Saturday 8 August 2015 10:25, UK
All the transfer news, statistics, pundit views and odds ahead of Southampton's 2015/16 season.
Position last season: 7th
Sky Bet title odds: 200/1
Ins: Steven Caulker (QPR, loan), Jordy Clasie (Feyenoord), Juanmi (Malaga), Cuco Martina (Twente), Cedric Soares (Sporting), Maarten Stekelenburg (Fulham, loan)
Outs: Artur Boruc (Bournemouth), Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool), Cody Cropper, Jos Hooiveld, Dani Osvaldo, Omar Rowe, Jake Sinclair (all released), Morgan Schneiderlin (Manchester United), Sam Gallagher (MK Dons, loan), Jake Stephens (Middlesbrough, loan).
Overview
It’s been another summer of high-profile departures for Southampton with Nathaniel Clyne and Morgan Schneiderlin leaving and Toby Alderweireld electing to move to Tottenham. But the events of last summer highlight the dangers of writing off Ronald Koeman’s men.
Saints have busily set about replacing the familiar names with the likes of Juanmi and Jordy Clasie - both of whom boast strong reputations in their respective homelands - coming in and with Jay Rodriguez also back to full fitness, the feel-good factor remains.
Repeating last season’s seventh-place finish might be too much to ask, especially with the Europa League to contend with, but there seems to be a strength in depth at St Mary’s to suggest there’ll be no repeat of the doom and gloom of last season's predictions.
Matt Le Tissier's view: "I think even with Europa League commitments Ronald Koeman will be looking at a top-half finish from Southampton this season. I'd expect a couple more additions to the squad before the window closes, following the departures of Clyne and Schneiderlin, as well as the end of Alderweireld's loan. If they can do that, then I believe they can finish ninth, along with decent runs in a couple of the cup competitions."
Opta stats
- Last season, Southampton became the first team in the Premier League era to score five goals in the first-half of a match and five goals in the second-half of a match in the same season.
- Sadio Mane's hat-trick for Southampton against Aston Villa in 2014/15 took just two minutes and 56 seconds, the fastest ever seen in the Premier League.
- Last season, the Saints enjoyed their best ever Premier League season in terms of most points (60) and highest final position (7th).
