Why Southampton must beat Everton and Newcastle to Malaga’s Sandro Ramirez

Southampton travel to Liverpool this Sunday (1.30pm kick-off) hoping to consolidate their position in the top half of the Premier League.

Claude Puel’s men could only muster a 0-0 draw at home to relegation-threatened Hull City on Saturday to extend their winless league run to three matches, but it at least did stop the rot after heavy defeats to Chelsea and Manchester City in their preceding games.

And they’ll have the chance to again test themselves against a top six side when they visit Anfield on Sunday, with Jurgen Klopp’s men looking for the three points which would help them secure a place in the Champions League next term.

However, the Saints themselves have a target of recording a fourth successive top-half finish in the Premier League, yet their biggest issue this season has been the lack of goals they have scored, bagging just 39 in the league thus far.

That’s the joint-least alongside West Brom in the top half of the Premier League, so it’s no surprise that they have been linked with a striker in the last few days, namely Malaga forward Sandro Ramirez.

The 21-year-old has been in sensational form for the La Liga outfit this season, scoring 13 goals in 27 league games for the club, and thus helping them avoid relegation from the top tier.

And he is exactly the sort of signing Southampton need to be making ahead of the likes of Everton and Newcastle to try and make the step up to that next level.

And that’s because their biggest issue, as aforementioned, has been the lack of goals they have scored this term.

Puel’s men have managed a meagre tally of just 39 goals in their 33 Premier League matches, and although some of that can be attributed to injuries to Charle Austin and Dusan Tadic, the other striking options haven’t really stepped up, Manolo Gabbiadini aside.

Shane Long and Jay Rodriguez have made 50 Premier League appearances between them this season, equating to 1878 minutes of football, and have just seven goals to show for it.

Sofiane Boufal, who cost the club £16 million this summer, has netted just once in the Premier League, while Nathan Redmond has arguably had a fine first season at St Mary’s, but playing in a more advanced position, he probably should have scored more than six Premier League goals.

And that’s why a striker like Sandro, who’s young, agile, quick, strong, and has a great vision, would be perfect for his side.

Gabbiadini’s signing gave the club a huge lift back in January such were the concerns about their goal-scoring exploits, and he has repaid the favour with a fine start to life in England.

The same could happen with Sandro, who reportedly has a €6 million release clause in his contract, and at a price like that, in this day and age, the Saints have surely got nothing to lose.

Long and Rodriguez clearly aren’t fancied by Puel, for whatever reason, and although Austin is probably the best finisher at the club, his injury record is of concern – it also remains to be seen how Gabbiadini gets on once he plays more matches and defences become more accustomed to what he’s about.

Thus, Sandro could come in and give Southampton that air of unpredictability going forward – he has scored big goals in big games for Malaga this term, and at 21 years of age, he has confidence and exuberance needed to thrive in English football.

He could lead the line at St Mary’s for many years to come, and with the Saints looking at how they can bridge the gap to the top sides, and perhaps again go in search of domestic trophies, signing one of Europe’s highest-rated youngsters is a step in the right direction.

Thus, it’s a deal Puel and the Southampton hierarchy need to get done this summer.