Southampton are winless after seven Premier League games and manager Russell Martin will be starting to feel the pressure.
Next up for Southampton after a two week break for intentional football is a massive game against Leicester City on Saturday.
Russell Martin knows three points are a must as he looks to turn around Southampton’s awful start to the season.
The Saints made 14 first-team signings this summer and each of those arrivals have endured mixed fortunes so far.
However, here are three players Martin should have signed this summer to greatly improve Southampton’s survival chances…
Southampton regret not signing Liam Delap
One of the key positions Martin looked to address in the summer was centre-forward.
Southampton ended the summer with Cameron Archer and Ben Brereton Diaz coming in to bolster the forward options, but the pair have scored just one league goal between them.
Southampton were battling with Ipswich Town for Manchester City striker Liam Delap and agreed a deal worth up to £20 million with the selling club before Delap decided to join Ipswich instead.
Things could have been very different had the Saints managed to convince the 21-year-old to move to the south coast, as Delap has scored four Premier League goals already; as many as Southampton have scored as a team.
Southampton missed out on Jack Clarke
Another long-term Southampton target who joined Ipswich this summer was winger Jack Clarke.
Clarke had been one of the best players in the Championship over the past two seasons and would have resolved Southampton’s problems at left wing.
Instead, Martin secured a permanent deal for Ryan Fraser and has utilised Brereton Diaz on the left, with neither player making any impact at all as of yet.
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Clarke has one assist for the Tractor Boys so far but has looked very lively, particularly in a recent 2-2 draw with Aston Villa.
Southampton needed another centre-back
Southampton have leaked goals at an alarming rate this season, conceding 15 in their seven league matches.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis’ loan was made permanent in the summer, whilst the club spent £3 million each on young EFL centre-backs Ronnie Edwards and Nathan Wood.
Neither of those budget defenders have played a minute in the Premier League this season and it is already clear Southampton should have instead focused on signing one central defender who was ready to come in and immediately improve the backline.
The Saints were linked with a move for want away Liverpool defender Sepp van den Berg before he ultimately secured a £20 million move to Brentford.
The 22-year-old is highly-rated and is undoubtedly better than Jack Stephens already so would have really elevated Martin’s defence.