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da doce： Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl is clearly already thinking ahead to the summer transfer window given his comments before the trip to West Ham United this weekend, and he has hinted at the type of profile of player the club will sign.
What’s the word, then?
Well, despite only having nine points when the Austrian replaced Mark Hughes in December, the south coast outfit have secured their Premier League survival with two matches to spare.
Now the work will begin to ensure they aren’t battling relegation for a third successive top-flight season, and that will include bringing new players to the club before the next campaign kicks off in August.
What’s Hasenhuttl said?
When asked about new signings in his pre-match press conference on Thursday, the 51-year-old told southamptonfc.com: “I guarantee we will try to bring players here who see us as the next step in their development.
“That is the most important goal we have – that they are not too old, they are signing their first or second contract and they see us as a big chance to show up in the Premier League.
“If they are hungry and want to hunt, then they are welcome and can help us to develop this club.”
Sensible idea?
It certainly is.
Following a successful period where they signed the best younger players from smaller European leagues – see Sadio Mane and Virgil van Dijk who shone for the club before moving on – Saints’ success in the transfer market has seriously regressed in recent years.
Now is the time to revert back to their old ways, and that means signing players that are aware that if they succeed at St Mary’s, it could be a springboard for a move to a Liverpool or a Manchester City.
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Hasenhuttl’s comments indicate that Southampton will likely be targeting players in their late teens/early 20s, which is backed up by the fact that the Daily Mail reported this week they are ready to ramp up their interest in 22-year-old Birmingham City attacker Che Adams.