Ralph Hasenhuttl offers thoughts on trimming Southampton’s squad size down

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Ralph Hasenhuttl expects to cut the size of Southampton’s squad before the start of the Premier League season, according to the Daily Echo.

The Austrian thinks that the final weeks of the window will see the cogs turn more quickly in the market across the Premier League and is sure Southampton will be part of it.

He said: “In the next two weeks, transfer rumours will turn to facts because the clubs are forced to do something. I’m sure the squad we see today is not the squad we will see on the first game day.

“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. When I go in this season with 22 players it’s absolutely okay and finally I think we will have this.”

Southampton have lost their way in the transfer market in recent years, which has left Hasenhuttl with a bloated squad recruited at crossed purposes.

That’s a far cry from the model club the Saints were after they first got promoted – which is what Hasenhuttl is trying to get them back to, with the integration of younger players as well.

It’s just a case of finding suitors for their unwanted players, but it will be worthwhile if it helps Hasenhuttl realise his Saints vision, which kicked off in style last season.