SAINTS boss Russell Martin has opened up on preparing for the new season with a large squad - many of whom are the subject of transfer interest.

The former Scotland international is currently working with a mixed squad of over 30 senior and youth team players.

Only Mislav Orsic and Ibrahima Diallo have departed on permanent transfers this summer, while Lyanco’s move to Besiktas has reportedly collapsed.

Martin has revealed that he is hoping that the process of a squad transformation will kick start soon.

Speaking in his first press conference as Southampton manager, he said: "We have a huge squad. Just in terms of training numbers, it is really big.

“We have a couple of young players that we really want with us every day as well because they are incredibly talented. It’s our job to promote them as quickly as possible into the first team.

“We want to win and we want to get back to the Premier League as quickly as possible, but we want to create players and help them grow.

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The 39 year old added: “The squad is big but I’m sure that will change. These things always take time.

“Jason [Wilcox] and the ownership group are in charge of that and they keep me posted on that, but for as long as the players are here, and in whatever numbers, we will give them everything they’ve got. All we ask for them to give us that back and they’ve been brilliant.

“For some of them, there has been a huge amount of uncertainty over their futures, but whilst they are all here they have to be 100 per cent in and present, that’s all I can ask.

“There are going to be days where we can't train with everyone when we are preparing for a match, but we will be professional and respectful towards them and that’s what we expect in return.”

Former Swansea full-back Ryan Manning and Manchester City U21 captain Shea Charles remain the only players to join Southampton ahead of the 2023-24 season.

With only two weeks until their season opener against Sheffield Wednesday on Friday, August 4, Martin and his coaching team are having to be patient as they await new arrivals.

Martin pointed towards Saints’ financial need to offload players being a factor in slowing them down from signing new players.

“It’s about timing,” the retired defender said.

“So much of football is about timing and opportunity. We have players that we are interested in and that know we are interested in them.

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“We are having to be patient in a way because we do have to lighten the load, not purely just for training but financially as well for the club.

“There will also be opportunities like with Manning and Charles where we had to move when we did.

“The club and the owners have been willing to do that which is fantastic for us.

“It’s natural that people will have to start leaving otherwise we will end up with a huge squad and I don’t think that is beneficial to anybody.

“There have been some other clubs where that has happened, and it’s been quite detrimental to the club.

“We will have to see where we end up in terms of numbers. Things will start happening soon I am sure. The market has been really slow.”