Pundit View: Matt Le Tissier on Southampton’s summer transfer window

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Sky Sports pundit and former Southampton and England midfielder Matt Le Tissier has been giving his opinion on what’s needed in Ralph Hasenhuttl’s first summer transfer window in charge.

What’s he said, then?

The Saints enter the summer months needing to rebuild after two consecutive brushes with relegation from the Premier League – they must elevate themselves back into mid-table and start looking back up to Europe.

Recruitment is needed in some areas and in others the south coast club have to get rid of players, but Le Tissier seems to want Southampton to focus on the wrong places. As quoted by The Southern Daily Echo, here’s what the legend Le Tissier had to say on where Saints need to strengthen…

“I think we need another forward. I think we need one or two centre-backs and probably I’d expect another left-back.

“I think in the last couple of seasons Ryan hasn’t been as dynamic as he was in the first seasons he was here.

“I think Matt [Targett] has struggled a little bit if I’m honest in that position. I am not sure whether he is a long-term replacement for Ryan in that left-back role.

“That might be a bit harsh on him because he might kick-on again because he is still young and still has improvement in him.”

Left-back upgrade unnecessary

It’s true that Bertrand has struggled to hit the heights of his first few seasons at Southampton, when he was part of one of the best defences in the Premier League and looked worthy of returning to the top six after joining the club from Chelsea.

But he still plays to a good standard and even if he’s no longer marauding down the wing, he’s a safe, experienced and solid option who has shown what he can do in the top flight. A lot of Premier League clubs would likely be willing to take Bertrand should Saints put him in the shop window.

Targett, meanwhile, is an academy product and scored the goal that essentially sealed Southampton’s survival against Bournemouth, a truly special moment. Aged 23, he should be coming into his own just now and while he hasn’t consistently shown Premier League ability, it would seem a waste for Saints to bring in a new left-back when he could feasibly take the reins from Bertrand in a few years.

And the fact of the matter is that money used to buy a left-back could be spent on other areas. Le Tissier outlined centre-back and the forward line as problem areas and they should be the priority. Perhaps the left-back situation needs addressing at some point, but for Hasenhuttl’s first summer there are bigger fish to fry.