Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl is looking to trim his squad this month, with the end of the January transfer window looming.
As reported by the Daily Echo, Hasenhuttl has expressed his desire to lower the numbers at St Mary’s.
I think not more than 20 – or 18 – and the rest with young players.
We have the chance to teach them, the chance to have an eye on them, to show them they are part of our training group. That’s enough.
Maybe if you have only one challenge in the year, like the Premier League, OK there are two cup competitions, but if you have only one competition it’s enough to have 18 and maybe a few young players behind.
The Saints do boast a large squad, with a number of players simply unable to get the number of minutes that they desire under the new manager.
Hasenhuttl’s is eager to work with a small-knit group and his comments follow the news that Cedric Soares is closing in on a move to Inter.
The Portuguese defender has been in Italy undergoing a medical ahead of a proposed loan move to the San Siro until the end of the season.
Hasenhuttl has shown he is not afraid to mix things up at Southampton, bringing in youngsters like Yan Valery and Kayne Ramsay since his arrival.
