Arron Sanders ponders the question that Southampton FC should concentrate on trimming the size of the squad and the wage bill, before they think of adding to it,
Southampton have had a positive start to their summer, with a first signing and new first team manager already secured ahead of the new season, however with an exceedingly large squad on the books attention has to now switch to sales and reducing the wage bill at St Mary’s.
All three managers across last season, had the issue of having to work with a squad size bigger than they would have liked to have had in the building on top of those who were sent out on loan that are due to return for pre season training at the end of the month just conducting a training session could be made more awkward for new boss Will Still.
Tentative links away from the media, for the likes of Aaron Ramsdale, Tyler Dibling and Taylor Harwood-Bellis have yet to materialise into any meaningful in terms of a bid for the players and with a week of the first part of the transfer window already passed by, a slight concern about the ability to offload players this summer is food for thought.
Johannes Spors and his newly formed recruitment team, will be tested more in securing exits for players that financially benefit the club and helps bring the squad size back down to a more manageable level whilst retaining a level in quality good enough to fight for promotion at the first time of asking.
Fringe players like Paul Onuachu, Charlie Taylor, Armel Bella-Kotchap and Ryan Fraser are highly unlikely to be in the mix for next season and are the types of player who Spors’ team should be looking to move on to get our squad size down.
Who do you think we should be looking to move on this summer? Do you agree that we need to reduce the size of the squad and focus on sales? I want to know your thoughts in the comments below.