With the season drawing towards a close, Southampton will be considering their options ahead of the summer transfer window.
First, though, Southampton have a trip to Leeds United in their final game of the regular Championship season.
What will follow is the play-offs, with a return to the Premier League the reward if Southampton can successfully negotiate those post-season clashes.
Once Southampton know what league they will be plying their trade in next season they can really start to firm up which players they should target this summer.
Promotion would have a huge impact on the calibre of player manager Russell Martin can look to bring into the club.
However, Southampton should be looking to sign a striker who has flourished in the Championship regardless of whether they secure promotion or not.
Southampton should target Jay Stansfield
That player is Birmingham City centre-forward Jay Stansfield.
The 21-year-old is at the club on a season-long loan from Fulham having spent last season at League One Exeter City.
The move to Exeter represented an emotional one for Stansfield.
His father, Adam, played for the club from 2006 to 2010 before his premature passing from cancer aged just 31.
Exeter had retired his father’s number nine shirt for nine seasons as a mark of respect and son, Jay, wore his dad’s number when on loan at the club.
Now, Stansfield is forging his own career and has been impressive in a poor Birmingham side who could be relegated to the third tier on the final day of the season.
The striker, who can also play wide, scored nine goals and provided seven assists in League One last season according to Transfermarkt.
However, with the step up to the Championship Stansfield has improved his goal tally with 12 goals and two assists.
Two of these goals came against Southampton, one in each of the league meetings.
At 6 foot 1, the centre-forward is a physical presence but has pace to match which is terrifying for defenders.
He has had to be resilient too – with the Blues on their third manager of the season – but he has been one of few bright sparks throughout a bleak season at St Andrew’s.
Could Stansfield be Southampton starter?
Stansfield is developing nicely and that could lead to his parent club Fulham considering whether they integrate the 21-year-old into their squad next season.
The striker signed a new Fulham deal prior to joining Birmingham on loan, so the Craven Cottage club will not be under any pressure to sell the striker, but if he feels unwanted he could well push for a move.
Stansfield’s manager at the start of the season, John Eustace, was glowing in his comments on the forward after a win over Plymouth Argyle in August.
The now-Blackburn Rovers manager said: “Jay is an excellent player…He comes with a real hunger. He’s got great pedigree. He’s come from Exeter, where he was on fire last year, and he’s at a top Premier League club who do the right things.”
Che Adams is currently Southampton’s main striker but is out of contract in the summer and expected to move on.
Sekou Mara has acted as Adams’ deputy this season but, bar the exception of a few bright cameos over the festive period, has struggled to make an impact.
Mara’s youth has often been used as a reason to give the forward the benefit of the doubt but he is the same age as Stansfield yet has only scored three Championship goals this season.
Mara also recently served a three match ban for an off the ball incident against Watford, further highlighting that he cannot be relied on.
Southampton did spend £10 million to bring Ross Stewart to the club last summer with the Scotland international expected to spearhead of the attack.
However, Stewart arrived with an achilles injury and managed just 17 minutes of football in November before effectively being ruled out for the rest of the season with a separate issue.
Martin has hinted that Stewart may feature against Leeds in the final game of the season but his impact is only likely to really be felt next season.
Regardless of whether Southampton remain a Championship club it is feasible that both Adams and Mara leave in the summer.
This would leave Stewart as the only senior striker at the club now that Adam Armstrong has demonstrated he is far more effective as a winger.
If the Saints are in the Championship, signing Stansfield as direct competition for Stewart should provide the side with bundles of firepower should Stewart manage to stay fit.
Given his potential, a move for Stansfield still makes sense if the Saints are promoted, although he may be signed with longer term aspirations if that is the case.