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Two strikers injured and others who cannot score, Mark Hughes must make FC Nantes’ Emiliano Sala Southampton’s number-one January transfer target.

What’s the word?

The top Argentinean goalscorer across Europe’s major leagues is not the likes of Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain, Mauro Icardi or Lionel Messi, it is Nantes’ 6ft 2in hitman Sala.

The 28-year-old forward from Santa Fe Province has scored 11 goals in 12 Ligue 1 appearances so far this season, comfortably clear of AC Milan’s experienced goal threat and two ahead of one of the best players of all time.

Southampton meanwhile have a top scorer on just four goals with the second in command having just two. Worse for Hughes is that Danny Ings was forced to come off on Saturday against Watford with a hamstring issue and Shane Long was already sidelined with an ankle problem that may now need surgery.

Recruiting fresh blood in the January market could be the difference between survival and relegation, and Sala could come as a bargain with TransferMarkt valuing the forward at £12.6million, though form can easily drive up his price.

What would he add?

Charlie Austin and Manolo Gabbiadini may have posed a threat against Watford at the weekend, but neither have consistently been imposing at St Mary’s Stadium. In fact, the Italian’s goal on Saturday was the first either of the pair had scored all season.

Sala, meanwhile, is netting for fun in France despite his club already encountering a change of manager. The variation in leadership brought about a revision to formation and tactics, key to allowing the 28-year-old to thrive after netting 12 goals in his previous two campaigns, both supported by four assists.

Kalifa Coulibaly had started the season as Nantes’ main man but soon found his place in the line-up taken by Sala as the Argentinean became the focal point, something Hughes should be contemplating with his own forwards.