SAINTS’ work in the transfer market is ongoing but Mark Hughes has revealed that his squad does not need a ‘radical’ overhaul.

Hughes has always been keen to stress that he sees good quality in his current team, even during the club's battle against relegation last season.

And Sparky knows he needs a few strong new recruits to strengthen Saints ahead of the 2018/19 campaign, rather than drastic changes.

The experienced Welshman has already signed-up midfielder Stuart Armstrong in a £7m deal from Celtic and £16m attacking midfielder Mohamed Elyounoussi from FC Basel, but the spending won’t be ending there.

Saints are understood to be in the market for a centre-back, with Jannik Vestergaard of Borussia Monchengladbach on the radar, while Barcelona’s Marlon Santos has also been linked with a move to St Mary’s.

Middlesbrough’s Ben Gibson has been on the club’s radar but it is said Saints are not considering a move for the 25-year-old at this stage, although could revisit a potential deal.

Manchester City’s young goalkeeper Angus Gunn could come in, while Fraser Forster, Sofiane Boufal and Guido Carrillo’s futures at Saints remain uncertain.

Boufal and club-record signing Carrillo have been left out of the club’s two-week training camp in China.

“I said at the time when I came in that I was scratching my head a bit in terms of how we found ourselves in this situation, because the quality and the ability of the players was there,” Hughes said.

“I could see that and they could see it themselves that they were underachieving and not playing as their ability should have allowed them to.

“We’re not making radical changes. We’ll try and improve, obviously players do leave and you have to make sure you get good players to replace them.

“That process is already happening as we’ve already seen and it’ll continue. It’s not about shifting everybody out and starting again.

“We’ve already done a lot of good work with the core of the group, so that will remain intact.”

Today, Hughes has taken his side for their first training session in China, where the squad have focused largely on fitness-based work at their base in Kushan.

The St Mary’s chief has been delighted with the club’s work in the transfer window so far and is looking forward to seeing Armstrong in action in red and white.

“He’s another guy at that stage in his career where he’s ready to take the next step, given his experience,” Hughes said about the 26-year-old.

“He’s played at a big club on the big stage and that’ll help him. I don’t anticipate him having any problems with him transitioning to the Premier League because he’s used to high level games.

“I’m looking forward to working with him. I’ve seen him play a lot and I’m impressed with what he can give you in the areas he plays in.

“He gives you an added goal threat, which maybe we’ve lacked. If we can add to the amount of goals we score, clearly that’s going to help us.”