This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
If any of the St Mary’s faithful out there were expecting masses of cash to be thrown around on the south coast this January, there may be some bad news in store for them.
In a Q&A chat with The Athletic’s Southampton correspondent Carl Anka, one person asked if there was an update on reported centre-back target Aaron Long, or any other news on a centre-back coming to the club during the January window.
Anka’s response left a lot to be desired, although there was one nugget of information that is telling.
What did he say?
The question put to Anka was written as follows: “Any updates or thoughts on Aaron Long or any other CBs coming in during the Jan transfer?”
Anka then responded: “Played a fun game with a Southampton staff member this week where they got me to imagine what positions I’d spend £30m on. Which is pretty much in line with their £15m spending cap. I’ve looked into Long and he seems… fine as a CB. As ever, my focus is on current Saints players right now.”
Suggests Gao Jisheng won’t splash the cash
Anka’s analysis on Long, as aforesaid, left a lot to be desired with the vague description that the USA international is ‘fine’ – however, the spending cap news is interesting.
The Mirror (print version, 12 November, page 53) revealed that Hasenhuttl is targeting a right-back and a ‘top quality’ centre-back in the January window, and while that might still happen, the St Mary’s faithful probably shouldn’t expect any marquee names to come in due to Gao Jisheng’s cap of £15m per player, it seems.
In the modern transfer market, that kind of money doesn’t stretch too far – in fact, that is the maximum amount that the Saints spent on their two main summer arrivals in £15m Che Adams and Moussa Djenepo, who also cost £15m.
Those who hold Southampton close to them may presumably be hoping for defensive reinforcements, as they have been forced to watch their beloved side conceded 35 goals in 16 Premier League outings this term, more than any other team.
However, they should not get their hopes up too much given this fresh spending cap news.
In other news, this Southampton man responded superbly to Hasenhuttl’s open criticism of his lifestyle…