How Dragan Solak’s ownership model is teeing Southampton up for January transfer window

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EFL Analysis can reveal how Southampton have been planning in order to set themselves up for the January transfer window.

It was a busy summer on the south coast as Will Still made wholesale changes to stamp his identity down on the team.

Tyler Dibling and Mateus Fernandes both left St Mary’s Stadium, while there were plenty of arrivals such as Tom Fellows and Finn Azaz.

Just under £50m (£48.6m) was spent by the club in the summer, but their current model means they will still have money to spend.

• READ MORE: Manager fears relegation after Southampton signed his ‘exceptional’ £8.5m star

Southampton working under a self-sufficient model

Despite the big spending spree, over £110m was made from player sales. Their last relegation saw them receive £160m in player sales fees.

With owner Dragan Solak seemingly reluctant to invest, EFL Analysis’ football finance expert Adam Williams believes that they are using those fees, which has left some money aside for the January transfer window.

Williams said: “Southampton have got two huge seasons of player sale profits behind them now.

“They will have reduced their wage bill pretty significantly this summer too, so the operating losses should be offset pretty significantly. That is in tandem with parachute payments.

“The owner hasn’t put any money into the club for a few years now. At least, not at the point that they released their last set of accounts. So unless Dragan Solak has loaned the club money in the last 18 months or so that we’re not aware of, it looks like he’s going for the self-sufficient model.

“With that in mind, I’d expect them to have some scope to spend in January if they feel they need to, but it’s not going to be anything too lavish. Yes, they spent a lot in the summer, but that was offset twice over by sales.“

Southampton must start showing their worth

For all of the money they’ve spent, Southampton need to step up the performances.

It’s been stop-start under Still, who came with a high stock, even at such a young age.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
10	NorwichNorwich	5	2	1	2	7	6	1	7
11	BirminghamBirmingham	5	2	1	2	4	5	-1	7
12	QPRQPR	5	2	1	2	9	12	-3	7
13	MillwallMillwall	5	2	1	2	4	7	-3	7
14	IpswichIpswich	5	1	3	1	9	5	4	6
15	SouthamptonSouthampton	5	1	3	1	6	6	0	6
16	BlackburnBlackburn	5	2	0	3	5	5	0	6
17	WatfordWatford	5	1	2	2	5	6	-1	5
18	CharltonCharlton	5	1	2	2	3	5	-2	5
19	DerbyDerby	5	1	2	2	8	11	-3	5

The Saints have only won one game of the Championship season so far, and must start improving quickly, or face losing the support of the fans.