Don Hutchison has expressed his worry for Southampton who could lose more players this summer, including James Ward-Prowse to Aston Villa and Jannik Vestergaard to Leicester, as he told BBC Radio 5 Live Sport.
Southampton lost star striker Danny Ings to Aston Villa this summer and Hutchison touched upon the same side now ‘sniffing’ for Ward-Prowse’s services.
Last season, for the second time under Ralph Hasenhüttl’s reign, the Saints were hit for nine as they ended the season descending down the Premier League table.
Given the players they have lost and who they could lose before the window slams shut, Hutchison thinks Southampton are going to finish in the bottom five next season.
“I just wonder if it might be a harsh one,” said Hutchison. “But I just wonder if Southampton might go the season or close to going.
“I just think the turnover of players that have left Southampton – they might be losing Vestergaard to Leicester.
“They still have Aston Villa sniffing on James Ward-Prowse. And we have seen Southampton during the last couple of seasons get done with a couple of nine’s.
“I hope not. But when I got asked the other day what my bottom five would be and I had Southampton as my bottom five.”
Southampton have been pretty swift to replace Ings because Adam Armstrong has been the man added to replace the England international.
But the next piece of business might just be their best and that’s keeping hold of the players they currently have.
There were suggestions that Villa could push for Ward-Prowse, whilst Leicester losing Wesley Fofana to a long-term injury means Brendan Rodgers will be desperate to bring in a centre-back.
Either way, a tough season may well be awaiting those on the South Coast.
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