Martin reveals exactly what Southampton want from January window

The St Mary's side have been linked to several wingers since the January transfer window opened but are yet to land their man. 

Burnley's Manuel Benson and AFC Bournemouth's David Brooks are two on the shortlist, while Hull City signing Fabio Carvalho was also a target. 

Academy graduate Tella departed Saints in August after the club received a £20million offer from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen. 

Martin insists he is happy with his squad but accepted he would like to add "one or two" before the window closes. 

Asked if the profile of player Saints want is reflected in the links, Martin said: "I don't know who we have been linked with so I couldn't say.

CEO Phil Parsons and director of football Jason Wilcox lead on transfer decisions (Image: Stuart Martin)

"I don't read it so I can't tell you if that is the profile. We lost a player who would have been so perfect for us so something close to that would be nice.

"Nathan was the one who, with probably the others we expected them to go, but with Nathan we fought off interest as it was not at the valuation.

"Then, all of a sudden, a bid came in out of nowhere that was brilliant for him and the club so at that point he had to go."

Martin continued: "We, perhaps, haven't replaced him with that particular profile because there wasn't one available at that point.

"So, yes, it has been identifying that. However, the team has evolved a lot since then so we are open to different possibilities.

"There is a lot of discussion about it, a lot of watching players and a lot of conversations with the guys.

"I am pretty sure that, by the end of the window, we will get someone we are very happy with in that position. 

"I am not going to lie and say we are not looking for someone as I think we can be helped in that position. 

"However, we have Adam Armstrong scoring a lot of goals in that position, Kamaldeen Sulemana and Sam Edozie to come back on the other side. 

"It won't be easy for anyone to come in and take their places but maybe we need a different option in that position. We will see where we are at at the end."

Martin also confirmed his hope to keep the Saints squad together despite speculation linking the likes of Che Adams with an exit this month.

Russell Martin says he would like to keep the squad together

The striker has only six months left on his contract and the club would sell if a satisfactory offer came in for the Scotland international. 

However, the boss explained: "Ideally, we don't lose anyone and we add one or two who can add not just on the pitch but to the group.

"January can be really difficult but the players have put us in a really good position where we are not scrambling to find something.

"We are just looking for one or two things that maybe we don't have to help us. We have a strong squad but it's a small squad.

"We won't rush into it. Ideally, you do your work early, but when you're looking for good players and their clubs are reluctant to let them go it is difficult. 

"We are willing to be patient and I think we are showing that. There is definitely progress in that area and hopefully, we will talk about what we have added soon.

"It won't be much. It will be one or maybe two of real quality that can help us to achieve what we want to achieve."