Southampton told they made serious transfer error as Josh Sargent claim dropped | OneFootball

FLW's Southampton fan pundit has given his verdict on one thing the club got wrong in the transfer market this summer.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

It was a busy summer for Southampton following their relegation from the Premier League, with a number of new signings arriving in the final few days of the transfer window.

On the pitch though, it has been a mixed start to life back in the Championship for the Saints, with Will Still's side picking up just five points from their opening four games of the season - their transfer business however has offered plenty of reason for optimism that they can start to climb the table in the coming months.

After a late flurry of transfer activity, the Saints ended the summer window with a total of nine new signings, with George Long, Mads Roerslev, Elias Jelert, Joshua Quarshie, Caspar Jander, Finn Azaz, Tom Fellows, Leo Scienza and Damion Downs all arriving at St Mary's.

There were also a number of high-profile exits, including the likes of Jan Bednarek, Mateus Fernandes, Tyler Dibling, Kamaldeen Sulemana and Paul Onuachu, while Aaron Ramsdale, James Bree, Charlie Taylor, Will Smallbone and Ben Brereton Diaz were among those to depart on loan.

Southampton transfer fear revealed amid Josh Sargent, Norwich City comparison

Southampton brought in just one new striker this summer, with Damion Downs joining from FC Koln for a fee of £6.8 million after he scored 10 goals and provided five assists in 29 games to help his former club to promotion to the Bundesliga last season.

Still also has Adam Armstrong, Ross Stewart and Cameron Archer at his disposal in the forward areas, but only Archer has got on the scoresheet so far this season, with the 23-year-old netting the opening goal in his side's 2-2 draw at Watford on Saturday.

When asked what one thing he believes the club got wrong in the transfer market this summer, FLW's Southampton fan pundit, Martin Sanders, insisted the club may live to regret not bringing in a prolific striker, and he claimed that Norwich City's Josh Sargent - who has scored six goals in just five appearances already this season - is the type of number nine that was needed.

"Which one did the club get wrong? A striker," Martin told FLW.

"I don't think Damion Downs is the answer. He's too young, and he's out of the German second division.

"We needed a proven striker at this level or someone who was a bit more mature and not so raw.

"For me, if you want to be in the top two of the Championship, you need somebody who is going to bag goals.

"I know Josh Sargent would have been out of the question because of the amount of money they wanted for him, but look at what he's doing at Norwich.

"He's scored in every game, and he's probably already scored more than Damion Downs will score all season.

"I just don't see who is going to be the out-and-out target and the out-and-out starter up front."

Will Still must find the right Southampton formula amid striker dilemma

Southampton may lack a striker who is currently in the same kind of form as Sargent, but Armstrong scored 24 goals during the club's last season at Championship level as they won promotion, so he could be a real asset if Still can get him back to his best.

Archer has impressed in the second tier previously during his loan spells with Preston North End and Middlesbrough, and when fit, Stewart was a prolific striker in the division for Sunderland, so Still does have plenty of proven options in his squad in the forward areas.

Downs may not have made too much of an impact since his arrival at St Mary's, but the 21-year-old should not be written off just yet, and if he can adapt to English football, he could become a big player for the Saints over the course of the season.