Former Arsenal man tells Southampton they might need a ‘big clear out’
Keown #Keown
The St Mary’s side will be looking to instantly bounce back from the Championship after suffering relegation from the Premier League this campaign.
Their fate was sealed with Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Fulham despite having two more games to play, having only won six times in the league all season.
Keown, who was a three-time Premier League winner with the Gunners, admitted his fears for Saints on BBC’s Final Score.
He said: “It has been a proud record for Southampton bringing players through the academy but it just isn’t enough – they might need a big clear out.
“You look at teams that have come back from the Championship and they have a core. What is the core of this Southampton side? Is (James) Ward-Prowse going to stay?”
The Saints squad has inflated to over 30 senior players in size with a dozen barely playing a role in the fateful run-in.
Keown added: “It’s going to be difficult. There are so many games in the Championship and it will be Southampton’s toughest-ever season.
“They will need to bounce back quickly while the parachute payments are there.”