Southampton manager Nathan Jones on the touchline against Liverpool
Southampton‘s plans for the January window have now been detailed by transfer insider Dean Jones.
The Lowdown: Southampton’s poor start
Nathan Jones‘ side currently sit bottom of the Premier League table, having acquired just 12 points from their opening 16 games, and much of this can be put down to their woes in front of goal.
The Saints have only managed to muster up 13 goals, with current centre-forward options Che Adams and Adam Armstrong not being clinical enough up to this point.
As such, their manager is now looking to make some additions in forward areas during the January transfer window…
The Latest: Dean Jones’ comments
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jones revealed what areas Southampton will be aiming to strengthen in the upcoming market.
He outlined: “We know Southampton are in the market for two players and one will be wide and one will be a central figure of attack. Ultimately, he needs a bagsman, doesn’t he? He needs somebody that can be relied on in the box.
“They don’t have that guy. They don’t have a Mitrovic, an Ivan Toney, and that’s what they’re looking for. You’ve got to have somebody that you can turn to week in, week out for goals, and Southampton just haven’t had it.”
The Verdict: Reinforcements needed
Southampton’s success in the January transfer window is likely to shape their season, as they are really lacking a dependable goalscorer on whom they can rely to regularly find the net – only Adams (four) has scored more than two league goals for them in 2022/23.
As pointed out by Jones, other teams who may have been predicted to struggle before the season started both have strikers who frequently contribute to their attacking output, with Brentford’s Toney having a remarkable 11 goals in 15 Premier League games to his name this season.
With ten goals in 12 league games, Aleksandar Mitrovic has also been a difference maker for Fulham, who sit level on points with Brentford in the top half, whereas they could have been in a relegation dogfight of their own if they did not have him to call upon.
As such, Jones needs to ensure that he identifies a suitable player of a similar ilk in January, or Southampton could well find themselves sweating on their top-flight status right up to the end of the campaign.
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