At Newport County on Wednesday evening Saints could not get past 8 and make it 9, so far this window Ralph Hasenhuttl has made 8 signings, but he could well increase that number by the time that Tuesday evening is over.

The transfer window so far has been very productive for Saints, outgoing wise we have got rid of 7 senior players, the first 3 in Lemina, Hoedt & Gunn did not feature at all last season being out on loan and a 4th Alex Jankewitz managed only a couple of minutes of Premier league action.

Ryan Bertrand, Danny Ings and Jannik Vestergaard also departed, but perhaps only Ings will be missed.

In total the 7 departures brought in around £65 ,million in transfer fees, but more importantly wiped around £375 k a week off the wage bill, or around £20 million over a year.

The amount off the wage bill is probably the most significant figure and we are finally getting to the point where we are no longer have to subsidise players out on loan.

The have been replaced so far by 8 players and given that only 3 of the departed played any significant part last season and taking into account that Theo Walcott was here on loan, our squad is bigger by 4 players all of whom can play a part this season.

In fact if we look at the team that we put out at Newport County we can add Moi Elyounoussi to that number and also perhaps Yan Valery who looked more like the player he was two & a half years ago than the one of late.

But it seems that our signing spree is not yet at an end, Asked if Saints were done with transfer dealings for this window, Hasenhuttl said:

"Not 100 per cent finished. We’ll have a look.

"If there is such an interesting opportunity popping up then maybe we do it. But I think the transfer window so far was a successful one for us, I must say.

"It was needed, definitely. Yes, we changed the team a little bit and I have enjoyed working with the team so far."

"The only position where we don’t have that many (options) is the six.

"We have with Ori, Prowsey and Ibra three players there for two positions. Every other position is doubled.

"We have a few players that can also play the six, but when we will do something, then maybe on this position again."

So although Ralph has now just about managed to achieve his goal of having at least two players in every position, he still has money in the bank and more importantly has has a lot of freed up wages to play with.

He seems to feel that we are still short in the centre of the park, Ryan Christie of Celtic is the name being mentioned there , but for me that is not the position we need to fill.

The centre of defence is now stronger than it was a year ago but it still lacks experience and for me far more important than the centre of the park would be an old head in the centre of the back four, a player who would bring more than game time but a wealth of knowledge, leadership and experience.

I dont think we need someone here that will play week in week out, but the likes of Salisu, Lycanco & Dynel Simeu need a mentor who will help with their development and bring them on as players, almost as much on the coaching staff as the playing squad.

So perhaps there could be a 10th signing alongside a new midfielder, the club have done just that in the B Team, signing Ollie Lancashire to play and mentor the youngsters and to be blunt they need to repeat that excercise with the first team.

So with four days to go before the window slams shit again Saints business is not quite finished, it has been a transfer window that has marked a change in the club being able to make new signings, the one where finally we have lost some of the financial shackles that have held us back in the past 3 years due to so many big signings not contributing and being out on loan.

Next summer will see that almost at an end, but be sure that things have changed in what the club can and cannot do in the transfer market.

Photo: Action Images

davenbennett added 09:30 - Aug 27 'Window slams shit again'. Bit harsh!
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SaintPaulVW added 09:45 - Aug 27 I agree, a solid experienced CM to come on as a holding player or cover for injuries or rotation would be a great addition to the squad. The forwards supposedly have Theo as a mentor. With our young squad, someone similar in defensive midfield could be very useful.
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kenis added 09:47 - Aug 27 I think Bert, Ings and Vest will all be missed, yes we move on, but all three were important players. Bert was a great servant to the club and played a big role in our success. We all know about Ings. Vest had a difficult start but came good and was a shame to see him go. Jankewitz is perhaps an example of us not getting it right with a young player, really we should have kept him but can’t blame him for wanting more game time I guess. Similar for Gunn, we bought potential, paid a big price but jut got it wrong. Lemina and Hoedt it’s good to get them off the wage bill, but lemina has shown he has quality even if he can’t seem to settle at one club and Hoedt was unfortunately just found out at this level and couldn’t adapt his game/wasn’t prepared to. No way we will sign another CB, that’s just wishful thinking and I don’t see it happening or would want the wage bill spent in that area. Unlikely we’ll sign a free agent either, which leaves a loan option (think we have one loan space left?) but a loan option is likely to be a young player who needs to play, and are they going to be better than and start ahead of Oriol?

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Peterx added 09:47 - Aug 27 Stuart Armstrong has played well in defensive midfield when called on and we now have a wealth of options in attacking midfield, so Armtrong could be moved back to defensive midfield if needed. Then we have 4 effective options in defensive midfield with Smallbone also to come back who can play there. I'm not sure this older head is required as well? surely Oriel and JWP are that older influence? Lets not depart from our formula of signing the players with potential like Small, Livramento, Simeu with this excess cash that I suspect we still have from Ings and Vestegaard and is probably burning a hole in our pocket. Another one of those would be awesome. Then we stick with our philosophy and have a better chance of being more successful long term.

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Toussaint added 10:51 - Aug 27 Be nice if we could bring Jose Fonte back one day as Ralfs assistant or part of coaching staff Jose bleeds red and white and could be groomed as the next manager, defence was always solid with him and hes just won another title
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pjt50 added 11:01 - Aug 27 Back in 2019 Ralph was saying that he wanted to work with a first-team squad of 18-20 with the rest made up of youngsters coming through. We must be some way past that now. I suppose he's just changed his mind after last season's injury list – although that was probably a one-off.
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Billeewithers added 11:20 - Aug 27 Bertarand was on autopilot over the las 18 months .... speeches about wanting to spend the rest of his career etc is a sign of running a contract and making a kill. Ok but he was below par for at least a season. Saints were good to him ... make that clear .... Saints owed him nothing. Ings barely made half a season over his contract time with his injury record especially during the tough times in a season .... let’s not overplay his contribution ....which was worth more in the selling. Lemonade was a tool .... potential is only such if it produces .... lazy ... arrogant ... self entitled. Buff said! Big lumbering centre halves Who can’t leap or turn quickly are of little value in this league .... made some money back .... excellent offload. Gunn was never convincing from day one. Swiss attitude problem .... moving swiftly on. Some considerable monetary positive result from this lot was a good job! Already the air felt clearer .... the new players are a breathe of fresh air ....plus plus plus

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JoeEgg added 11:54 - Aug 27 Interesting times and the experienced central defender would be a welcome addition to some promising young players coming in. HOWEVER, I still have a problem with the manager. He's enthusiastic and will clearly be kept on for this season, but more than we need an extra player Ralph needs an experienced Mentor himself. Please Ralph get an Assistant that understands the demands of the Premier League and we might just have a surprisingly good season!

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pintsizedsaint added 12:03 - Aug 27 If we are having our say on the offloads this window: - Ings: of course will be missed, but injury prone and has two seasons max left at this level. - Vestergaard: aerial strengths, and could play a key throughball from the back, but slow and has the turning circle of a cruise ship. Head often went down/went missing at crucial stages. - Bertrand: cannot deny his class and contribution to this club. But was clearly disinterested over past 1-2 seasons and age is catching up on him. Hoedt was a failed gamble, Gunn too. Lemina is undoubtedly a quality player, but lacks the discipline and motivation.

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KilkennySaint added 15:28 - Aug 27 I would like to see a retired experience CB to come in as a coaching role, not sure who is available out there with coaching experience ? Cant see us playing the wages for a player to spend most of the season on the bench. We should be ok for cover in midfield with Stu & Smallbone. If we were going to make another signing i would like to see a Goalkeeper, i don't see the McCarthy/Forster rotation working (it sends the message we don't have faith in either), keep one as back up and either loan out & sell the other, however i don't see this happening since we probably would have to take a risk on unproven keeper based on our budget. We Could always take in an older keeper for a couple seasons until we get this position sorted, i thought Tom Heaton would have been a good option.

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underweststand added 20:02 - Aug 27 I'm surprised that we have signed SO MANY new players and maybe haven't finished yet. Despite bringing in a number of promising youngsters, it seems as though they won't have to wait too long to get game time if Ralph is giving them early chances. Nick's maths are in line with my own rough calculations, and big reductions in the salary bill will help ease the losses from all those " no-fan " games in the last 2 seasons. Interesting to look at other clubs signings, and note that those " big clubs " who think they have a Divine Right get the 3 points when they come to SMS too often regard So'ton as the end of the line, but that might not be quite so easy this season. Man U. were shocked to return home with just one point and reacted by dramatically signing Cristiano Ronaldo in the hope of restoring some club pride (and sell a few more shirts), but at least we have shown up and that should be a warning to others who think we will be " an easy touch ".

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