Southampton and Newcastle United appear to be in danger of relegation from the Premier League.
It is not a great time to be Alan Shearer. Two of his beloved former clubs are continuing to struggle in the Premier League right now with Southampton and Newcastle United both seemingly sleepwalking towards a relegation battle.
The troubled sides played out a dismal goalless draw at St Mary’s on Saturday which seemed to sum up the lack of quality in their respective squads with a dearth of reliable goalscorers a very clear problem.
Between them, Southampton and Newcastle have won just one game out of a combined 20 Premier League games and have both mustered six goals apiece.
But Shearer believes that Southampton have one advantage over Newcastle – the ability to invest decent sums on new players.
“The problem that Rafa and Newcastle have got, is that he is shopping in Aldi,” the Premier League’s all-time top scorer told Coral.
“Where other teams in and around him – Southampton spent £13m on a reserve goalkeeper – Newcastle have spent £10m on a centre-forward.”
Shearer makes a good point. The fact that Southampton can spend £13 million on Angus Gunn and leave him on the bench is in stark contrast to Newcastle, who invested just £23 million on new players in another hugely frustrating transfer window.
The Saints also have the funds to buy their way out of danger in January – but it remains to be seen whether Mike Ashley will let Benitez add some much-needed quality to his limited squad.
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