for players who’ll make an impression at the club.

As important as it is to get rid of the deadwood, it is vital that the club keep hold of their key assets which to the Saints has been an impossible task over the past few seasons. It seems they just keep producing the players and then selling them off, it’s important they stop that before it becomes less sustainable to the club.

With that in mind, it’s time to decide whether to keep or axe certain players at the club, it is down to Puel to make a decision on these three Southampton stars…

KEEP: VIRGIL VAN DIJK

This is an obvious one for sure! Van Dijk has been a superb player for Southampton since arriving from Scottish side Celtic.

The Dutch international has been a rock at the back and would be better than any signing the club could realistically sign. If by September he is still a Saints player, that could well be their best bit of business of the window. He really has been class this season.

AXE: FLORIN GARDOŞ

The Romanian has a tough time of it so far at Southampton with injuries and unfortunately we feel that it could be time for him to leave the club in order to get his career back on track and back to playing on a regular basis.

The funds they get and the wages freed up could lead to a new centre-back coming in to play alongside Van Dijk. It’s tough with his injuries to really asses how good he could have been for the club but you cannot keep waiting when you need a centre-half sooner rather than later.

KEEP: JAMES WARD-PROWSE

The recently called-up England international has been superb this season and has even worn the captain’s armband for the club on a number of occasions.

He is the type of player that the club really needs to try and keep at the club for as long as possible. He will be attracting interest from a number of clubs and at a young age still has so much left to give. They simply have to keep him for as long as they possibly can.