Southampton’s Struggles Persist as New Manager Ivan Juric Seeks Reinforcements to Revitalize Premier League Campaign

Saints sit at the foot of the Premier League with just six points from 20 games, having only won once all season. Juric is keen to add much-needed quality to his squad and has identified key areas for improvement after a month in the role. The Croatian is still waiting to make his first senior signing and reiterated that Saints need to trim the size of their squad this month. Juric also reaffirmed his desire to keep Kyle Walker-Peters, stressing that "all the good players" need to remain at St Mary's this month. He told the Daily Echo: "We have to reduce the size of the squad and we will see what happens in the next 10 days to two weeks. "There are positions in this squad where we need to bring somebody (to the club). We will see. For us, this is not an easy situation, this is an important thing. "We have six points and we are last in the league. It isn't easy to convince really good players to come here. But we need motivated players." Ivan Juric won his first game as Saints boss against Swansea City. (Image: Richard Crease) He added: "I think we can create something really good. Of course, I need the time but I think I have a clear idea of what we need, what kind of players we need. "I have an idea about what kind of players are needed in the Premier League and I think with time we can create really good things. "I'm planning that we have both good players with characteristics to play in the Premier League and we will see." Juric played down the suggestion that he could lean on his knowledge of the Italian market to unearth a gem capable of helping Saints avoid the drop. "The Italian market is more like they are buying English players," Juric explained when asked about the prospect of signing players he knows from Italy. "We have seen with (Antonio) Conte, he is bringing players to Napoli. I think this is because the level of English (based) players is higher than in Serie A." Maxwel Cornet has not played for Saints since October. (Image: Stuart Martin) Maxwel Cornet is one player who could depart Saints this month with Juric previously expressing that the Ivory Coast international's loan could be terminated. Cornet has not played since Southampton's 3-2 win Carabao Cup win over Stoke City back in October. "I have said my opinion to him and to the club, we will see what will happen over the next two weeks," Juric concluded when asked for an update on Cornet's situation. Southampton's only winter signing is 18 year old French defender Joachim Kayi Sanda, while Brazilian full-back Welington has arrived from Sao Paulo.