RALPH Hasenhuttl conceded that it’s looking likely players are going to leave on loan as opposed to permanently.

With the European transfer window remaining open until the beginning of September, Saints still have the chance to offload exiled duo Mario Lemina and Guido Carrillo.

The pair no longer have spots in the club’s Staplewood changing room and have spent the entire summer away from the first-team.

Hasenhuttl said: “There are still a lot of possibilities for the players.

“Most of them may be on loan but I think the best thing for the players and us would be something permanent because that helps both sides more.

“There is still a way to go in the European transfer period and let’s look what happens.”

Lemina has made it clear that he views his future away from Saints, having told France Football over the summer that he told the club of his plans to leave last season.

Apart from the initial fitness tests, the Gabon international, who had attracted interest from Manchester United and Arsenal, has been left to his own devices.

Because of this, Hasenhuttl admitted he would find it difficult to welcome the player back into the fold should he remain a Saints player beyond the beginning of September.

He added: “In the moment I want to be more focused on the players I work with and not the players having other futures in their minds.

“My job at the moment is to concentrate on the players here I am working with because there is a lot of things to focus on.”

When questioned just how many players could be leaving before 2 September, the Saints boss added: “I don’t know. Let’s have a look.

“As always, the most important thing is what is best for us and the players and if we find the best package for all three sides, as it has to suit the other club, then a transfer can happen.”

Hasenhuttl added defender Kevin Danso to the side on deadline day, having previously signed Che Adams and Moussa Djenepo in July.

Saints' season got off to a nightmare start with a 3-0 defeat to Burnley, but Hasenhuttl has no regrets over the business they conducted in the summer.

"I think with the options we have we made the most out of it,” he continued.

"We try to bring young players in who have good talent and we want to work with them hard, so they get better and better.

"That takes time and not one day but after a few times working with us you can see a development in a good way and this is the way we want to go and the only alternative we have.

"Prices are rising in the Premier League but we are happy with the players we have got who fit perfectly to our shape."