Southampton are ‘still active’ in the transfer market, according to claims from reporter Mark McAdam on Sky Sports‘ televised Transfer Talk show on Tuesday morning, but it seems the club are paying for the mistakes made in previous windows.
Saints are, as per McAdam’s claims, still attempting to shift Charlie Austin and Mario Lemina from their books. In terms of incomings, however, no new movement appears to have taken place.
Ralph Hasenhuttl has already seen Che Adams and Moussa Djenepo added to his squad, but as the window slams shut on Thursday evening, whether or not Southampton will sign another player remains to be seen.
Read Southampton’s verdict
While it is encouraging to see that Saints are still ‘active’ in the market, it comes as no surprise to see them struggling to tie up incoming deals, mainly as a consequence of their failure to shift high earners from the wage bill.
Ultimately, we are paying the price for our poor recruitment over a number of transfer windows, which have been littered with underperforming signings and significant outlays. Wesley Hoedt, Mohamed Elyounoussi and Guido Carrillo were signed for a combined £50 million, and it is difficult to see Southampton recouping even a quarter of that sum.
With owner Gao Jisheng believed to be employing a ‘sell to buy’ policy in an apparent attempt to ensure that Saints run as a self-sufficient club, logic would suggest that there will be no further acquisitions until players such as Austin and Lemina depart, but this simply does not cut it.
Southampton’s defensive woes are long-standing. It has been clear from midway through last season that signing a new centre-back would be paramount, and this is a move that has not yet been made by the club, seemingly because they are unable to raise funds in both fees and wages via sales.
Following decisions – admittedly taken by the old regime under Les Reed and Ralph Krueger – such as handing Fraser Forster a new contract, providing Mauricio Pellegrino with £19 million to spend on a striker of his choice, and more, it is no surprise to see Saints paying for their earlier mistakes in the current transfer window.
