Southampton now 'expected to sign two attackers' at St Mary's | OneFootball

Southampton are expected to bring two attacking players in at St. Mary’s for Nathan Jones’ squad during the January transfer window, according to journalist Dean Jones.

The former Luton Town manager was appointed as the Saints’ replacement for Ralph Hasenhüttl in November.

Southampton transfer news – January window

As per HampshireLive, Southampton had been linked with a move for PSV Eindhoven and Netherlands winger Cody Gakpo in the summer, but have now been priced out of a move according to De Telegraaf, with Saints scout Piet Buter suggesting that the World Cup star could now be worth around £47m.

The Premier League side had backed former manager Hasenhüttl with ten signings in the summer, spending around £69m on arrivals according to Transfermarkt.

It now looks as though the club will have to dip into the market again, to back new manager Jones, with the club currently sitting 19th in the Premier League table, two points off safety during the November/December break for the World Cup.

And the journalist expects that the club will bring in two forward-minded players in the new year, and believes that Southampton should look to someone like AZ Alkmaar and Sweden winger Jesper Karlsson.

What has Jones said about Southampton?

Jones told GIVEMESPORT: “I’ve said before, I expect two attackers to come in for the Saints by the end of January. The creator is the one that I’m most intrigued by, so any links to Karlsson are really interesting.”

Who could Southampton look to sign in January?

The aforementioned name of Karlsson would provide an interesting addition at St. Mary’s going into the second half of the campaign, with the Saints in need of someone who is going to be able to provide goals with the side having only been able to net 13 Premier League goals so far this term, as per the league’s official website.

Karlsson has scored three goals and provided the same amount of assists in 11 appearances for AZ this season according to Transfermarkt, suggesting he may not be able to provide the regular source of goals that Jones may be looking for.

The 49-year-old manager may look to turn to his former club in Luton to bring in goalscorers, though this would present a risk with players needing to adapt to the difference between the Championship and Premier League immediately.

The most likely goalscoring option from Kenilworth Road could be that of 26-year-old centre-forward Carlton Morris, who is Luton’s current top scorer for the campaign as per BBC Sport, scoring eight goals and providing two assists in 21 Championship appearances, according to Transfermarkt.

However, it seems unlikely that the Saints would identify anybody worth signing in an attacking sense from Jones’ former club, and a look abroad into Europe may be their transfer policy in the new year.