There is much speculation linking Saints with just about every player on the Continent, but just where do Saints really need to strengthen their squad.

Saints had their strongest ever squad last season, a situation that was built on careful selling and buying of players over the last two seasons to take the squad from a position of being 13/14 genuine first team contenders plus the rest of the squad being kids or make weights under Mauricio Pochettino to 19/20 truly Premier quality players last season.

But the squad will continue to revolve and in doing so evolve and with the money brought In so far this summer it gives new manager Claude Puel the opportunity to further strengthen his squad to compete in Europe.

But where does it need to be improved ?

The first place is in the centre of defence, last season Saints got lucky in that both Virgil Van Dyke and José Fonte where virtually ever present, but after them that position is weak, Yoshida is not up to the task and Florin Gardos has not played a first team game for 18 months, mostly through injury, but there are questions as to whether he is good enough.

There is also the question of how long José Fonte can keep going, I said a year ago his days might be numbered, but he proved me wrong and once partnered with VVD put in another great season.

But he cannot go on forever and we have to look to bring in a central defender not only in the long run to replace Fonte but also to give us cover.

Second area is whether we need another holding midfielder to replace Wanyama, Saints have plenty of options in the centre, but perhaps lack a true enforcer in the mould of the Kenyan, so this is a second area that we can improve.

With Sadie Mane gone we also need to improve our attacking options and there is also the uncertainty about Pelle's future.

If the Italian does go then we still have Austin, Long, Rodriguez & new signing Nathan Redmond, that is a good base to start with and one that most Premier clubs who finished beneath us would love to have, however it can be improved.

If Pelle, stays then we perhaps need one more option, if he does go then we need another central striker as Austin won't play every game and then perhaps another forward to play off him, last year we hoped Juanmi was that man but it was not the case.

We also need a back up keeper, I would hope that the plan would be to get Gazzaniga out on loan for some confidence and experience and we need to get a decent back up in, perhaps a mid 30's Premier experienced keeper happy to play the role as second choice.

So the reality is that as it stands, Saints need to bring in at least another three players, four if Pelle leaves, however with money in the bank from transfers and perhaps a bit more from the proceeds of last season, we should have enough to bring in players of the quality we need to have a good season on all four fronts.

Photo: Action Images

Dikki_Gutz added 14:20 - Jul 3 You're absolutely right, of course Nick, minimum 4 quality players need urgently. Are you hoping that M.Reed sees your comments? An old Everly Brothers tune comes to mind - "Dream"..................M. Reed - s'il vous plaît aller vite!
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IWOZTHERE added 14:50 - Jul 3 I think the big priority should be an attacking midfielder.Big bucks possibly but get the right one in and I think Romeu is well capable of performing at the back of midfield. We've got £11m to put towards one really top player rather than going for two of less quality. We've been very unfortunate with injuries to Gardos and Jayrod. Will they be 100%? same with Austin and is anybody sure about Clasie one way or the other? There's a lot of wages tied up here and BIG decisions to be made by Puel and co, before our wish list can be really decided. I was hoping we'd do early business this summer but Koeman's exit has put paid to that.

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ElSanto added 18:49 - Jul 3 The players I would like to see come in are: Georginio Wijnaldum Franck Kessié Jonny Evans Then a 2nd keeper and a striker.
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saintsnutcase added 18:53 - Jul 3 Right back is still the weakest position, unless Cedric can step up
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TimSaint added 20:59 - Jul 3 Not the Aston Villa left back please. We have Bertrand with Targett in reserve, so why do the press to continue to link us with an unwanted player, just because he played for the manager before. The Villa defensive midfielder I wouldn't mind as a Wanyama replacement and is a player we could probably pick up relatively cheaply.
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IWOZTHERE added 14:12 - Jul 4 The Villa 'left' back is supposed to be OK on the right as well.I think Romeu is very capable as a defensive midfielder. He did well enough despite being messed about by Koeman. Top creative midfielder please?
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aceofthebase added 14:34 - Jul 4 Who do we need to sell is the other side of the coin. Doubt we would get a euro for Pele after that miss despite him playing well.
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IWOZTHERE added 14:53 - Jul 4 I was mistaken above. Sidibe is the one who can play right and left back I think?
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davenbennett added 16:31 - Jul 4 I think 6 are needed. Back up keeper Better CB than Yoshida and Gardos. Hope that Gardos can be 4th change Better RB than Cedric or Martina. However, did see that Cedric was in top 20 fastest Prem players. Just too small for me. Replacement for Wanyama. A versatile player who can fill any back 4 role. Better MF playmaker than Classie. Another forward. Whether we go for like for like Pelle replacement, or more of a winger, I am unsure. Austin could be like for like, but will he last a season? Long can play CF, and did well, but I do like a big man up top. I do not think Jay Rod is as strong as Pelle as an out an out CF, and would play him wide, or No.10. Team and cover Forster – cover AN other LB Bertrand – Targett cover RB an other – Cedric cover CB Van Dyke – Gardos cover CB Fonte – an other cover CMF Romeu – an other cover CMF Classie or better (J W-P cover?) MF Davis - Jay Rod cover MF Tadjic – cover Redmond CF Austin (or better) an other cover CF Long – Jay Rod cover I would also add a versatile cover for all back 4. With Jay Rod and Redmond on bench, got attacking options. Of course, if Redmond shows he is worth a first team place, as with any other player, would have him in for whoever, is either injured, suspended or lost form. We also do not know what is really coming through the youth team. Is Stephens near, after good display in U20s win in France? McCarthy is off on loan – Walsall was it? Harry Reed? Koeman thought the U21s were not good enough. Was he right?

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1970 added 23:16 - Jul 5 For the 11 mill we paid for Redmon we should of included Declan Rudd as well, but Villa have a decent keeper in Mark Bunn I cant see he'd go for much and if Villa will sell, I'd like to see Gardos given some time on the pitch I also think we are going to have to create our own replacement for Fonte (Turnball, Stephens, McCarthy) may be, I'd be inclined to panic a little now Victor has gone because even though I don't have a problem with Romeu, I do think that JWP, Classie, and Davis are very similar players so I would encourage the sale of Classie for say 8-10 mill, add that to the war chest we have and we should add Luca Biglia (8-10mill) to our centre midfield he is excellent on the ball and ex first touch with an excellent short pass rate, and our marque signing I would love for us to add Javi Martinez (18-20mill) to our forward thinking midfield and if we lose Pelle then I do like the thought of signing Berahino but as long as he's switched on, just imagine all that pace and creative ideas up front I think it would be very exciting, its highly likely that our u21's are a little behind where we would like, but I'd like to think Ronald was covering for his backroom teams coaching inadequacies rather than a poor youth team, I thought we were training Stephens for a right back role but Cedric ticks a lot of boxes for me but by no means all so we have to get an alternative, coyr

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