Ralph Hasenhuttl insisted he would take “10 players now if it’s necessary” with the transfer window about to close but added: “Good players cost a lot of money.”
The Saints manager was speaking after seeing three more injury blows to his threadbare squad on Saturday. Ibrahima Diallo, Theo Walcott and Oriol Romeu limped off in the 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa. Hasenhuttl has made no secret that he would like to bolster his squad before Monday’s transfer deadline. The window slams shut that night at 11 pm. Arsenal utility man Ainsley Maitland-Niles has been linked as a potential recruit for Saints.Asked how important it was to add to his squad before the deadline
Ralph Hasenhuttl said: “Good players cost a lot of money and we don’t have money, so what should I tell you? When it’s up to me, I would take 10 players now if it’s necessary. But it’s not possible for us.”
Saints handed a Premier League debut to Alex Jankewitz in the latter stages against Villa, the 19-year-old has reportedly recently handed in a transfer request at St Mary’s which was rejected. But Hasenhuttl hinted the Switzerland under-21 international could now make the step up when Saints visit Manchester United on Tuesday.
Ralph Hasenhuttl said: “We have brought Jankewitz in now – the next young lad who steps up,” said the Saints boss. Maybe he has to play against Manchester United from the beginning. This is the way we are working at the moment. This is the way we try to be competitive and not moaning about it.”
