Southampton: Saints unlikely to do business before transfer deadline

Southampton manager Mark Hughes has said that the club are unlikely to be active in the final days of the transfer window.

Four signings in Stuart Armstrong, Mohamed Elyounoussi, Jannik Vestergaard and Angus Gunn have been added to Southampton’s squad ahead of the 2018/19 season, but places are still open for more additions.

There had been suggestions that the club were looking to add competition at Right-Back and an extra striker to a forward line lacking goals in the previous two campaigns. However, Hughes has now dampened expectations of late activity.

Speaking to media including the Daily Echo and BBC Radio Solent after Saints’ 3-0 friendly loss to Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday, he said:

"“At this moment in time as we stand here we are probably at a point where we are not likely to do any business, but you never know.If there is something that presents itself and makes sense, and you have the means and resources to do it, then we will look at it.As we stand, I wouldn’t have thought we would be doing much.”“At this moment in time as we stand here we are probably at a point where we are not likely to do any business, but you never know.If there is something that presents itself and makes sense, and you have the means and resources to do it, then we will look at it.As we stand, I wouldn’t have thought we would be doing much.”"

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A slow and ponderous display against Monchengladbach will have worried some fans at St Mary’s, and they will be potentially concerned by the club not looking to add some fresh faces before the deadline.

It appears now that faith will be put in the players currently within the squad to create a successful season and move the club away from another relegation battle.

Young players including Harrison Reed, Matt Targett and Sam Gallagher have been linked with moves away this summer, whilst Fraser Forster looked to be on his way out the door after the signing of Angus Gunn.

Hughes seems to be willing to put faith in these players and suggested that they will all stay until at least January by saying:

"“We have a lot of interest in a lot of our younger players, but they may be best served staying here and waiting for an opportunity.It’s maybe a different conversation in January if I haven’t been able to give them decent enough game time.”“We have a lot of interest in a lot of our younger players, but they may be best served staying here and waiting for an opportunity.It’s maybe a different conversation in January if I haven’t been able to give them decent enough game time.”"

This could mean that Reed/Targett and Gallagher fill the additional Right-Back and striker roles after showing potential during pre-season.

It remains to be seen whether Fulham will come back with an improved offer for Targett, with Saints said to be wanting around £15m before considering letting him go.

Not being able to ship Forster out on-loan may be expensive for the club as he is likely to be third-choice keeper in 2018/19 despite being one of the highest paid players in the squad.