Southampton have had 15 different goalscorers, but still need a striker in January.

Southampton have enjoyed contributions from 15 different goalscorers across all competitions this season. However, despite having goals spread throughout the squad, the Saints still need to make signing another striker a major priority when the January transfer window opens.

The variety of goalscorers has been encouraging for Tonda Eckert, but Tuesday night’s meeting with West Bromwich Albion demonstrated why relying entirely on the existing attacking options could prove costly during the second half of the campaign.

Southampton were fortunate to leave the Hawthorns with a point after a difficult opening 45 minutes. The hosts controlled much of the first half, exposing the weaknesses in an experimental Saints starting line-up assembled by Eckert.

The Southampton manager made several unexpected selections, including Samuel Edozie and Divin Mubama, but his decision to change the attacking personnel failed to produce the desired response before the interval.

West Bromwich Albion v Southampton – Sky Bet Championship 2026/27 | Matt Watson/GettyImages

The visitors struggled to create anything meaningful and did not manage a single shot on target throughout the opening period. West Brom, meanwhile, looked dangerous and could easily have established a more comfortable advantage before half-time.

Jimmy-Jay Morgan wasted an opportunity when he sent an early effort over the crossbar, while Jayson Molumby also came close to catching goalkeeper Daniel Peretz by surprise.

Southampton eventually went into the break trailing and needing a significant improvement if they were going to avoid defeat.

Edozie provided exactly the response his manager wanted after the restart. The former Manchester City winger returned to the pitch looking far more dangerous and eventually produced the important equaliser that rescued a point for the visitors.

His second-half performance could also strengthen his chances of starting against Preston North End on Saturday, particularly if Leo Scienza remains unavailable because of injury.

More importantly, Edozie’s goal brought Southampton’s total number of different goalscorers this season to an impressive 15 across all competitions.

That statistic highlights the attacking contributions being made throughout Eckert’s squad. Nevertheless, it should not distract the club from an obvious weakness that needs addressing before the transfer window closes.

Why Southampton Still Need Another Striker

Having 15 different players finding the net is an encouraging achievement, but Southampton cannot assume that goals from midfielders and wide attackers will consistently compensate for the absence of a reliable centre-forward.

Cyle Larin has not featured regularly since the goalless draw against Bolton Wanderers, yet his absence has not completely disrupted the team’s attacking output.

The Saints have demonstrated that they can score without the Canadian leading the line. They managed three goals away against West Ham United and also found the net four times against Queens Park Rangers, despite Larin not being available to spearhead those attacks.

However, the situation at West Brom exposed the importance of having an experienced and dependable striker available.

Larin has scored seven Championship goals this season and offers an attacking presence that Southampton struggled to find during Tuesday’s contest.

Mubama was handed the responsibility of leading the line, but the young forward failed to convince during his opportunity. The former West Ham striker, who is currently at St Mary’s on loan from Manchester City, struggled to influence proceedings and rarely looked capable of troubling the opposition defence.

His performance was particularly disappointing because he failed to register a single attempt on goal throughout his 71 minutes on the pitch.

Mubama has not scored since August, when he came off the bench and found the net against Stoke City. That lengthy spell without a goal raises questions about whether he can currently be trusted to lead Southampton’s attack regularly.

Eckert needs competition and additional options, rather than being forced to depend on a player who is struggling to make an impact in front of goal.

Larin’s qualities became even more noticeable when Southampton had another opportunity to take all three points late in the match.

Lewis Dobbin, who replaced Mubama, found himself with a wonderful one-on-one opportunity but failed to convert it.

The Canadian striker is the type of forward who would be expected to thrive in those situations. His finishing ability could have made the difference between Southampton leaving the Hawthorns with a draw and returning home with an important victory.

Dobbin, meanwhile, is still adapting to life at St Mary’s following his £9 million summer arrival. Although he has already scored once for the Saints, his latest opportunity showed that he is not yet consistently delivering the quality required in decisive moments.

His effort was weak and allowed a relieved Max O’Leary to avoid conceding.

Southampton’s record of having 15 different goalscorers remains impressive, but that achievement becomes less significant when the recognised forwards are unable to take advantage of opportunities that could decide matches.

The club cannot afford to overlook those problems simply because goals are coming from several other areas of the team.

Potential January Targets for Southampton

With Larin expected to remain an important part of Eckert’s plans, Southampton should consider bringing in another striker who can provide dependable support and offer a different attacking option.

Several names have previously been associated with the club, and January could provide an opportunity to revisit those possibilities.

One player who has reportedly attracted Southampton’s attention in the past is Daniel Jebbison.

The AFC Bournemouth forward may not have produced extraordinary numbers in the Championship, having scored seven goals in the division so far, but he could still represent a useful addition.

Jebbison would offer Eckert another option in the centre-forward position and reduce the pressure on Mubama and Dobbin to deliver consistently.

His previous experience against West Brom could also be relevant. The striker has scored against the Baggies during his career in English football, demonstrating that he has the ability to cause problems for Championship opposition.

It is possible that Jebbison might have made better use of the opportunity that fell to Dobbin at the Hawthorns. Although there is no guarantee he would have scored, Southampton need forwards who can provide a greater threat when clear chances arrive.

Another name mentioned as a potential option is Lukas Nmecha.

The Leeds United attacker could be an attractive candidate because of his previous experience of scoring at a higher level.

Nmecha managed six Premier League goals last season despite making only ten starts, suggesting that he can offer an effective attacking contribution when given opportunities.

His arrival could give Eckert a more dependable alternative to Larin and provide additional quality in the final third.

Southampton would need to assess the financial and practical possibilities of any potential deal, but a forward with Nmecha’s experience could strengthen their attacking options considerably.

Striker Recruitment Must Come First

Another centre-back could also be considered when the January window opens.

Zach Abbott has become a forgotten option within Southampton’s defensive group, with Keven Schlotterbeck and Jack Stephens among the players currently ahead of him.

Strengthening that position may be worthwhile, particularly if Eckert wants greater depth across the squad for the demanding months ahead.

However, the need for another striker appears considerably more urgent.

The disappointing performances from Mubama and Dobbin against West Brom showed how quickly Southampton can lose their attacking threat when Larin is unavailable or not starting.

The Saints created opportunities after the interval and had enough chances to leave the Hawthorns with three points, but their inability to finish those moves ultimately cost them a potentially valuable victory against a promotion rival.

Eckert will undoubtedly be pleased that 15 different players have contributed goals this season. Such a spread of attacking responsibility can make Southampton unpredictable and prevent opponents from focusing their defensive attention on just one individual.

Nevertheless, promotion ambitions require more than goals from different areas of the pitch. They also require reliable centre-forwards who can turn promising opportunities into decisive results.

January therefore presents an important opportunity for Southampton to address a weakness that became increasingly obvious against West Brom.

Larin remains an important figure, but the club need a stronger alternative who can provide goals, competition and dependable performances whenever the Canadian is unavailable.

If Southampton want to maintain their promotion challenge, recruiting another striker should be among their biggest priorities.