---
title: "Do Southampton need to buy in January?"
canonical: "https://readsouthampton.com/2015/11/14/southampton-need-buy-january/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Daniel Emery"
section: "Feature Writers"
published: "2015-11-14T15:46:39Z"
modified: "2015-11-14T15:46:39Z"
---

# Do Southampton need to buy in January?

With the January transfer window only just over a month away, there has already been a number of reports linking Southampton with players from across the globe. Ronald Koeman did say the other week that he was not planning on buying many, if any, players in the January window. However, do Southampton actually need to go and bring in reinforcements?

I think that they do. Some will agree, some won’t. But they do. Koeman made some astute signings in the summer window having lost star men Nathaniel Clyne and Morgan Schneiderlin. Virgil Van Dijk, Cedric and Jordy Clasie are good examples of the fine summer business that Koeman completed. Yet, I still think that there are certain areas that Southampton still lack some depth in that could be addressed in January.

Firstly, the wide area. Southampton are really lacking any real strength in-depth when it comes to the wide positions. They have Dusan Tadic and Sadio Mane currently filling the flanks but have no other players who you would call out-and-out wingers. Shane Long, Jay Rodriguez, Gaston Ramirez and Juanmi could all play out wide. However, they are not as effective out wide as they are in their natural positions through the centre of the pitch.

![Mike Hewitt/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readsouthampton.com/readsouthampton/2015/11/4946956421.jpg)

Now, with it looking ever more likely that Ramirez will be offloaded in January and Rodriguez/Long have had injury problems, it has left Southampton rather short of options going forward and could be an area that Koeman will look to strengthen in the infamous winter window.

I think that Southampton need to sign someone in the same profile as Sadio Mane; agile, quick, lively and has goals to his game. Now, these players are very difficult to find and when you do find them, they are very expensive. However, Southampton have proved from the players they have sold and the money they spent on bringing players in; that they have the money to compete. So why not invest in a good young winger to help improve the side.

I think that someone like Nathan Redmond from Norwich or Jordan Ibe from Liverpool would be a fantastic addition to the Southampton squad. They are both young and very talented and would add much-needed spark and enthusiasm going forward for the Saints, not to mention it would give that extra depth that I feel is needed. Ibe and Redmond have both been playing fairly regularly in the Premier League this season for their respective clubs and have impressed. Redmond has already notched four goals for Norwich and is the newly promoted teams top scorer as it stands; he would be a fantastic signing.

![Alex Livesey/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readsouthampton.com/readsouthampton/2015/11/496273814.jpg)

I also think that Southampton could do with adding another striker to the squad. Graziano Pelle is currently the undisputed Saints striker with no real competition due to Rodriguez and Long being preferred in deeper roles nowadays.

They have been linked to a few forwards in recent days – despite Koeman insisting he wasn’t looking at signings – and names such as Luuk De Jong and Luc Castaignos have been touted with interest from Southampton.

Luuk De Jong is one that sticks out in my mind as someone who would do well as Southampton. He is still relatively young at 25-years-old, five years the junior of Pelle. He also has a very good goalscoring record at most of his clubs, especially in Holland. Whilst on loan at Newcastle a few years ago he did not exactly sparkle in the Premier League, but that was for a struggling Newcastle side who did not have the sort of talent that Southampton have lining up behind their forward. In my opinion, he would be a very good player to challenge Pelle for his place and grab Southampton a few more goals before the end of the season that could end up securing European qualification, who knows?

![Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readsouthampton.com/readsouthampton/2015/11/4895737581.jpg)

Other than the wide areas and up front, I do not think that Southampton should really need to delve into the volatile January market for any more players, only if there are any injuries that come up or players that are sold and then need replacing. Yet, I can’t see Koeman letting any of his star players leave midway through the season so that should not be a problem at all.

**Do you think that Southampton need to spend in January?**