Why Southampton have every chance of making a deadline day signing

Any incoming deals for Southampton on this transfer deadline day will only happen if a desirable player becomes available.

That is the word from many of the journalists close to the club and the signings made in this window so far mean that an extra addition is not actually a must.

However, there is one thing that means a signing is still very possible: Saints’ own record of finding the players they want with just hours remaining.

Previous deadline days have looked like dwindling to an uneventful conclusion at St Mary’s but deals have often cropped up when least expected – particularly in recent years.

Southampton will hope central-midfielder opportunity opens up

As an example of action on previous deadline days, fans need look no further than deals for Danny Ings, Takumi Minamino and Kevin Danso.

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Before each of these deals was confirmed by the club it looked as though no action was possible. Patience saw three players – admittedly with varying degrees of success at the club – signed very late when other clubs opened up to letting them go.

This could easily happen today and a similar story could be seen at a number of clubs across the country given that deadline day always comes with a surprise or two.

Ralph Hasenhuttl confirmed in his press conference before the Newcastle game that Saints were not “100% finished” in this window and that a central-midfielder could still be signed.

The Saints boss has James Ward-Prowse, Oriol Romeu and Ibrahima Diallo competing for two central places in his team and, although all three are quality options, a fourth player would limit the effects caused by injuries or suspensions.

Any player that does become available will have to be someone that Saints have highlighted before. Hasenhuttl’s style of play is a specific one and requires a certain type of player – anyone that does not fit into the system could cause a dysfunctional team.