Real Concern for Southampton as Transfer Window Passes

With the end of the transfer window in sight, one club and their fans are increasingly concerned with their position. Despite Southampton having signed Guido Carrillo from AS Monaco for a fee around the 19 million mark, many are wondering if this is enough to help the team propel themselves from the threat of relegation.

The deal for Quincy Promes from Spartak Moscow had its complications from the start and despite trying to complete the deal, the club could not finalize key details. With the club recruitment policy that Southampton employs, it comes somewhat as a surprise that there were no further options for the club to pursue.

From the outside, Southampton fans are massively disgruntled the club has not invested money derived from the sale of Virgil Van Dijk. The club severely needed to bring in a center-half this January to help Dutchman Wesley Hoedt at the heart of the defense. In fact, there was very little to no interest in a central defender throughout the majority of the window and a move looks highly unlikely at this point in time.

The team needs a significant lift and if a change of personnel is off the table, a change in the manager is the next best option, with Mauricio Pellegrino under pressure to rectify the team's current 19th place. With Mark Hughes and Marco Silva without clubs, they will surely be in the minds of the Southampton board if change is on the horizon.

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Watching the other clubs who face the threat of relegation busy and working hard to make additions to their squads would have been extremely disheartening for Southampton fans. The change of fortunes of Swansea under new manager Carlos Carvahal will be a concern for the club. Daniel Sturridge joining West Brom on loan and Islam Slimani joining Newcastle on loan will certainly give each these clubs a boost going into the second half of the season. As a result, they could potentially leave Southampton behind in the race to beat the buzzer.

There have certainly been options for Southampton to add additional players to their squad over the course of January and even moving into the last day of the transfer window. If the team had made a move for a center-half, Michael Keane would have been a loan option for the club. Moreover, Daley Blind at Manchester United could have been a viable option on a short-term loan.

The talented Davy Klaasen has no future at Everton, and it behooves many fans as to why the club would not try and make a move for the talented Dutchman. The treatment Klaasen has received at Everton has been unjustified and it is likely he is looking for a change of venue and more receptive fans. Eric Lamela of Tottenham could have been a short-term option for the club given the signing of Lucas Moura for the North London club. Lamela is a top-class player in need of regaining full fitness, while Southampton needs extra quality in their team.

Southampton fans especially will feel that this transfer window has been a missed opportunity for the club. Seeing Daniel Sturridge and Slimani joining rival clubs will be a massive disappointment for the Southampton fans. Especially when they might have thought their own team could make a move for these players themselves. It will be a big fight against the drop this season for Southampton and this January transfer window will not have helped the teams cause.