With the January transfer window about to open, we are about to enter a silly season on transfers. Clubs pushing for honours will be looking for the final piece of the puzzle to give them the edge over their rivals, those at the bottom will be desperate to make the signings to pull them out of the drop zone. Having begun the season amongst many pundits' candidates for relegation and now instead flying high in fourth place going into the new year, Southampton are not so obviously in need of new additions. However, the need to maintain this, perhaps unexpected, early momentum with a squad that is undoubtedly thin in places makes Saints a club that could use a couple of well chosen signings in January. Despite Southampton's impressive form across the first half of the season and the seemingly endless production line of young talent emerging from the club's academy, they have sometimes struggled against the top clubs and have looked a little toothless in attack in the absence of star forwards Graziano Pelle and Dusan Tadic. A further note of concern exists for Saints and manager Ronald Koeman in how the team continuing to punch above their weight may well lead to another exodus of talent as occurred over the summer. With playmaker Morgan Schneiderlin, England right back Nathaniel Clyne and currently injured forward Jay Rodriguez all targeted by higher profile clubs, now must be the time for Saints to consider alternatives in their positions. The club have already wrapped up a loan deal for Dutch winger Eljero Elia from Werder Bremen as soon as the January window opens and have been linked with a number of further deals. Any of these ten rumoured Southampton targets could be lining up at St. Mary's come February.
