Southampton enter the new season with a new manager, Mauricio Pellegrino, having sacked Frenchman Claude Puel after just a year at the club.
After managing just two more goals than relegated Sunderland last season, Pellegrino has been briefed with improving Southampton’s goal threat and seeing them challenge for a European place once again.
The fixture list has been kind to the new boss.
In their first five game weeks (SWA, WHU, hudd, WAT, cpl) Southampton do not face a side that finished in the top half of the Premier League table last season, representing the perfect opportunity for a flying start to the new campaign.
With such fantastic fixtures and the shackles off their attackers, Southampton players are set to be popular options. Here I look at three of the south coast side’s best options.
RYAN BERTRAND
Despite being the most expensive of the Southampton defenders, left-back Ryan Bertrand looks to be the safest pick.
Portuguese right back Cedric has lacked minutes during pre season and new singing Jan Bednarek provides competition to the current favoured centre-back partnership of Maya Yoshida andJack Stephens. Meanwhile, Virgil Van Dijk waits on the sidelines having handed in a transfer request.
At Pellegrino’s previous club – Deportivo Alaves – his fullbacks had the licence to get forward and join the attack, which adds to the appeal of Bertrand, who managed five assists in the previous campaign.
With the possibility of high attacking returns from the Saints fullbacks this season, the English international could offer excellent value at just £5.5m.
MANOLO GABBIADINI
Throughout the whole of pre-season one of the main topics of Southampton conversation was whether Charlie Austin or Manolo Gabbiadini would start Gameweek 1.
The Englishman managed two goals in pre season and the Italian managed the same tally plus an assist. But with the former benched in Southampton’s final friendly it looks like Gabbiadini may have the edge.
Despite letting many down with a lacklustre display at the end of last season, we all know what the former Napoli man is capable of, after his emphatic entrance to the league last February. The £7.0m Italian could prove excellent value if he nails his spot in the starting 11 and on the evidence of pre-seasonite looks likely he will be Southampton’s chief weapon in attack.
JAMES WARD-PROWSE
Priced at just £5.5m, the England U21 could be a great differential ahead of the upcoming season. A 4-2-3-1 formation seems to be Pellegrino’s preferred set up and Ward-Prowse currently the preferred option in an advanced midfield role.
Pre-season has also hinted that the youngster is currently on corner duty but there is still some confusion demanding free kicks with both Ward-Prowse and Gabbiadni sharing them during pre season. Despite getting only one goal and an assist in pre-season, the England U21 captain looks to have a big season ahead of him and could prove to be a bargain.
There is a caveat though, with Southampton bringing in Mario Lemina from Juventus. It remains to be seen whether the Gabon international will threaten his place or be utilised in a more central midfield role.
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