SAINTS boss Ralph Hasenhuttl is confident things are about to hot up in the transfer window and that the club will be able to reduce the size of its first team squad.

It has been a quiet opening to the summer window with only a relatively small amount of deals competed across the Premier League.

With the window closing in just over two weeks ahead of the start of the Premier League season, there is an expectation across the game that things will get increasingly frantic as the clock ticks down.

Saints have so far signed two players in Che Adams and Moussa Djenepo but, disappointingly, only moved three on with Matt Targett, Sam Gallagher and Jordy Clasie departing.

Given much of the focus for Saints is on reducing their squad size, and that they desperately need to shift players before they can add too many more, there is clearly much work to do.

Hasenhuttl said: “I think in the next two weeks the transfer rumours will turn to facts because the clubs are now forced to do something.

“Every team wants to change a few players and bring new players in.

“I am sure the squad we see today is not the squad we will see on the first game day for sure, and every change we make let’s have a look.

“We have more time and I am sure we will have one or the other transfers.”

Saints currently have a notional first team squad of around 35, excluding some of the young players who have figured in pre-season.

Hasenhuttl wants that cut to around 22, plus a few younger players, heading into the new season.

At this stage it looks almost certain that Saints will have to rely on more temporary measures and loaning out some of their high earners who nobody is prepared to buy, but they also hope to finally shift on a few senior players on a permanent basis.

Hasenhuttl is desperate to ensure that the pathway for young talent to come through is not blocked by a logjam of senior pros occupying fringe positions in the squad.

“Sure because we want to give the young players the chance to develop and the only chance to do this is if the squad is not too big because then you can bring them in and give them a chance to sit on the bench and maybe substitute them,” he said.

“If the squad is too big then their chances are not so big.

“We have a lot of games, we have two cup competitions, so when I go in this season with 22 players it’s absolutely ok and finally I think we will have this.”