SAINTS are facing a race against time to recruit new faces for their Premier League opener against Manchester City on Sunday.

Nigel Adkins has been busy working on bringing in new transfer targets but with only four players signed so far this summer and the season so close there is an increased sense of urgency.

There are two wingers very much on the radar with the club chasing deals for Gaston Ramirez and longtime target Matt Phillips, pictured.

The latter has reportedly been the subject of a £6m offer from Saints but his club, Blackpool, are considering their options.

They are loath to lose Phillips, and are unlikely to be desperately keen to sell to Saints after a spat over a possible illegal approach, something Adkins has denied, with Everton also interested.

Saints are understood to have made enquiries over Ramirez, who plays for Italian side Bologna and there is also talk of Saints resurrecting a move for left back Alexander Buttner.

The 23-year-old’s on-off switch has been an on running saga this summer with Saints initially agreeing a deal with Vitesse Arnhem before a third party demanded an extra payment, which saw the move stall.

However, Vitesse are still understood to be keen to sell, so if Saints do bid again and Buttner could this time agree terms then he could yet be a new face.