As the transfer deadline final hour nears, the question is whether Saints will spring a surprise signing even if it is only on loan ?

I would be very surprised if Saints made a permanent signing on the final day of the season, however I would not be shocked if a loan signing came in under the radar.

Since the departure of Steven Caulker a couple of weeks ago Saints are very stretched in the centre of defence, although Virgil Van Dijk and Jose Fonte are a pretty solid pairing, there is little in terms of quality to cover them should one of them be injured or suspended.

Yoshida is the only experienced central defender currently fit and to be blunt although he is OK for the odd cameo appearance, he is not the answer for anything more than that.

Florin Gardos could be nearing a return from injury and he will offer another option, however it should be remembered that Ronald Koeman did not use him in any capacity after the defeat at West Brom on the 28th February last year, even though for many games he was on the bench.

This would suggest that Koeman does not rate Gardos, indeed he seems to rate Yoshida above him and that does not bode well for Gardos's future at St Mary's long term.

Likewise Cuco Martina, although he can play in central defence, he was only ever a short term option to bulk up the squad early season, he will leave in the summer and it would not be good to have to play him in central defence against the likes of Man City & Chelsea etc.

So that being the case it would not surprise me if Saints were looking to bring in a little bit of experience in at the back all be it on loan, Calum Chambers was previously mentioned as a possible loan option but that one seems to have died a death.

So who could come in, Steven Caulker looked a good option at the time but was ararely played suggesting that there was something off the pitch that the club and Ronald Koeman were concerned about, although some will point at his performance in the cup against Liverpool as proof he was not very good, if you took that game as a benchmark for anyone who played in it, you would be very worried about the rest of the season,Caulker ironically till recently had the best record of any Saints defender in the Premier League for goals against.

So could Koeman look to get another experienced defender in on loan to cover his bases for the rest of the season ? I would like to think we are considering it, even at this late hour.

Photo: Action Images

legod7 added 13:06 - Feb 1 No one in but I can see Jack Stephens going out on loan. Probably to Swindon where he will get more game time than at Middlesbrough
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schatfield added 13:42 - Feb 1 no one coming in today with maybe a couple of loans going out including Reed....RK has said that earlier to the press
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Whatsforpud added 16:23 - Feb 1 Not easy for a quality CB to come in knowing that there is a good CB partnership in place. Bit like getting in a reserve keeper.
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