How Southampton could line up next season with Birmingham’s Che Adams, Huddersfield’s Aaron Mooy and Bristol City’s Adam Webster
Southampton fans should be upbeat ahead of Ralph Hasenhuttl’s first full season in charge.
The Austrian replaced Mark Hughes with Saints in the relegation zone in December.
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And he was able to guide Southampton to safety with an upturn in results which included impressive wins over Arsenal, Tottenham and Everton.
Regularly switching between a back three and a back four, Hasenhuttl’s style of football has impressed the St Mary’s faithful.
Southampton are set for a summer clear-out, however, with Fraser Forster, Wesley Hoedt, Cedric Soares, Sofiane Boufal and Guido Carrillo reportedly heading for the exit door.
Selling those five players would free up funds and allow Hasenhuttl to bring in his own players.
The club have already signed Moussa Djenepo for £14million from Standard Liege.
The 21-year-old winger, who put pen-to-paper on a four-year deal last month, could have to bide his time before regularly starting Premier League games.
Southampton have also been linked with Birmingham star Che Adams, Huddersfield midfielder Aaron Mooy and Bristol City’s in-demand defender Adam Webster.
Those three players would be stellar additions to Hasenhuttl’s side.
So, how could Southampton line up next season?
4-4-2
Southampton striker Danny Ings will be looking to kick on after an encouraging debut season on the south coast.
The 26-year-old scored seven Premier League goals in a campaign which was disrupted by muscle injuries.
Having a strike partner in Adams, who could cost up to £14million, would add even more pace to Southampton’s frontline.
Hasenhuttl has used a flat and a diamond 4-4-2 formation at times and deployed Nathan Redmond as a makeshift striker.
Adams’ potential arrival would allow Redmond to return to his natural position on the left wing, with James Ward-Prowse, whose game hugely improved under Hasenhuttl, on the opposite flank.
Mooy could battle Southampton midfielders Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Mario Lemina and Oriol Romeu, for the two starting places in the middle of the park.
Young right-back Yan Valery enjoyed a breakthrough season last term, while Ryan Bertrand is a consistent performer at left-back.
In the heart of defence, Webster could partner Jan Bednarek, another player who benefited from Hasenhuttl’s arrival, with Angus Gunn in goal.
3-4-3
As previously mentioned, Hasenhuttl seemed to favour a back-three formation.
It gave Valery and Bertrand more attacking freedom in the wide areas.
If Ings’ injury problems persist, Adams, who netted 22 times last season, could lead the line with Ward-Prowse and Redmond close in support.
Jack Stephens or Jannik Vestergaard could join Webster and Bednarek in defence.
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