Southampton “definitely” want to add one more forward to their squad in the final weeks of the summer transfer window, according to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook.
The south coast outfit endured a tough start to the 2022-23 campaign with a 4-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, which highlighted their need for more additions in the attacking third.
Do Southampton need another forward?
It very much looks as though they do, especially after losing both Shane Long and Chelsea loanee Armando Broja from their squad from last season.
While they have brought in Sekou Mara from Bordeaux, the young 20-year-old was taken off at half-time in Saints’ final pre-season friendly against Villarreal before failing to make the matchday squad at all for the loss in north London.
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Adam Armstrong started up top against Antonio Conte’s men with the linked-away Che Adams surprisingly remaining as an unused substitute, with Stuart Armstrong and Joe Aribo favoured in the most advanced positions in the second half after the former Blackburn Rovers man was substituted at the interval.
While Southampton took the lead through James Ward-Prowse, they didn’t look particularly threatening at Tottenham as they produced just two shots on target in the 90 minutes.
What did Crook say about Southampton’s forward search?
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the talkSPORT reporter confirmed that Ralph Hasenhuttl is looking for another new signing in attack and that they have a decent budget for the right player.
Crook said: “They definitely want one more forward. They’ve got a fairly decent budget to spend on that forward too. Liam Delap is on their list, but at this stage he is more likely to leave Man City on loan.”
Which striker could Southampton sign?
Southampton have been linked with a few strikers throughout the summer window, including Delap as mentioned by Crook.
However, with City seemingly unwilling to let him leave on a permanent basis it may raise doubts over any potential deal.
Saints have also been linked with other centre-forwards such as Lyon’s Moussa Dembele and Stuttgart’s Sasa Kalajdzic, and it may well be that they are waiting for the dominoes to fall into place at other clubs before they are able to secure their preferred targets.
Hasenhuttl has admitted himself that they "need" a striker for this current formation, so fans will be hoping that Sport Republic get a deal done sooner rather than later following a tough start to the campaign which has left them bottom of the Premier League table.