Southampton supporters in the Transfer Tavern are relishing the 2018/19 Premier League season, what with their side seeking to improve upon an ultimately disappointing 17th place finish last time round.

The South Coast outfit were hovering around the relegation places for much of the season, eventually resulting in the departure of Mauricio Pellegrino back in March, what with their top-flight status under serious threat. Yet former Stoke City boss Mark Hughes was drafted in to keep the Saints up, and he did just that by leading them to vital victories over Bournemouth and Swansea City to eventually end up 17th in the table, three points clear of the bottom three.

Nonetheless, our resident Southampton fans will be hoping for much better this time round, and several are expressing a keen interest in recent reports suggesting that Ademola Lookman could seek to leave Everton this summer, with the Saints reportedly ‘keeping tabs’ on the situation.

And the South Coast club simply must underline their lofty ambitions for the new season by capturing the £10.8 million-rated sensation (as per Transfermarkt), whose huge potential and talent would bring a vast amount to a misfiring Saints attacking unit.

Ultimately, while the Saints were reasonably solid defensively last season and did well in the middle of the park, they were pretty hopeless in the final third of the pitch in netting just 37 goals in their 38 Premier League matches.

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The likes of Sofiane Boufal and Nathan Redmond simply didn’t get going while Dusan Tadic largely flattered to deceive, although his brace in their 2-1 success over Bournemouth was timely and played a key part in keeping them in the league.

Nevertheless, it’s clear that if Hughes is to take the club forward this season, and perhaps back towards the top half where they spent the four years prior to the 2017/18 campaign, more creativity, flair, and general quality is needed in the attacking ranks – Lookman would provide that.

The 20-year-old took just a few minutes to net on his Everton debut back in January 2017 in a 4-0 thumping of Manchester City, yet he hasn’t really been able to show his qualities at Goodison Park since then, mustering just 23 further senior appearances.

In fact, the England Under-20 World Cup winner instigated a loan move to RB Leipzig back in January in a bid for regular football, a move which worked wonders as Lookman netted five goals and laid on four assists in 11 Bundesliga appearances.

And having proven his worth in another of Europe’s top leagues, the 20-year-old will return to the Premier League with renewed confidence in his ability and ready to prove his worth – that can only benefit a Southampton side that were at times bereft of ideas last season.

And given how highly-rated Lookman is, Tottenham are reportedly keen as well, sealing a deal for the wantaway Everton ace would underline their lofty ambitions for the coming campaign, ambitions sure to be well received by Saints fans after the disaster of last term.

Thus, with Lookman reportedly weighing up leaving Goodison Park this summer, Southampton must seek to make a move for the 20-year-old in a bid to bring greater quality to their attacking ranks.

Southampton fans… what do you think? Let us know!