Saints have already sent two of their youngsters out on loan for the season, but they won't be the last to depart on a temporary deal and in the opposite direction the club will use the system to bring in some up an coming talent as they did last season with Armando Broja.

Caleb Watts and Kazeem Olaigbe have already tied up loan moves for season 2022/23, Watts a midfielder has already made a few appearances for Ralph Hasenhuttl in the first team at St Mary's, starting the game against Shrewsbury in the FA Cup in January 2021 and following that up with 3 cameo appearances off the bench in the Premier League against Arsenal, Everton & Manchester City.

Watts joined Crawley Town on loan in the second half of last season, but in his opening game suffered a hamstring injury that kept him out for the rest of the term, he now goes to Morecambe for the season.

Kazeem Olaigbe will join Ross County for the season, the Scottish club seemingly having a good relationship with Saints, Olaigbe is yet to make a first team appearance for Saints, although he was an unused substitute at Swansea City in the FA cup in January, at 19 he has time to make his mark.

Dan N'Lundulu will be a more familiar name to Saints supporters, he has 13 sub appearances in the Premier League to his name, plus a few FA Cup appearances all back in 20/21.

Last season he went out on loan to Lincoln, but was not a success, starting just 6 League games plus 10 off the bench and scoring just once in the League, he was recalled and then went to Cheltenham for the rest of the season, but made little impact there either.

He will turn 24 in January and has two years left on his contract, it is hard to see him having much future at St Mary's, but you suspect he is on a higher wage than he can get in a permanent move elsewhere, therefore I see two more seasons out on loan for the striker where he can still collect his pay from Southampton.

Will Smallbone is perhaps the most experienced of those who may go out on loan, he is rated by Saints but his progress was halted by a long term injury that wiped out the best part of last season, he has already been linked with a number of clubs, with several Championship clubs said to be interested, Saints will want him to get game time at this level and then assess his future at St Mary's.

Another Will, this time Will Ferry, spent last season at Crawley Town and is likely to go out on loan again after a successful season there, he has one year left on his contract and turning 22 in December is at a crossroads with the club, they will want to see him jump a league to the Championship, before deciding whether his future lies at St Mary's longer term.

Jake Vokins like Will Smallbone broke into the side in 2020/21 and like Smallbone scored on his debut with a stunning goal against Huddersfield in the FA Cup, he did well at Ross County, but his progress now at St Mary's is a blocked by Romain Perraud and Thierry Small, he has two years left on his contract and like N'Lundulu it is hard to see him going elsewhere permanently due to the size of his wages.

Kayne Ramsey made his first team debut in Ralph Hasenhuttl's first season back in 2018/19 and has played twice in the Premier League both as a substitute, he will be 22 in October and is in the last year of his contract, with the right back spot also blocked to his progress, it is hard to see anything other than another loan spell for Ramsay.

They are not the only players who could leave on loan from the academy & B team ranks, they are the most prominent.

Saints now seem to be looking to implement a policy along the lines of Chelsea and Manchester City, developing players not just in the hope that they make the first team, but also to potentially move them on elsewhere for a profit.

This is on a smaller scale that the two aforementioned clubs, but in truth it is something Saints have done well since the days of Ted Bates, they have funded the youth system with the sales of those who haven't made it in our first team.

Photo: Action Images

Block8 added 12:23 - Jun 29 I would keep Smallbone, as I strongly believe he is a better player than Diallo? We have some very promising prospects in the U18 group and they need to go out ASAP! Youngsters reaching 20 or 21 before playing MENs football out are falling behind in terms of development and may need to go backwards to move forward!
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Block8 added 12:26 - Jun 29 Oh and just to be the first to say, not keen on the new kit! Throw back to the eighties but not in the same class?
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felly1 added 15:16 - Jun 29 I agree. Smallbone has shown real potential. Still a way to go to be a first choice starter but definitely better than Diallo.
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saintmark1976 added 15:30 - Jun 29 “ Saints now seem to be looking to implement a policy along the lines of Chelsea and Man City”. Nick, the only similarity between us, Chelsea and Man City is that for one more season at least we will all complete our fixtures in the Premier League. Chelsea and Man City have owners who have invested heavily in their club’s playing staff. All indications at the present moment in time point to our current owners having no intention in following their lead.

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Peterx added 10:19 - Jun 30 Feels like this is a make or break year for Diallo and Smallbone if they want to be seen as PL players regardless of where they play their football. You feel they both need to step up a level and perhaps this will only come with consistent game time. Also it could be if their was a long term injury to JWP or Romeu that he would play S. Armstrong as a holder first depending who else we have as an attacking midfield. Personally I would say sign an experienced PL midfielder like Brownhill and loan both Diallo and Smallbone to the Championship for the season, try to build in a recall option after the first half of the season.

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