Three Replacements For Dusan Tadic That Southampton Can Consider
Over the past few years, Southampton have been doing really well in the Premier League. Under Mauricio Pochettino, then Ronald Koeman and now under Claude Puel, the Saints have managed to establish themselves as a top-half club in the English top division, just a few years after their promotion.
One of the key presence in this journey for the South Coast club has been Dusan Tadic. The 28-year old Serbian international arrived at the St. Mary’s in the summer of 2014 as the first signing under Koeman and since then has gone onto become a prominent player for the club over the past three years. This season, he finished with 3 goals and 6 assists from 44 games across all competitions – not his best in terms of returns.
However, Southampton might be set to lose him in the summer, as reports claim that West Ham United are close to signing Tadic. There has been rumours over the player’s growing frustration at being regularly substituted by new boss Claude Puel and now it looks like he has set his sights firmly on an exit. If it so happens that Tadic ends up leaving the St. Mary’s in the summer, here are 3 replacements that Southampton should look to sign.
Ross Barkley (Everton)
Ross Barkley would be an excellent signing for Southampton in all aspects. He is English, he is extremelt talented, is entering the final year of his contract, and hasn’t yet signed a new one with his current club.
Though the England international did not have that good a season and finished with 6 goals and 8 assists from 39 games across all competitions, he has proven that he has what it takes to excel at this stage and has shown loads of promise and potential. Someone who can play in any position in the attacking line, Barkley can score and create chances and offers a good work rate too. His wage demands could prove to be a stumbling block, but the statement that the Saints would be making by his signature will be huge.
Gylfi Sigurdsson (Swansea City)
Gylife Sigurdsson certainly deserves to play at a club that is better than Swansea City and Southampton would be so apt for him.
Sigurdsson has been one of the most underrated playmakers in the Premier League for the past couple of years. He was once again the key man behind Swansea surviving the drop to the Championship, finishing with 9 goals and 13 assists. Considering his age, ability to play through the middle or on the flanks and his better creative prowess, the Icelandic international will be a definite upgrade on Tadic and with his best years ahead of him, can become Southampton’s star man for years to come.
Gonzalo Castro (Borussia Dortmund)
Another player who is hardly given his due, Borussia Dortmund’s Gonzalo Castro should be an option for Southampton in case they lose Tadic in the summer.
The 29-year old German international provides great options to the manager with his ability to play anywhere in the midfield, be it in an advanced role or a withdrawn role or on the wings. Castro has been a consistent performer for Die Borussen since his transfer two seasons back and finished the previous campaign with 4 goals and 7 assists from 41 games across all competitions. An excellent passer, an equally good finisher and adept at taking set-pieces, Castro ticks almost all boxes needed to excel as an attacking midfielder and could be a good addition for the Saints.
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