Saints are facing a race against time to shift Dani Osvaldo before the transfer window slams shut tonight.

The club record signing, currently serving a two week ban for allegedly head butting teammate Jose Fonte, is wanted by several foreign clubs who hope to tie up either a loan or permanent deal before the 11pm deadline.

Juventus remain the frontrunners to complete a deal, with confirmed interest in the striker and reports of a loan deal that would bag Saints €400,000 (£330,000) now and the chance to make it permanent in the summer for €20m (£16.4m).

Saints paid Roma an upfront fee of €15m for Osvaldo in August last year.

It will be a relief to Saints if they can get him off the books with Mauricio Pochettino clearly unimpressed by Osvaldo.

“It’s clear this is something no one expects,” said Pochettino of the training ground fracas that led to the suspension.

“It’s completely unpredictable and something we did not expect. “In light of that there is no explanation I can give.”

He added: “I think more than anything he needs to feel that he’s let himself down.

“It’s also clear that everyone needs to assume the responsibilities and the consequences of their own actions. He needs to do that."

If Saints don’t get rid of Osvaldo it would leave an incredibly difficult situation for Pochettino to manage given the feelings of much of the squad.

When asked if there was any way he could see Osvaldo playing for the club again Pochettino replied: “Your question answers itself, if you know what I mean, meaning no. It’s clear.”

Pochettino reiterated his insistence that “anything is possible” before the window closes.

Saints have already moved on Danny Fox to Nottingham Forest with Crystal Palace set to complete the permanent signing of on-loan Saints midfielder Jason Puncheon.

The Daily Echo understands the winger is set to move to Selhurst Park on a full time basis before the transfer window closes for a fee of around £1.75m.

Saints will be well aware that other clubs may try to take advantage of the fact they would ideally move Osvaldo on.

There could also be a cat and mouse game as serious suitors balance trying to ensure they sign Osvaldo with waiting until as late as possible to try and negotiate better terms.

Saints will also be wary though that the later a deal goes the harder it will be to bring in any potential replacement.

However, Pochettino has opened up the possibility of Saints not signing anyone again after Sam Gallagher’s display against Arsenal.

“Signing right now someone who fits the profile we are looking for is not easy,” he said. “It’s very complicated to find that player.

“With Sam Gallagher’s performance against Arsenal on Tuesday it made us confident we might give him a chance and keep counting on him because he showed he can compete at the top flight.”

He added: “It’s clear that many times we look outside for players that are already in house and we don’t need to be looking outside.

“Sam Gallagher had shown that he can compete, that he can keep on learning from players such as Rickie Lambert, Jay Rodriguez and Adam Lallana. He needs to keep on training and make the most of the minutes we give him and to compete and Rickie, Jay and Adam need to be mirrors for him from which to improve upon his own performance.”