SAINTS are to redouble their efforts to bring in new faces before Tuesday’s transfer deadline.

The St Mary’s club have been working behind the scenes to recruit several players during the January transfer window but have thus far only managed to bring in Tadanari Lee, who made his debut in the 1-1 FA Cup draw with Millwall, and loan signing Yago Falque.

Their most high profile chase has been for an experienced Championship striker, with bids turned down for the likes of Gary Hooper, while they have also been after a centre half.

Stoke defender Danny Collins, a left-sided central defender, is the latest to be linked with a move to Saints, but there are suggestions the 31-year-old could move on loan rather than a permanent deal.

Though there is still a loan window to come for Championship sides after Tuesday, with so much to play for between now and the end of the season most Saints fans are hoping for some permanent deals to boost their side’s promotion bid.

Saints boss Nigel Adkins said: “There’s obviously a game on Tuesday so it’s a strange evening to have games when the window is going to close.

“I think if you look historically the last couple of days of the window is when a lot of business is done because the deadline is drawing closer.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if there was still a bit to come.”

He added: “The chairman’s been great, he’s been working very hard behind the scenes believe you me.

“But there’s a good squad of players at Southampton Football Club.

“When everyone’s fit and everyone’s firing on all cylinders we’re a match for anybody.”

Collins moved to Stoke from Sunderland for £2.75m in August 2009 but is currently out of favour, having had a loan spell at Ipswich last year.

He is a Welsh international and could provide cover for Jos Hooiveld, currently suffering with a hamstring injury, who is the only experienced left sided centre half Saints have to call upon with Dan Seaborne not yet back in full training and Danny Fox a left back rather than a central defender by trade.

“I think we’ve probably been linked with a lot of players,”

said Adkins.

“And maybe players that we’ve thought might have come across the line, but at the last minute something might have materialised for whatever reason and it hasn’t quite happened.

“So until somebody signs a piece of paper, I’m not going to make any comment on anything.

“There’s a couple of days left for us to bring people in.

“But the loan window is open after that.”