Transfer Centre

Matt Le Tissier demands Southampton striker

By Shane Callaghan, Reporter | 02 February 2015

Former Southampton captain Matt Le Tissier says that the Saints' Champions League ambitions could hinge on bolstering their striking options on deadline day.

Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier has urged Ronald Koeman to bolster his striking options on deadline day to boost their prospects of a top-four finish.

With Shane Long ruled out for six weeks with a punctured lung, and Graziano Pelle failing to find the net in any of his last six Premier League games, Le Tissier feels that the Dutchman is in dire need of an alternative striker.

The Saints, who sit fourth in the table, went down 1-0 to Swansea City on Sunday, and the 46-year-old believes that Champions League qualification could hinge on Koeman's activity today.

"I would imagine he [Koeman] will probably be looking to strengthen in the centre-forward department," he told Sky Sports News. "At the moment we've been very fortunate that he's not had any injuries this season, but we were looking a little bit light in the back-up department.

"Sam Gallagher has been out injured for a long time and Shane Long is going to be out for a long time as well. I think that department needs to be strengthened a little bit.

"Koeman's transfers have all been pretty good, so hopefully he can continue that. If we get at least one in, it will give the team a little bit of a boost because [the Swansea defeat] was a disappointment today, there's no question about that. "

On Sunday, Koeman did reveal that he was in the market for "at least one player" on deadline day.