A Southampton move for Bas Dost would make sense

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The Sporting striker has a phenomenal goal record in Portugal and there just might be an opportunity for Southampton to get him.

Southampton simply haven’t been clinical enough in front of goal this season. That’s something often said about teams at the bottom of the Premier League – relegated Swansea are much the same – and their inability to score goals is the reason the Saints only escaped relegation in the final week of the season.

But Southampton differ from most teams in that position. This isn’t a case of just not putting away the chances they do create or how a tactical rethink might give more opportunities; Southampton create as many opportunities as well as just about anyone.

And not just ‘anyone in their position’ – only the top six created more goalscoring opportunities than the team who finished 17th and scored the 15th most goals. That’s a staggering statistic – and suggests a fix shouldn’t be too difficult. And if you literally just need someone to put away the chances you create, there are few better players on earth than Sporting’s Bas Dost.

The Dutchman’s record in Portugal is truly sensational. with 61 goals in 61 games. But it’s the way he scores them that really captures the imagination; last month, Dost ended a run of 45 one-touch finishes by actually taking a touch before scoring.

If you want a player who can simply score goals, there are few, if any, better than Dost. His lack of much else may be considered off-putting to most big teams – but for Southampton – he’s ideal.

Under normal circumstances, prising him away from Sporting would be very difficult – but things are very far from normal at Sporting right now. ESPN reports that a group of 50 intruders forced their way into a Sporting training session, attacking the players and leaving Dost in hospital.

Things have been bubbling for a while at the club, with the Sporting president suspending 19 players after a disagreement following a defeat to Atletico Madrid.

If Dost wants out, and it might not be difficult to tempt him considering the chaos at the club right now, Southampton should make him priority number one this summer.