Three young players Southampton should build around next season

With seven games to go, it would take a miracle to divert their course significantly enough to secure a 12th consecutive top-flight season but it is not over yet. 

If relegation is confirmed, it is likely a number of the regular first-team players will get moves back to the Premier League or to other European top leagues. 

Some of them will be difficult to stand in the way of, as much as we would like them to stay. For example, Romeo Lavia’s immediate future could hinge on Manchester City’s plans. 

It would be ideal to build a Championship team around him, James Ward-Prowse, Che Adams, and more - but we’re excluding those we think would be likely to leave. 

And that is not to say our three selections would stay - anything can happen - but we think there are legitimate reasons they would remain. 

Charly Alcaraz 

The main player Saints should look to build their team around next season is Argentine midfielder Charly Alcaraz. 

Sitting in a natural number 10 role, Alcaraz could experience an exciting breakout in his first full season at St Mary’s. 

The 20 year old - whose style of play has been likened to Frank Lampard - has already scored twice in his first 11 Premier League appearances since a January move. 

Alcaraz is constantly looking to shoot when he is on the ball, making four attempts in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace - more than any other Saints player. 

Saints would hope for increased time on the ball in a lower division while there will be more teams sitting off, encouraging Alcaraz to shoot even more.

With an additional year honing his technical skills to match his already high energy, Alcaraz could be a pivotal player for a rebounding Saints.

There could be interest in the youngster for a summer move but the hope has to be that he is still so early in his career he can be convinced this is the place to stay.

Tino Livramento 

🚨 Amazing to chat with Tino Livramento, who stayed to watch with Mum and Dad.

He's come through with such a positive mindset, we're all behind him.

💬 "I’m not going to say I don’t want to play before the end of the season as I feel that’s easily achievable for me."#SaintsFC

— Alfie House (@AlfieHouseEcho) April 14, 2023

Former Chelsea defender Tino Livramento has not played a senior game since suffering an ACL injury back in April last year. 

However, now 20 years old, Livramento made his long-awaited return last week with 45 minutes in a 2-0 Premier League 2 win with the under-21s.

Speaking exclusively to the Daily Echo that evening, he revealed he hopes to play before this Premier League season is finished and he will have a full pre-season.

He showed his technical ability last week and told us of his 100 per cent commitment mentality after missing a year of football, so he will come back strong. 

Livramento started the first 18 Premier League matches in a row last season before suffering an initial meniscus injury which stunted his progress.

He was given an England Under-21 debut and was tipped as one of the best talents in the league; he could be a key starter for a season in the Championship.

Starting from the deeper position at right-back, he will have the license to drive and space to deliver into the box. 

Chelsea were considering activating his buy-back before the injury, which activates this summer, but it is likely he now needs a full season under his belt for his own development. 

Kamaldeen Sulemana 

Kamaldeen Sulemana is one who could probably get a move in the event of relegation but are Saints likely to let their club-record signing leave six months later for a loss? 

After investing £25million to get him in January, they are going to be reluctant to see him walk - unless something dramatic happens in the final games of this season. 

He has talent but is potentially not polished enough yet for another club to be willing to give Saints back everything they spent, which could see him stay. 

The only other deciding factor would be if a lower relegation release clause was inserted in his contract - which would have been rather unwise business. 

Kamaldeen, 21, already causes Premier League defenders problems so that would certainly continue in the Championship.

An increased volume of dribbles would mean he can create more chances and take more shots, therefore counteracting his - at the moment - sub-par end product. 

With a sharp turn of pace, Kamaldeen is someone who can take advantage of teams looking to play a high line as well as beat a man one-on-one in a more regimented shape. 

If Saints can keep hold of Kamaldeen, they will just need more clinical players around him to take advantage of the chaos he creates. 

You only have to look at the impact Nathan Tella has made at Burnley - scoring 17 goals in their promotion season so far - to see the damage these sorts of players can cause.