Southampton’s inconsistent start to the season has left the club languishing out of the top 10 and in the relegation zone in 18th position on the table. As the pressure grows on new manager Mauricio Pellegrino, the saints will feel that 4 wins in twenty-four matches are far from the desired start they were hoping for. They have collected 22 points from their twenty-four-game weeks and will be hoping to change their luck soon. The club appears to be flirting with danger as they are already a point behind safety zone and will now have to work hard if they want to enjoy the riches of the Premier League next season.
After a tumultuous summer, that oversaw the arrival of Manuel Pellegrino replacing Claude Puel at the helm of the club and a legal complaint filed against Liverpool over the Virgil Van Dijk saga, the new manager did not get the desired calm and peace required to settle in and implement his philosophy at St. Mary’s. Southampton also oversaw the departure of a few club regulars like Jay Rodriguez, Lloyd Isgrove and Jordy Clasie. Of the new signings, the limelight went to the man arriving from Juventus, Mario Lemina.
The Saints’ star defender Van Dijk has left the club. Liverpool was one of the many clubs interested in securing the Dutch defender’s service but their initial move was a little too aggressive for Southampton’s liking who went on to take legal action against the Merseyside club, thereby formally putting an end to Liverpool’s attempt to sign the defender for the time being. However, Liverpool has corrected their mistake this time around and paid Southampton a monstrous 75 million pounds for Van Dijk.
Southampton will want to use this money to bring in some much-needed reinforcements. It appears now that the owners are ready to bring in new players by using the Van Dijk money. Their first signing has already come through, in the form of Guido Carrillo.
The striker has penned a deal that will see him stay at the club till 2021. He is expected to link up with Mauricio Pellegrini under whom he has played before at Estudiantes. The Argentine is expected to be a much needed signing up front for the Saints who have failed to score regularly this season.
The 26-year-old cost them a fee in the region of £19.2 million and this is how Southampton are expected to line up with him.
Defence
While Cedric and Ryan Bertrand will be keeping either side of the defence devoid of problems, the centre-backs Maya Yoshida and Wesley Hoedt will be the last line of defence before their goalkeeper Fraser Forster.
Midfield
Defensive midfielders Mario Lemina and Oriol Romeu will play ahead of the defenders, letting the likes of James Ward-Prowse and Dusan Tadic along with Soufiane Boufal take the attack to the opposition by supplying quality pass into the final third, working up goal-scoring chances.
Attack
New signing Carillo will be the lone striker playing up front for the Saints. The onus will be on him to score goals and the club faithful and the manager will be hoping that he will make full justice to his price tag, helping them to end the season in a respectable position.
