Southampton squad depth after winter window assessed as play-off push resumes | OneFootball

Southampton have trimmed their squad to 26 after the winter window, offloading eight and adding three. According to Daily Echo, head coach Tonda Eckert prioritised exits from a bloated group. Saints are seven points outside the play-offs with 16 games left.

Daniel Peretz arrived on loan from Bayern Munich and, if imperfect, appears an upgrade, with Alex McCarthy, a former England international out of contract in six months, and loanee George Long behind him. The worry is Gavin Bazunu being the only contracted keeper after season’s end.

January saw Ronnie Edwards depart and James Bree reclaim right-back ahead of Mads Roerslev and loanee Elias Jelert. With a back four now preferred, the defence looks well stocked and better suited than the previous five. Ryan Manning and Welington cover the left.

Midfield is the least balanced area. Southampton are overloaded with deeper options, Flynn Downes, Caspar Jander, Shea Charles and Cam Bragg, but light at number 10. Finn Azaz is proven there, Kuryu Matsuki can fill in, Cyle Larin can operate deeper, and Oriol Romeu’s return has disappointed.

Adam Armstrong’s exit leaves the right thin and heaps pressure on Tom Fellows, though Sam Edozie could return. Ryan Fraser’s departure streamlines the left, where Leo Scienza starts every possible game and Jay Robinson replaces him around the hour. Up front, swapping the top scorer for loanee Cyle Larin, 30, is a gamble but fits the system and helps manage Ross Stewart’s workload, while Cam Archer’s proposed Rangers loan was called off after the exit.

Source: Daily Echo