Southampton are set to miss out on their key transfer target Christian Tello as per reports as the Spaniard is set to opt for a switch to Serie A giants Fiorentina. The 24-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at the Serie A side, scoring twice and providing five assists in 15 league appearances as Florence side finished sixteen points adrift of Champions League qualification. That is why it’s not a major surprise to see the Spaniard turning down the Saints to move to La Viola.
Missing on Tello would be definitely disappointing for Claude Puel but the Saints cannot afford to cry over spilt milk. They need to look for alternatives and they have to do it really soon as the Premier League kicks off in 10 days. We thought we might offer Puel a hand in his search for an alternative to Tello and this article is meant for that.
Adnan Januzaj
The 21-year-old was once touted as the future of the Red Devils when he burst onto the scene during David Moyes’ days at the club. However, the Belgian failed to sustain his form and in the last couple of years, his growth as a player has somewhat stalled. A failed loan spell with Borussia Dortmund added further stoppage to the 21-year-old’s development. The next season could be the deciding factor in the youngster’s career. A move to a club where Januzaj can get regular game time would help his career and he can still become the player he was expected to be. Southampton are a club on the rise and Januzaj could be a great addition to them.
Victor Moses
Plenty of big things were expected from Moses when he made his big-money move to Chelsea from Wigan in 2012 but what followed was the exact opposite. The Nigerian could never really break into the first team of the Blues. After three average loan spells with Liverpool, Stoke City and West Ham, now should be the time when 25-year-old should seek for a permanent move away from Stamford Bridge to revive his stagnant career. Moses is a quality player. All he needs to succeed is the faith of the manager in him and Puel should definitely consider the Chelsea winger.
Andre Ayew
The 26-year-old made his move to the Premier League last summer on a free transfer from Marseille and in his maiden season at the Liberty, he was their standout performer. Ayew is a proven winger at both the international stage and his club career. The Ghana international has been persistently linked with a move out of the Liberty throughout the summer and Southampton should pounce into the situation. Europa League will definitely attract the 26-year-old and the Saints will never have to regret on missing out on Tello if they can bring Ayew who is a massive upgrade on the Spaniard.
