CLAUDE Puel has revealed that there is a “possibility” Saints will buy another central defender in January if wantaway captain Jose Fonte departs St Mary’s.

But that player is unlikely to be Liverpool’s outcast centre-back Mamadou Sakho at this stage, with Puel dismissing a proposed move for his compatriot as “speculation”.

Reports have been widespread that Saints have had a loan bid rejected for the 26-year-old, with the Anfield outfit instead holding out for a whopping £20m for the French international.

“I know this player [Sakho], but I know nothing about this [transfer], its speculation,” said Puel. “We have a reflection about this possibility to see another centre back if Jose Fonte left the club.

“For the moment it’s not the situation and perhaps we will stay with the same squad, with good opportunities for Jack Stephens or [Florin] Gardos.”

Fonte has trained “with good spirit” with Saints in recent days, but Puel reiterated that the captain “has different possibilities” to leave St Mary’s, with West Ham frontrunners for the Portugal international’s signature.

The St Mary’s chief also didn’t rule not delving into the transfer window at all this month for a defender, even if Fonte were to exit.

Puel was unwilling to be drawn into details of his 33-year-old skipper's departure, but admits the situation could change soon.

“I cannot make a comment about this,” he said. “Jose has different possibilities. He has the solution and the opportunity to see this, and we will see what the situation is in a few days.

“For the moment I cannot comment on Jose.”

The French boss is willing to look to other options within Saints' current squad if a new centre back is not forthcoming in the transfer window.

“We will see after the situation of Jose," he said. "For example we tried Jack (Stephens) against Norwich.

“It’s important to see possibilities for different players and opportunities for the players. We will see.

“We stay with a reflection about this, but perhaps we will stay with the same squad because Jack is an England under-21 player and we have also [Florin] Gardos, who came back with the under-23s.

“We will see this when we reflect [on the situation]."