At Newport County on Wednesday evening Saints could not get past 8 and make it 9, so far this window Ralph Hasenhuttl has made 8 signings, but he could well increase that number by the time that Tuesday evening is over.
The transfer window so far has been very productive for Saints, outgoing wise we have got rid of 7 senior players, the first 3 in Lemina, Hoedt & Gunn did not feature at all last season being out on loan and a 4th Alex Jankewitz managed only a couple of minutes of Premier league action.
Ryan Bertrand, Danny Ings and Jannik Vestergaard also departed, but perhaps only Ings will be missed.
In total the 7 departures brought in around £65 ,million in transfer fees, but more importantly wiped around £375 k a week off the wage bill, or around £20 million over a year.
The amount off the wage bill is probably the most significant figure and we are finally getting to the point where we are no longer have to subsidise players out on loan.
The have been replaced so far by 8 players and given that only 3 of the departed played any significant part last season and taking into account that Theo Walcott was here on loan, our squad is bigger by 4 players all of whom can play a part this season.
In fact if we look at the team that we put out at Newport County we can add Moi Elyounoussi to that number and also perhaps Yan Valery who looked more like the player he was two & a half years ago than the one of late.
But it seems that our signing spree is not yet at an end, Asked if Saints were done with transfer dealings for this window, Hasenhuttl said:
"Not 100 per cent finished. We’ll have a look.
"If there is such an interesting opportunity popping up then maybe we do it. But I think the transfer window so far was a successful one for us, I must say.
"It was needed, definitely. Yes, we changed the team a little bit and I have enjoyed working with the team so far."
"The only position where we don’t have that many (options) is the six.
"We have with Ori, Prowsey and Ibra three players there for two positions. Every other position is doubled.
"We have a few players that can also play the six, but when we will do something, then maybe on this position again."
So although Ralph has now just about managed to achieve his goal of having at least two players in every position, he still has money in the bank and more importantly has has a lot of freed up wages to play with.
He seems to feel that we are still short in the centre of the park, Ryan Christie of Celtic is the name being mentioned there , but for me that is not the position we need to fill.
The centre of defence is now stronger than it was a year ago but it still lacks experience and for me far more important than the centre of the park would be an old head in the centre of the back four, a player who would bring more than game time but a wealth of knowledge, leadership and experience.
I dont think we need someone here that will play week in week out, but the likes of Salisu, Lycanco & Dynel Simeu need a mentor who will help with their development and bring them on as players, almost as much on the coaching staff as the playing squad.
So perhaps there could be a 10th signing alongside a new midfielder, the club have done just that in the B Team, signing Ollie Lancashire to play and mentor the youngsters and to be blunt they need to repeat that excercise with the first team.
So with four days to go before the window slams shit again Saints business is not quite finished, it has been a transfer window that has marked a change in the club being able to make new signings, the one where finally we have lost some of the financial shackles that have held us back in the past 3 years due to so many big signings not contributing and being out on loan.
Next summer will see that almost at an end, but be sure that things have changed in what the club can and cannot do in the transfer market.