Claude Puel’s Southampton suffered a 12th Premier League defeat of the season on Sunday after going down 2-1 at in-form Tottenham.

The Saints were hoping to back up successive away wins over Sunderland and Watford with another three points at White Hart Lane, but first half goals from Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli knocked the stuffing out of the South Coast outfit.

James Ward-Prowse did give them hope minutes into the second period with his third goal of the season, but it wasn’t enough to prevent an eighth away loss of the campaign.

Nonetheless, there does appear to be some good news off the pitch for Southampton, as reports today suggest that the club could well be taken over by Chinese property development company Landers Sports Development in the near future.

It is reported that they will buy the full 100% stake in the Premier League side in a takeover worth £190 million, and that could mean that manager Puel may have a sizable transfer budget to spend in the summer in a bid to bolster his squad at St Mary’s.

So, with that in mind, here are THREE top transfer targets the Southampton boss may look to spend the money on this summer…

Kevin Wimmer

Southampton were hit by a double blow at the back in January as captain Jose Fonte left the club for West Ham, and Virgil van Dijk suffered an ankle injury in the 3-0 success over Leicester.

That has left Maya Yoshida and Jack Stephens as their first choice central defensive partnership, and although both are solid defenders, Puel will likely want reinforcements in the summer, especially if interest once again mounts in Dutch international van Dijk.

And one man they have been linked to in the past, and may be again in the summer, is Tottenham defender Kevin Wimmer, who has struggled for first team football this term.

The Austrian international has started just four Premier League games so far, and hasn’t really excelled in any of them, yet he did show last season his capabilities in the centre of defence when he deputised for the injured Jan Vertonghen.

Wimmer is 24 and may need to consider moving for first team football in the summer, and Southampton could be the ideal destination.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is reportedly ready to leave the Emirates this summer after failing to regularly nail down a spot in Arsene Wenger’s starting eleven.

The England star has made 23 appearances in the Premier League this season, but only 12 of those have been starts, and although he has been a feature in the side over recent weeks, he reportedly does not want to extend his contract at the club, which is set to expire in 2018.

Thus, interest has been mounting about who could move for the 23-year-old, and although Southampton haven’t been one side linked with him yet, they have been in the past, and their prior links with Oxlade-Chamberlain could persuade the midfielder to return to St Mary’s.

It was from Southampton where Oxlade-Chamberlain made the move to the Emirates back in 2011, and it could be there where he tries to reinvigorate his career after a tricky few years at Arsenal.

Daniel Sturridge

Manolo Gabbiadini has hit the ground running at Southampton since his move from Napoli in the summer, yet you cannot have enough strikers in the squad.

And that’s why Puel could move for Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge in the summer, with the England forward struggling to convince Reds boss Jurgen Klopp of his ability as a striker in his side.

The 27-year-old has managed just five Premier League starts this term, the latest of which coming back on January 2 at Sunderland, and with the likes of Sadio Mane, Philippe Coutinho, and Roberto Firmino ahead of him in the pecking order, as well as his own injury issues, he doesn’t look like getting in the team any time soon.

Thus, Sturridge may be looking for a route out of Anfield this summer in a bid to resurrect his club career and save his international one, and Southampton may be the ideal place for him to go.

The Saints cannot rely on Charlie Austin given his injury record, and although Shane Long and Jay Rodriguez are both good forwards, neither are hugely prolific goal-scorers, leaving Gabbiadini as the main option.

Puel’s men were loosely linked with Sturridge earlier in the season, and should reignite their interest in the summer if they are to go to the next level.