How Southampton’s Attack Might Line Up With Stuart Armstrong In The Team
Southampton are keen on signing Celtic midfield mainstay Stuart Armstrong in the summer, according to reports from the Daily Mail.
The 25-year old enjoyed a stellar season as the Hoops ran away with a domestic treble of the Scottish Premiership, the League Cup and the Scottish Cup. Armstrong finished the campaign with an excellent tally of 17 goals and 7 assists from 47 games across all competitions. The Daily Record reports that the Saints will face competition from fellow Premier League sides West Bromwich Albion and Brighton & Hove Albion for the Celtic ace.
Armstrong is in the final year of his contract with the Scottish champions and there hasn’t been any report of new negotiations going on between the club and the player. While it is unlikely that they would want to sell one of their star players from last season, the Daily Mail claims that a bid in the region of £10million may get them interested in a sale.
Southampton have had a history of signing top talents from Celtic in the past, having brought in the likes of Victor Wanyama, Fraser Forster and most recently, defender Virgil van Dijk; all of whom have been instant hits at the South Coast club. And Armstrong has shown that he can have a similar impact as well, if signed.
If Southampton are able to complete the capture of Armstrong, here’s how their attacking half of the starting XI would look like.
Manager: Mauricio Pellegrino
Formation: 4-3-3
Oriol Romeu (DM)
The former Barcelona and Chelsea man has established himself as one of the most destructive defensive midfielders in the Premier League. His ability to break up play and stop attacks from developing will be extremely crucial at the base of the midfield.
Steven Davis (CM)
The captain of the team, Steven Davis doesn’t get the credit he deserves more often than not. Someone who can be an important presence at both ends of the pitch, the 32-year old Northern Irishman has an important role to play in the line-up.
Stuart Armstrong (CM)
The Celtic midfielder, if signed, will slot in a three-pronged midfield in a 4-3-3 or may also take place in a No.10 role in a classic 4-2-3-1 setup. His ability to pierce the defences with precise passes from midfield and the goal-scoring knack that made him such a huge success for the Parkhead outfit last season, will take the Southampton’s attack up a level next time around.
Dusan Tadic (RW)
The 28-year old Serbian looks destined to stay put at the St. Mary’s. Having finished with numbers of 3 goals and 8 assists in all competitions last season, he will be hoping to come back with similar performances.
Nathan Redmond (LW)
The England international enjoyed a very good debut campaign with Southampton, having joined from Norwich City last summer, finishing with 8 goals and one assist. He will look to build upon a strong debut campaign and grow next season.
Manolo Gabbiadini (ST)
The Italian turned out to be a great impact signing, having arrived in the January window earlier this year. Having scored 6 times in 12 games last campaign, he should once again lead the line for the Saints, ahead of Charlie Austin and Shane Long.