DAVID Prutton could be on the way back to Nottingham Forest for £250,000 - almost four years to the day since arriving from the same club for TEN times that amount.

The 25-year-old Saints midfielder moved to St Mary's for £2.5m on the final day of the first ever January transfer window in 2003.

Now George Burley has confirmed he has allowed the former England under-21 international to talk to clubs with a view to quitting Saints before the window slams shut at midnight tomorrow.

Burley is adamant that Prutton will be the ONLY member of his first team squad leaving this month - despite continuing speculation regarding the future of starlet Gareth Bale.

Prutton is out of contract in the summer and Burley said: "The only one (who could leave) is David Prutton.

"David came and spoke to us and feels at this stage he needs regular first team football which I can't promise him.

"I've granted him permission to speak to one or two clubs which he's doing and we'll see how it goes".

Prutton's hometown club, Hull, were keen to sign him earlier this month.

Prutton has made just 65 league starts (plus 17 as a sub) for Saints in four years - injury having restricted him to just a handful of appearances since Burley arrived 13 months ago.

In addition, he has also played in 10 cup ties (two as a sub).

Saints, meanwhile, face a race against time to tie up the loan signing of Marek Saganowki.

The Polish striker had a successful two day trial at the start of last week and Saints have since been in negotiations with French club Troyes to try and secure his services until the end of the season.

Saints remain one of just two Championship clubs - Leicester are the other - who have not brought in any new faces during the current window.

Burley is targeting two loan players but Saganowski's arrival has to be tied up by tomorrow night because of the rules.

"We're still working hard to bring some loans in," said Burley, whose side host Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship tomorrow night.

"The window closes as far as foreign players on Wednesday but we can still bring English players in until March so we'll continue looking."