Time and again, we have seen Southampton lose their performing assets owing to the financial firepower possessed by the Premier League giants or top quality sides in Europe but every time, we have also seen them filling the void in a meticulous manner. They have been shrewd in luring their transfer targets ever since stamping their authority as a Premier League outfit and consistency has been the cornerstone of their constant rise as a side which knows how to get the job done.
Currently placed tenth in the league table, the Saints have once again shown their prominence and one of the most resilient personnel in their ranks has been Oriol Romeu. The 25-year-old midfielder cushions the back four with sheer professionalism and sits deep in midfield, allowing either Steven Davis or James Ward-Prowse to launch forward and support the attackers.
Under the tutelage of Claude Puel, the activity of the full-backs doing the damage with their driving runs holds paramount importance but so does the mettle of Romeu, namely his knack to break up the counter-attacks of the opponents by making precise tackles in tough situations, displaying a strong sense of discipline and knitting the attack with the defensive line to ensure that Southampton are a well-constructed side which knows to keep a firm blend between offensive and defensive duties.
In a total of 25 appearances in the Premier League so far this term, the former Chelsea man has registered 3.3 tackles, 2.3 interceptions, 1.6 clearances and 0.3 blocks per game apart from registering a staggering pass completion rate of 85% with 1187 completed passes and it is absolutely not a shocker to see that the La Liga giants, Barcelona, are keen to lure him to Camp Nou. The Catalans are looking for a long-term replacement for Sergio Busquets and arguably, Romeu does fit the bill.
However, it is important for Puel to keep the Spaniard in his ranks in seasons to come, for they have had their share of the misery of seeing their stars leave the club for better projects. The St. Mary based troops are in a rebuilding phase and without any shadow of doubt, their reconstruction process depends heavily on the availability of someone like Romeu who is a scintillating passer of the ball, controls the tempo of the game and oils the engine of Southampton in a solid manner. Letting him leave would be a foolish act on the part of Southampton and could severely dent their prospects in the coming seasons where they are likely to battle for European places.
Statistics Credits: WhoScored and Squakwa
