5 Things Southampton Still Need To Do This Summer | OneFootball

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Southampton have confirmed their latest signing, bringing in Manchester City striker Divin Mubama on a season-long loan.

But with Shea Charles joining Fulham in a £30 million deal, the Saints’ work this summer is far from finished. Southampton still need to trim their squad, find a solution for several players outside Tonda Eckert’s plans and, most importantly, add depth in two key areas.

1. Defensive Departures

Given that Southampton are preparing for a second season in the Championship, alongside having a bloated squad, further departures are necessary to reduce the wage bill and raise more funds as parachute payments decrease.

With Southampton permanently signing goalkeepers Daniel Peretz and George Long after their loan spells, the futures of Gavin Bazunu and Aaron Ramsdale lie elsewhere. Manager Tonda Eckert prioritised the summer signings in pre-season fixtures, reinforcing the fact he doesn’t envision either Bazunu or Ramsdale in his Championship plans.

Aaron Ramsdale didn’t feature in any of Southampton’s pre-season matches but he consistently trained with the squad. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

While permanent sales would likely be preferred, loan solutions remain most likely, with Bazunu likely seeing his contract, which expires next year, come to an end.

Full-backs Yukinari Sugawara and Juan Larios should also depart Southampton this summer. Larios could be set to leave on a free transfer after making just six appearances for the Saints across four years, while Sugawara is unlikely to remain as a backup with Southampton having two right-backs ahead of him in the pecking order.

2. Striker Sales

Forward Ben Brereton Diaz is expected to depart the South Coast club this summer, according to the Daily Echo and reporter Darren Witcoop.

The 27-year-old started in Southampton’s season opener against Colchester in the EFL Cup, with an underwhelming 60-minute display up top, before being replaced by eventual goalscorer Cyle Larin.

He remains a player who hasn’t fit into Eckert’s system, neither possessing the physicality to be the focal number nine nor the agility to cause problems out wide on the byline. Southampton flourish with a striker who brings hold-up play whilst physically challenging defenders – Diaz’s profile doesn’t suit that.

Ben Brereton Diaz hasn’t scored a competitive goal for Southampton. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Championship clubs are reportedly monitoring his situation ahead of an increasingly likely move away this summer.

Another striker who’s in search of game time this season is American Damion Downs. The 22-year-old had a bright start to pre-season, scoring the winner against 2. Bundesliga side Eintracht Braunschweig, but was absent from the matchday squad against Colchester.

After moving from FC Köln last year, Downs signed a four-year deal through 2029, making a permanent transfer away from Southampton highly unlikely in the next few weeks. A loan away looks to be the most concrete option for the USMNT international.

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3. Adding Midfield Depth

Of all Southampton’s remaining transfer priorities, central midfield should be at the top of the list for incomings.

After losing Shea Charles, Southampton have just three senior central midfield options. While Eckert opted for winger Kuryu Matsuki to play there against Colchester, the difference was night and day when Cameron Bragg was substituted on alongside Downes. Bragg had an immediate impact, occupying the space in front of the central defenders to provide defensive assurance alongside composure on the ball.

Given they play in a 4-2-3-1 where the holding midfielders are pivotal in dictating the tempo, sufficient depth is required to ensure they have options across the campaign.

It would likely be someone who understands that game time may be limited, either bringing experience to the dressing room or providing an opportunity for an academy player, as Cameron Bragg did last season.

Eckert revealed that Bragg “came back from a manager who told him he is not good enough and he needs to go the National League. Then he plays in front of 90,000 people at Wembley.” This was after his loan at League One side Crawley Town. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)

Youngster Joe O’Brien Whitmarsh impressed during pre-season, bringing composure to the midfield whilst filling in for the injured Caspar Jander. The Irishman could be an option they’re eyeing for that role, considering Eckert said they will always look ‘internally’ before making any transfers.

4. Signing a Backup Goalkeeper

Southampton head into the season with Daniel Peretz and George Long as their two senior options between the sticks, but they still need a third-choice goalkeeper to provide additional depth.

With Alex McCarthy (36) and Jamie Jones (37) departing the club upon the expiry of their contracts, Southampton need to replace that experience in the dressing room.

The Saints should opt for an experienced option on a free transfer or for a minimal fee – someone who is comfortable with a limited role but can reliably step into the squad if either Peretz or Long becomes unavailable.

5. Keeping Key Players

This summer, Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Caspar Jander have repeatedly been touted with moves away from the club. While none of the reported interest is too advanced, it certainly raises questions as the transfer window nears its end.

To put it simply, both players would be difficult to replace for the fees Southampton would command. Harwood-Bellis is pivotal to Eckert’s system, with the 24-year-old consistently breaking lines to kickstart attacks and play through the opposition press. He also provides a valuable aerial presence, both defensively and in front of goal, having scored seven league goals last season.

Caspar Jander also grew in confidence under Eckert. The midfielder was seemingly everywhere, combining a strong physical presence with a willingness to engage in duels. He offered creativity in possession, averaging more than one chance created per 90.

Eckert praised the 23-year-old towards the end of last season: “At this stage of the season, he’s only getting better and better. It’s not easy when you play your first season in England with the amount of games, but it’s good that he’s peaking at this moment (April) because it’ll be very important for us.”

Conclusion

The Saints first need to clear space, with Bazunu, Ramsdale, Brereton Díaz and Downs all requiring solutions. Once the squad is trimmed, depth in the central midfield and goalkeeper departments should be the priority for Technical Director Johannes Spors.

With promotion the objective, securing the right depth in the squad could prove just as significant as their marquee signings heading into a demanding Championship campaign.