Southampton are a very odd team. When looking over the squads of teams in these previews we’ve had various teams with a dearth of talent and others with an abundance. The squad that is set to ply their trade at St Mary’s has the oddest mix of the two.

They arguably have 3 premiership-quality goalkeepers at the back, and in midfield and attack they have some of the most exciting emerging English talent around. Ward-Prowse now has multiple seasons of long-range strikes and jaw-dropping free kicks that suggests none of them are flukes. Nathan Redmond dominated at times last year and has the ability to definitely make a leap this season if the physical talents he has out on the pitch (something that feels like the only thing holding him back).

Che Adams is a signing that I think could be looked back on as an absolute steal, having been one of the more exciting players at the championship level, and seemingly the latest in the conveyor belt of young,skillful English talent that is rising to the top of late. I would not be surprised if he is one of the hottest prospects come the end of the year.

Put all of that under the guidance of a manager who was a coveted property in Europe when he was snapped up by Southampton, and this team will surely not struggle this year. And yet this team remains something of a ‘sum of their parts’ team, so I will hesitate from anointing them as a surefire bet for safety.

Ceiling – 9th

Floor – 18th