Southampton transfer dossier: Saints can prove again summer exits cannot knock them off course

It's likely to be the same old summer for Southampton. After another excellent season campaign where they achieved their best ever Premier League finish, the club face a fight to hold on to a couple of their prized assets. Not that Saints fans will be worried, however.

The club have shown over the past two years just how adept they are in identifying and bringing in replacements if and when their players leave. There aren't many clubs around that do it better than them.

Business so far

Southampton's first order of business this summer is tying down their manager to a new contract. The Dutchman's current deal at St Mary's expires at the end of next season, and having already laughed off talk of an ambitious effort from Everton to lure him to Merseyside, he appears keen on renewing his stay.

Another Dutchman in Virgil van Dijk has already committed his future to the club, signing a new six-year deal at the end of the season. Fraser Forster ended speculation linking him with a move to Chelsea by signing a new long-term deal, as did England Under-21 international James Ward-Prowse.

Veteran goalkeeper Kelvin Davis retired at the end of the 2015-16 season, but hopes to be handed a new role at the club in the coming weeks.

What they need

An upgrade on Cedric Soares and Cuco Martina at right-back should be needed, while the club would do well to consider bringing in a long-term replacement for 32-year-old José Fonte to partner van Dijk at centre-half. An attacking midfielder to be deployed through the middle with a goal threat to offer should also come into Koeman's reckoning. And should Maarten Stekelenburg return to Fulham after his loan spell, an able deputy for Forster is a must.

Who could join

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been linked with a hero's return to St Mary's as a possible replacement for Sadio Mane, but it appears optimistic at best. Pione Sisto, the man who terrorised Manchester United for Midtjylland in February, has also been linked with the move.

Perhaps the most exciting summer prospect is the club's reported interest in 21-year-old attacking midfielder Dennis Praet, another who Erwin Koeman has been monitoring. Juventus forward Simone Zaza has been linked with practically every Premier League club going in recent months, and is a candidate to replace Graziano Pelle if he should leave.

Who could leave

Spanish striker Juamni looks poised to return to Spain after just one season, with Real Sociedad in talks to sign the 22-year-old. Questions over Victor Wanyama's future at the club have lingered for more than a year, and while former interested parties Tottenham and Arsenal have since found alternatives, an exit could still happen. Mane, who is reportedly to be the subject of another £25m bid from Manchester United, is another likely to leave while Graziano Pelle is reportedly wanted by Antonio Conte when he arrives at Stamford Bridge after the Euro 2016 championships.

What the manager has said

"Of course, everybody knows what we would like to do. We would like to grow and to improve. Of course we would like to fight to win titles or fight for European football on a regular basis.

"It is important to know what we can do to be stronger, because in my opinion that's ambition. If you don't have that ambition you start to be sloppy, and that is not what I like to be."