Long outstaying Gabbiadini at Southampton is a travesty

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Southampton striker Manolo Gabbiadini is set to complete an £11.7 million move to Sampdoria (The Daily Mail).

The Italian striker has been way down in the pecking order at St. Mary’s Stadium, and has struggled to make an impact for the club this term.

It follows on from his struggles last season, where he simply couldn’t get going under Mauricio Pellegrino or Mark Hughes.

Gabbiadini burst onto the scene following his move to the south coast in January 2017, scoring six goals in his first four games.

His most notable contribution was the brace he scored in the EFL Cup final against Manchester United.

Long outlasts Gabbiadini

With Gabbiadini preparing to move back to Italy, it means that Shane Long will have outlasted Gabbiadini which seems all wrong.

Long’s level of performance over the last couple of years has been disappointing.

His goals record is very poor, and yet he has continually been given game time by the likes of Claude Puel, Pellegrino and Ralph Hasenhuttl.

Since the beginning of the 2016/17 season, Long has scored just five Premier League goals.

Clearly there has been a problem with Gabbiadini for him to have played so little during his time at Southampton.

The Italian showed in his early days at the club that he is a much bigger goal threat and clinical finisher than his teammate.

Perhaps the Irishman’s work rate is what has allowed him to get the nod, but work rate doesn’t always put the ball in the back of the net.