The whisper around St Mary's is that there might well be another signing before the end of the month, with Saints perhaps adding to the squad an out of contract player, but who could be on the radar.
Saints of course can't sign a player on a transfer either permanent or a loan signing however they can sign a player who is out of contract as they did a couple of seasons ago when they brought in Martin Caceres but failed to utilise his talents playing him only once.
The rumour mill is saying though that there could be another arrival at St Mary's before the month is out, apparently they have a target but with the European transfer window still yet to close such out of contract players are hanging on in the hope that their demand will increase when the window shuts across the continent and clubs who have falied to land vital signings will be prepared to pay a little more as the auction begins.
One player whose name is cropping up as a potential signing for Saints is Hatem Ben Arfa who has just been released by Paris Saint Germain.
With a track record of having played for some of the biggest clubs in France as well as three full seasons at Newcastle United and a brief spell at Hull City in 2014/15, the player joined Claude Puel's Nice for 2015/16 on a one year deal, after 17 goals in 34 games his stock was high and in the summer of 2016 was linked with a number of clubs including interest from Saints with whom his former manager had just joined.
He ended up at PSG and had a reasonable first season although mainly used off the bench.
Last season he failed to make a single appearance and at 31 he was released and now is being linked with Southampton again.
He would be a cheap option but would provide good cover as he is able to play either as an out and out winger or more centrally in an attacking role in the midfield.