Hasenhuttl insists Saints need to strengthen squad in summer

Saints made a blistering start to this campaign, sitting top of the Premier League table in November and still in the top six after defeating champions Liverpool on January 4.

However, form has alarmingly dipped since, with Wednesday's 2-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur the 12th time in 15 league matches Saints have been beaten.

The other three games have seen wins over Sheffield United and Burnley, as well as a draw against Chelsea.

Saints now sit 15th in the table, nine points clear of the relegation zone with six games to play.

They also saw their FA Cup run halted with a lacklustre defeat to Leicester City in the semi-finals earlier this month.

The Hampshire club finished in 11th place last season following a strong end to the campaign during Project Restart.

They then strengthened their squad with the additions of Kyle Walker-Peters, Mohammed Salisu and Ibrahima Diallo for a combined total of around £35million.

Theo Walcott also came in loan, before the arrival of Takumi Minamino on a temporary deal during the winter transfer window.

Asked if the club's disappointing form during 2021 highlighted the need to strengthen the squad this summer, Hasenhuttl said: "There is no question about that. We definitely step on the same spot all the time.

"We are not moving forward. There is no development like we wanted to see it.

"We had one very good term in this season where we over-performed with the way we played, but when you are not able to invest in changing the squad in the summer, you will end up again in the same position in the table.

"Then again it's a fight about staying in the league, because we tried everything to come to a different level. But as soon as we have not every player on the highest level, we have also not that depth in the squad to be then strong enough to put pressure on the guys that are not performing well.

"I think this is what we need next season."