Ryan Manning

Manning has scored from free kicks often enough that Southampton treat any set piece near the box as a genuine opportunity rather than a chance to simply put bodies in the box. That willingness to shoot from distance, combined with a left foot that can bend the ball around a wall, sets him apart from most players in his position. He has also shown he can shift into central midfield without the team losing much structure.

That flexibility cuts both ways, because a player asked to cover left back, wing back and midfield across a season rarely settles into one rhythm for long. Southampton get genuine value from having him available in multiple roles, but it raises a fair question about whether he would be even better focused permanently in one position. Watch where he lines up week to week, because it usually tells you something about the team's priorities.