When Nigel Adkins was sacked as Southampton manager last season it sparked uproar across the Premier League. The current Reading manager had the Hampshire side in a reasonable position after having steered them from the depths of League One but the Saints board obviously had a plan. In came Mauricio Pochettino who has got Southampton firing in a impressive way and the club currently sit ninth in the table having spent the early stages in the top four. At the heart of that success has been academy player Adam Lallana, whose good form has supposedly earned him top spot on David Moyes’ shortlist for Manchester United signings in the summer, but what could he offer the Red Devils?
The 25-year-old has played in all 18 of Southampton’s league games this season and earned his first England outings as a result of his performances.
He has made an impressive 29 key passes so far in the league, claiming four assists, and has scored four goals himself – four times more than Marouane Fellaini, Tom Cleverley, Michael Carrick and Anderson have mustered between them.
He’s not afraid to have a pop at goal – the skipper has tried his luck on 21 occasions this term, hitting the target with 62% of those.
His energy is something that United could really use in the middle and the way he takes people on would offer something that they don’t currently have. He has won 36 dribbles and completed 82% of his passes – two assets which David Moyes will surely be looking for in the new year – and he can also play out on the left.
He is a player who puts his heart into every performance and has the ability to support his determination, but it will take something special to lure him away from the club which he owes everything to; Southampton.
However, if I was Moyes then I would be doing everything in my power to do so.