SELL VAN, BUY GOALS

THIS is evolving into the most testing of seasons for what is arguably the most efficiently run club in the Premier League.

Find a player, sell him on at a massive profit and recruit again.

It’s worked so far. The key words are “so far”.

Under new manager Mauricio Pellegrino (right), Southampton have stuck to the principles of neat, attractive football. One problem: goals have been in very short supply.

In seven Premier League matches, they have scored only five… and three of those came against 10-man West Ham.

The Saints’ season was summed up at Stoke last Saturday.

They had so much possession, so many attacking opportunities but scored just once, conceding twice. That is a dangerous trend. They are also out of the Carabao Cup in which they were beaten finalists last season. They have the players to create – Ryan Bertrand and Cedric Soares are among the most attackminded full-backs in the league. Steven Davis is a magnificent general. Mario Lemina is proving to be a very shrewd buy from Juventus, and Nathan Redmond is a perpetual menace. But while Shane Long works harder than anyone, he is more of a provider than a scorer.

It is adding up to a season of frustration and potential relegation danger.

After standing firm in the Virgil van Dijk affair, now Southampton may find they have to sell the defender to finance an established goalscorer.