Ralph Hasenhuttl has called for patience as Saints try to recruit new faces in January.

His former striker, pacy frontman Jean-Kevin Augustin, is the latest player to be linked with a move to St Mary’s, and Hasenhuttl admitted he has a style that could fit in well.

However, Saints are still trying to move players on and, without a significant January transfer budget, there still looks to be much manoeuvring required in the final weeks until the window closes.

“We just gave one away with Manolo Gabbiaidni and we have a few players on the radar,” said Hasenhuttl.

“There are a few things on the way but we have to look and we still have time to go until the end of the transfer window.

“The market in the Premier League is not that active like it is in the summer so maybe the last one or two weeks things will change a little bit.

“It’s a bit tactical at the moment I think but we still have them on the radar and if the moment comes then we are here.”

Augustin, the 21-year-old French under-21 international, was signed by Hasenhuttl for Leipzig for €13m in July 2017. He is now valued at more than double that amount, and also reportedly a target for Wolves and Everton.

“It’s nice that we are linked with this guy,” admitted Hasenhuttl. “I don’t want to explain if it is or not.

“I know Jean-Kevin very well and every player I know well is linked with us.

“He has qualities because he is very quick, he can score, he is used to the high pressing methods we use and that will help him if he would be here but he isn’t.

“I don’t want to discuss any players maybe linked with us or not.

“If there is a player we will tell you he is signed.”

Hasenhuttl has previously said his squad is too big and added: “There are two parts. The one part is we try to find players who really fit perfectly to our philosophy and have the qualities to help us in the future.

“On the other side we see other players do not fit perfectly to our system or style of football.

“They didn’t play so much and if they have another option then we find a solution that is win-win for both sides.

“We don’t send any player away. If a player is part of our club and shows in every training he wants to fight for his chance then you never know in football, it goes so quick and suddenly you get a chance, play well and things change completely.

“I demand every player works as hard as he can until the last day he is here and I don’t feel there is one player who doesn’t.”