Premier League: Five great players staying at Southampton

Southampton retain one of the league's most proven goalkeepers

Even if three more players follow the four to have already left, Southampton will retain a strong spine...

It is difficult to stumble upon any Southampton positivity at present following the mass-evacuation of Mauricio Pochettino, Luke Shaw, Dejan Lovren, Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert.

The Saints have bolted in from 13.5 to 6.611/2 to be relegated since the start of the summer, now occupying the same airspace as last term's escapologists Sunderland and internal-warfare specialists West Ham, while they have drifted to 3.185/40 to finish in the top half again.

However, there have been some promising acquisitions - Ronald Koeman as coach and fellow Eredivisie hits Dusan Tadic and Graziano Pelle - and, most importantly, plenty of talented players remain, even if Calum Chambers, Morgan Schneiderlin and Dani Osvaldo join the exodus...

Artur Boruc
The Polish goalkeeper has spent close to a decade at top European clubs and that experience was key to Southampton posting the sixth best defensive record in the 2013/14 Premier League. Their 15 clean sheets were five more than Man United managed.

Nathaniel Clyne
Chambers' mooted move to Arsenal is one of the Saints' most sensible sales, as they have two quality right backs. While you would usually shift the oldest of the pair, Clyne clearly isn't over the hill at 23, and was the more frequent starter last season.

Jack Cork
The least glamorous of the south coasters' midfield options, he began 2013/14 as understudy to Schneiderlin and Victor Wanyama's "Schanyama" double act but, by the end of the campaign, "Schnorkerlin" was the preferred portmanteau.

James Ward-Prowse
Ward-Prowse has been as hot a St Mary's prospect as Shaw, has 49 Premier League appearances behind - including 34 last term - and is still just 19, yet he hasn't attracted the same interest as most of his mates, much to fans' delight.

Gaston Ramirez
Ramirez headed to Southampton after their promotion despite being pursued by more proven sides, though ironically the guy who initially seemed out of their league was surplus to requirement under Mauricio Pochettino, starting three top-flight games in 2013/14. At 23, the 11.8 million man has plenty of time to fulfil his potential, and a prominent role under a coach who believes in him could hasten the process. His pre-season debut at Bournemouth was encouraging.