Thursday 20 October 2016 13:39, UK
Things appear to be clicking into place for Southampton under Claude Puel. The French manager arrived from Nice over the summer to little fanfare and with the enormous task of replacing Ronald Koeman in the dugout.
But after a tricky start, he has now led his team to three wins and one draw in their last four Premier League fixtures. Consequently, it is possible to envisage another season of over-achievement for the south coast outfit.
Year upon year Southampton's best players move on; this summer it was Sadio Mane, last year it was Nathaniel Clyne and Morgan Schneiderlin and in 2014 Luke Shaw, Dejan Lovren and Adam Lallana departed.
Despite this procession of departures, the club continually rebuilds, often coming back stronger than before. The January window could see them make further additions.
In a bid to both reinforce Puel's squad and maintain the principles that have served them so well in recent years, Southampton will likely continue to focus on young players with their careers ahead of them and potential sell-on value.
Here, thanks to help from Football Whispers, we take a look at three players who fit such a policy...
Club: Peterborough United
Position: Central midfielder
Source: The Sun
Current Football Whispers Rating: 1.1 /5
Highest Football Whispers Rating: 1.3/5 (10th October 2016)
Southampton are among a multitude of Premier League clubs rumoured to be interested in signing Peterborough's Leo da Silva Lopes. According to The Sun, Southampton were joined by Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham scouts while running the rule over the 17-year-old during Peterborough's 3-1 win over Bury earlier this month.
It was also reported that Spurs are currently leading the chase, but if Lopes is intent on joining a club with an ability to nurture and develop young players, Saints would also be a good choice.
Born in Portugal, the teenager was spotted by Peterborough while playing for Powerleague FC at the age of 14. One year on, he scored a wonder goal in an FA Youth Cup tie against Notts County and, at just 16 years of age, he made his debut for the first team against Crawley Town. His fast progression could lead him to English football's top tier soon.
Club: Malaga
Position: Attacking midfielder
Source: Futbolistos
Current Football Whispers Rating: 1.2/5
Highest Football Whispers Rating: 1.9/5 (12th October 2016)
Since Puel took charge Southampton have primarily lined up in a rough 4-3-1-2 formation, with Dusan Tadic playing behind Nathan Redmond and Shane Long. And their attacking ranks could be bolstered in January, with Futbolistos reporting that they are interested in adding Malaga's Venezuelan international Juanpi to the squad.
After breaking into the La Liga side's first team last term, where he made 29 league appearances and scored four goals, the 22-year-old has continued to assert himself as one of his team's most exciting and productive forwards this season. With a success rate of 51.7 per cent he is Malaga's most effective dribbler, while he has also created 15 chances in his 585 minutes of game time.
The one stumbling block may be that Malaga are currently trying to extend his current deal to keep him tied to the club until 2020, and that he is reported to be valued at around £18m, which would break Saints' record fee of £15.9m for Sofiane Boufal.
Club: Tottenham Hotspur
Position: Central defender
Source: Klein Zeitung
Current Football Whispers Rating: 1.4/5
Highest Football Whispers Rating: 2/5 (13th October 2016)
So far this Premier League season only two teams - Tottenham and Everton - have conceded fewer goals than Southampton's seven in eight games. Saints' defensive record is in large part down to the fine central defensive partnership formed by Jose Fonte and Virgil van Dijk.
However, with club captain Fonte set to turn 33 in December, Puel may look to bring in a longer-term option soon.
The 23-year-old Austrian Wimmer was impressive when standing in for the injured Jan Vertonghen last term, but has failed to make a single league appearance for Tottenham this campaign. As such, the composed left-footed defender could potentially be open to a move.
"It is difficult at the moment but I am patiently waiting for my chance. I try to always stay positive," Wimmer told Austrian newspaper Kleine Zeitung recently. "The feedback from the club is always that they are very happy; that they see the future with me. This is very positive, but it is about the here and now."
Strong, young and comfortable on the ball, Wimmer would suit Southampton's possession game on the pitch. If more opportunities don't come his way soon at Tottenham, the Saints would be wise to turn their attentions to him.
