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Southampton: Hasenhuttl confirms transfer deals that Saints hope to do

ByMarc Walker|
Southampton's Austrian manager Ralph Hasenhuttl looks on during the warm up the English Premier League football match between Bournemouth and Southampton at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, southern England on July 19, 2020. (Photo by Mike Hewitt / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by MIKE HEWITT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Southampton's Austrian manager Ralph Hasenhuttl looks on during the warm up the English Premier League football match between Bournemouth and Southampton at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, southern England on July 19, 2020. (Photo by Mike Hewitt / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by MIKE HEWITT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has confirmed the transfer activity that he hopes to complete before the transfer window closes.

Saints and Hasenhuttl are gearing up for the beginning of their 2020/21 season which sees them travel to face Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon and will be wanting to get off to a good start.

Part of preparing for the new campaign has been completing transfer business and Hasenhuttl has confirmed that further deals could happen before transfer deadline day next month.

Speaking to the media in his pre-match press conference (via southamptonfc.com), he said:

"“More needs to be done. We know that we lost a number six with Pierre Hojbjerg and we need an alternative in this position, so we will definitely do something in the next weeks – there is still time to go. We have a good 11, but we have a lot of games following up this season so we need some alternatives.”"

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Hasenhuttl then went on to answer questions about the goalkeeping situation at St Mary’s and a potential swap deal involving Wesley Hoedt and Club Brugge striker Emmanuel Dennis – he disregarded the swap deal as a rumour but confirmed that one of either Fraser Forster or Angus Gunn would be leaving.

The Austrian’s setup at Saints is one that sees him ideally wanting two quality options for each of the 11 positions in his team. The two central-midfield roles in his 4-2-2-2 formation would therefore need four players to be called on at any time during a season.

At the moment, Saints have just James Ward-Prowse, Oriol Romeu and Will Smallbone as players who can play in this position and confirmation that a new signing is being targeted will be promising news for fans.

One more midfielder will give a strong look to the squad that Hasenhuttl will be working with in the 2020/21 campaign.

Kyle Walker-Peters and Mohammed Salisu have both arrived on permanent deals to bolster the defence and young players from Saints’ youth ranks will also provide further options if needed.

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