Southampton take action over poor scoring record and will listen to offers for strikers Manolo Gabbiadini, Charlie Austin and Shane Long

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Southampton are willing to listen to offers for strikers Manolo Gabbiadini, Charlie Austin and Shane Long in the January transfer window with new Saints owner Jisheng Gao concerned his players are not delivering value for money.

Gao, a controversial Chinese businessman who bought the club in August, is ready to swing the axe besides selling Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool in order to raise further revenue.

He believes Southampton should be doing better this season given their £200million squad is the most expensively-assembled in the Premier League outside the 'Big Seven'.

Southampton will listen to offers for a number of strikers including Shane Long

The shot-shy strikers are particularly in his firing line. Italy's £15million forward Gabbiadini has scored in only one game since August after enjoying a decent start to his career in England last season. Long, signed for £12million from Hull, hasn't netted since February and £4million Austin only has one goal this season.

Saints executive director Les Reed has built up a good reputation for wheeling and dealing in the transfer market, selling Adam Lallana, Morgan Schneiderlin, Luke Shaw and Sadio Mane for big money in recent seasons.

But he faces a big challenge trying to recoup the money paid out for the three front-men who have failed to deliver for manager Mauricio Pellegrino. 

Manolo Gabbiadini is one of the other strikers who will be free to leave in the New Year