Southampton had a season of two halves in the 2021/22 campaign, and this summer, Ralph Hasenhuttl will be looking to improve the Saints in a big way with some much-needed signings.
The south coast side have become a steady Premier League club under the Austrian manager, yet now Southampton should be looking at breaking into that next level, with the Saints last finishing in the top half of the Premier League table in 2017 under Claude Puel.
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However, with the future of captain James Ward-Prowse up in the air and last season’s loan star Armando Broja unlikely to return to St. Mary’s, Southampton face a massive challenge in trying to keep their key midfielder as well as adding goals to the squad.
Indeed, with all that said, what could Southampton’s potential XI look like next season, and what signings could be made to improve a club that at one point was one of the most promising and exciting in the Premier League.
Bartlomiej Dragowski and Timo Hubers form base with Mohammed Salisu
Goalkeeper has been a problem area for Southampton for what feels like an eternity. However, this summer now looks to be the one where Hasenhuttl brings in some serious quality into the position, with Bartlomiej Dragowski reportedly close to signing for the Saints.
The Serie A star, once hailed as a wonderkid, has been impressive for ACF Fiorentina over years, and the now 24-year-old looks set to join Southampton from Tuscany, with FC Koln defender Timo Hubers also on the Saints’ radar and included in our potential XI.
With Tino Livramento one of the breakout stars of last season and still only 19-years-old, the former Chelsea academy star retains his position at right-back, with Kyle Walker-Peters starting at left-back following on from a campaign where the fullback won his first senior England cap.
James Ward-Prowse stays as Emmanuel Dennis starts at the left-wing
Keeping hold of Ward-Prowse will arguably be more important for Southampton than any other midfield signing, with the England international enjoying his best season to date and reportedly attracting interest from the likes of Tottenham.
However, in our XI, the Saints captain remains at the club, with Oriel Romeu partnering the midfielder in what has become a reliable pivot for Southampton. The wings, though, are where this area of the pitch gets interesting.
Watford star Emmanuel Dennis is reportedly on Southampton’s radar, and the Nigerian international could be an outstanding signing for the left-wing if Hasenhuttl can beat Premier League rivals to the forward’s signature, whilst in our XI, Mohamed Elyounoussi starts on the right, with the Norway international enjoying a rather underrated season for the Saint last campaign with eight goals in just 33 matches.
Bayern Munich target Sasa Kalajdzic partners Che Adams in the attack
Adam Armstrong was signed last summer to replace Danny Ings, and despite arriving with a big reputation from the Championship, the Newcastle-born striker has so far struggled to adapt to Premier League football, with the forward being benched for Broja for most of the season.
With reports of a loan move to Middlesbrough swirling around, a new striker is on the cards for Southampton this summer, and if rumours are to be true, Hasenhuttl is keen on signing fellow countryman Sasa Kalajdzic, who is also a £21m target for Bayern Munich to replace Robert Lewandowski.
Southampton have a knack for signing players wanted by other clubs, and with first-team football guaranteed on the south coast under an Austrian manager, Kalajdzic could be tempted to join the Saints this summer, with the striker perfect for Adams’ style of play.
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