Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl recently revealed that the Saints will try to sign a few players but highlighted that the big change he will make is developing the infrastructure of the club. Under the German, Southampton staved off relegation and are in 16th position with one game to go in the league.
Goal-scoring has been a major concern for the Saints this season, with the club scoring just 44 goals in the league. Their joint top-scorers, Danny Ings and James Ward-Prowse have scored just 7 goals this year in the league, which is not good enough in the Premier League.
The Saints have now reportedly expressed their interest in signing Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic for a reported fee of £30 million. Fulham were relegated from the Premier League, finishing 19th, and although they want to keep the Serbian, his high wage bill may force them to sell the striker.
Southampton will have to battle West Ham United and a few Chinese Super League clubs to the signature of Mitrovic in the summer, as per the report, while Crystal Palace are also rumoured to be interested in signing him.
Will Mitrovic be a good option for Hasenhuttl?
In a season where Fulham struggled, despite making a number of high-profile signings, Mitrovic was the standout player for the Cottagers, top-scoring with 11 goals. The Serbian, who was previously with Newcastle United is a burly, physical centre forward who has a keen eye for goal and is also a threat in the air.
The current Fulham striker offers something different to the options that Hasenhuttl currently has in the striker department – Danny Ings, currently on loan from Liverpool, the experienced Shane Long, who scored just five goals, while Charlie Austin is still struggling with injuries.
Mitrovic is a young, hungry player who could be a great signing for the Saints as he has shown that he is a consistent goal-scorer who will grab more goals in an attack that has better quality players. At 24, the Serbian is just hitting his prime years and could be a player who flourishes in Hasenhuttl’s attacking playing style, but he may have to improve on his pressing game, which the German manager likes to implement in his teams along with his work rate, both of which can be worked upon with proper coaching and application.
