SAINTS are fast approaching one of the most critical and decisive summer transfer windows since the last time we all said that – probably 12 months ago.
This time is different, though, with new owners Sport Republic and their ambition about to be put to the test with months of discussion and decision-making now on their side.
CEO Martin Semmens and manager Ralph Hasenhuttl have both been insistent on following the current model of signing and improving talented young players.
However, Saints have slipped from ninth to 15th in the table and – although likely safe in the Premier League – could yet finish even further down the division.
Contracts are reaching flashpoints in a number of cases with the likes of Fraser Forster and Shane Long out of deals this summer, and many more first-teamers in 14 months’ time.
As it stands, Saints are no closer to achieving a target first top-half finish of the Austrian boss’s tenure – but there remains hope new owners can be the catalyst to make it happen.
Frustrated at watching yet another season fizzle out at St Mary’s, supporters have made clear what they want and expect to see from Sport Republic’s first summer window.
A lot of work for #SaintsFC's new ownership to do ahead of the summer transfer window opening next month.
— Alfie House (@AlfieHouseEcho) May 1, 2022
The first under Sport Republic, I want to understand your expectations and wants. What will satisfy you as a show of genuine ambition? pic.twitter.com/CVGzWwIBnA
Get rid of deadwood
The most popular request by some distance is to trim the squad of passengers who play only a bit part role – or less – on the pitch for Hasenhuttl.
You only have to look as far as Theo Walcott to see a player, likely on significant wages, signed in the summer to play just 485 minutes across all competitions.
His contract, as well as Nathan Redmond and Moussa Djenepo of the same position, is set to expire in summer 2023 – but many supporters would like to see the club get something back for the trio.
Fans may also consider the likes of Jack Stephens, Alex McCarthy and Shane Long among the deadwood – but the former two have signed new contracts with the club yet to be announced, according to official FA intermediary reports.
Hasenhuttl has been open about wanting two players for every position this season, and although it poses problems now everybody is fit, it has undeniably helped Saints come through the term.
Regular COVID testing and disrupted pre-season schedules had meant the likelihood of player absence through illness or injury had been much higher across the last two seasons.
Returning to normality now, it may be a good time to trim the fat where not needed and use the wages saved to invest in proven quality, or to take a chance on young and exciting options to develop.
Sign experience and proven quality in key areas
Onto that, fans want to see some proven Premier League or European quality come into the club to help the side push on. They hope to see it primarily in two key areas – centre-back and striker.
Saints made eight signings in the last summer transfer window, and a lot of them proved to be really good deals for talented players – Romain Perraud and Tino Livramento, for example.
But all of the signings they made were relative risks, although no doubt well considered, with a back-up defender from Torino (Lyanco) and an untested Championship forward (Adam Armstrong).
Good ambition for the level Saints were operating under previous owner Gao Jisheng, but it is now clear that fans want to see one or two deals of the next level up. Raising it from £7-15million to £20-25million.
On-loan striker Armando Broja could be set to return to Chelsea at the end of the season, and, while Che Adams has shown his talent, he is still not hitting 10 Premier League goals at the third time of asking.
Armstrong could play more of a role next season, but supporters would be satisfied by another crack at a replacement for the 34 goals Danny Ings scored across his last two campaigns.
Additionally, player sales could help raise funds and one area this could be prudent is in the centre of defence. Supporters would like to see a settled partner for 22-year-old Mohammed Salisu, while Jan Bednarek would likely be a desirable player for some European clubs.
Keep James Ward-Prowse
This one will largely depend on the player’s own interests, but they should be safe in the hands of Saints captain James Ward-Prowse.
The transfer rumour mill has already begun turning with Manchester United and Manchester City the latest to be linked with interest for the 27-year-old England international.
Fees of up to £75million are banded around, a significant increase on the failed £25million offer Aston Villa made for Ward-Prowse last summer.
He signed a new five-year contract in the wake of that and is on a deal to keep him at St Mary’s until 2026 now, but obviously that means nothing if all parties are interested in brokering.
There is already such a deficit in character in this Saints squad, and with Premier League status being worth over £100million every season, it is my personal opinion that no money is worth seeing Ward-Prowse leave.
The academy graduate leads with the armband but also leads in earning the club tangible points. He is Saints’ top-scorer in the Premier League (9) and in all competitions (10).
His set-pieces add a different dynamic, give something – when there is little else – for opposition teams to fear. Ward-Prowse is also super fit, and has only missed two Premier League games in the last three seasons – they were through suspension.
In a team of players where you largely do not know what performance you are going to get, you must cling on to the ones who are dependable. Kyle Walker-Peters falls into that category, too.
Resolve the goalkeeper problem
The goalkeeper situation has been rumbling on for almost the entirety of the season, not helped by a lack of comment from the club despite confirmation of a new Alex McCarthy contract.
“You can be sure that as soon as we have something to announce we will tell you first,” Hasenhuttl said on the predicament, last month.
The 2021-2022 FA Intermediary Report confirmed a fee was paid to the 32-year-old shot-stopper’s agent for an ‘Updated Contract’ within the last year.
McCarthy made a return to the pitch for the first time in nearly five months, featuring for the B team in their final Premier League 2 match of the season on Sunday.
On that basis, he looks set to stay at St Mary’s. Meanwhile, Fraser Forster, Willy Caballero and Harry Lewis are all on terms that expire this summer.
Forster, 34, has been the number one keeper for Saints since December, with an exceptional run of three of his best performances versus Chelsea, Arsenal and Burnley last month – despite losing two – after making an England international return.
Caballero, meanwhile, has been praised highly by Hasenhuttl this season for brining fresh enthusiasm and ideas to the goalkeeping group and could stay on as back-up into 41-years-old.
Supporters are not unanimous on what exactly they want the goalkeeping resolution to be, but it is one that must be sorted in a satisfactory manner this summer.
Many want to see a new, experienced number one signed should Forster leave – others want to see Forster put pen to paper on an extended deal with a younger understudy, ready to take his place.
Unconfirmed reports from Europe have linked Saints to interest in the likes of Fiorentina’s Bartłomiej Drągowski and Lazio’s Thomas Strakosha – it is time for fans to get something concrete.
Acquire some leadership
Finally, supporters feel there is a vacuum of leadership left by Saints departures as long ago as captain Jose Fonte in January 2017.
The last summer window also saw experienced players leave in the shape of Danny Ings, Jannik Vestergaard and Ryan Bertrand.
The defensive line in particular looks devoid of a real voice, whatever you think of Jan Bednarek and Mohammed Salisu.
This is partly the reason why keeping James Ward-Prowse is imperative, but right now that is also not enough as Saints demonstrate mental fragility season after season.
They have dropped 26 points from winning positions this season – more than any other Premier League team – and have just a 7.14% winning rate after conceding the first goal.
Add those statistics to the streaky nature of one defeat in 10 through mid-December to March, and then one win in nine through March to now, and it is obvious something is missing.
"It is very hard to take but this is the realistic thing that we are always coming into this situation and we fail ,” Hasenhuttl said, after the Crystal Palace defeat on Saturday.
Saints could get some leadership through the signing of players exhibiting those traits, or through expanding the backroom staff setup to bring in proven winners.
Hasenhuttl told the Daily Echo that he and Saints were open to the idea of expanding their backroom setup to go “a new way” and this could be an effective way of doing so without compromising their desired transfer policy.
Other points
Some further points raised by fans included bringing in a more direct and exciting number 10, but that would require shifting Nathan Redmond, Theo Walcott and Moussa Djenepo.
It is already a position in which the Saints squad is encumbered with Stuart Armstrong, Moi Elyounoussi and Nathan Tella likely to push on into next season.
Another quality addition here to push and challenge Elyounoussi, while 22-year-old Tella hopes to continue his development in an injury-free season, would be a welcome boost to the end-product of the side.
Some supporters asked for a statement signing, to show Sport Republic mean business. This goes against the transfer policy already outlined by Semmens and Hasenhuttl but could be a morale boost for the entire squad – providing it doesn’t disrupt the wage structure.
Finally, moving quicker on targets and not waiting for player sales before they can scramble in the final two weeks of the window for whatever is left on the market.
This has been promised by both Semmens and Hasenhuttl, and fans want to see that actioned.
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