RALPH Hasenhuttl knows an excellent finish to the season will boost his transfer budget.

In what will be the most uncertain transfer window in recent times due to coronavirus, additional funds could make all the difference when it comes to splashing the cash.

Hasenhuttl hopes to bolster his coffers by guiding Saints up the Premier League table which will result in receiving extra prize money.

The club will be hoping to offload a host of players who are deemed surplus to requirement but that could prove to be a struggle in the current climate.

Because of this, Hasenhuttl outlined just how crucial claiming the extra prize money that’s on offer will be, saying: “It’s always important, absolutely.

“It will give us a few more opportunities in this transfer window but that doesn’t change our general philosophy that we try to look at players in our academy to develop and give a chance to play.

“But when we sell players, investing money is normal for us and we have to do it in a smart way.”

Last season’s 16th-placed finish saw Saints earn a reported £9.5million prize money, with 14th, their current position, netting £13.3m.

Hasenhuttl’s side are just three points shy of 10th in the table and had they finished last season in that position, they would have netted £20.9m

Even though the extra money will help, Saints’ manager knows the club can’t afford to get this summer’s transfer business wrong.

“Every transfer window is important because in every transfer window you see that you have problems in some positions,” Hasenhuttl added.

“You need to find players that immediately help you but that’s not so easy for us because they cost quite a lot of money and we don’t have this.

“But the quality of a good transfer for me is to find the guy who has absolute potential and is someone who can grow quickly and go higher for us.

“This is the key and big challenge for us in the transfer market.

“I think other clubs can sign five or six players and if only two or three are good then that’s ok. But we can only sign one or two players and they must both be perfect.

“That doesn’t make it easy but to bring someone in who has potential means it’s on me and my staff to make them better and this is a challenge we like.”