Southampton 'still in the mix' for more transfer targets

The St Mary's side added seven permanent signings ahead of their first friendly of the summer, which ended in a 7-1 win at Eastleigh.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Adam Lallana, Charlie Taylor, Ronnie Edwards, Nathan Wood, Yukinari Sugawara and Flynn Downes have all penned deals. 

Saints are still looking to bolster their options in attack, having held interest in players such as Sunderland's Jack Clarke and Celtic's Matt O'Riley.

Speaking at Silverlake Stadium, Martin told the Daily Echo: "I'm really grateful to the ownership for what we have already got done.

New signing Yukinari Sugawara scored on his first friendly appearance for the club (Image: Stuart Martin)

"I think we're still right in the mix for a few players at the moment and some people will need to leave the building.

"That is for financial reasons and also for their own careers, to go and play football. So, we'll have to wait and see what happens on that front.

"I'm really happy with what we've done so far. We have a nice mix of exciting young players, and then some really experienced ones, with Charlie and Adam.

"Then the players we kept, Alex McCarthy, Flynn Downes coming back, Taylor becoming ours - it's really important, so I'm really pleased."

Taylor Harwood-Bellis cost Saints £20million to sign following promotion (Image: Stuart Martin)

Sugawara, who joined Southampton from Dutch side AZ Alkmaar, told the Daily Echo that Martin's style of play was a big factor in his decision to join.

Martin quipped that it only matters if he still thinks that a year later but hopes an attractive philosophy can convince more targets. 

He said: "I hope that when we have other teams interested in the players that we are trying to sign, I hope at some point they will like the look of the game model enough.

"Or that they hear enough good things from other players about the way we work and the way people feel about it, that they would then choose us.

"It doesn't always happen but we got Flynn back because of the way he feels. Yuki because he was desperate to be a part of it, and we beat opposition to get them.

"It means a lot but he has been attracted because of the style - not because of me - because of the way the group plays.

"Hopefully, he will be a part of it. I think it suits him hugely, and he's an intelligent boy so, hopefully, it will be a match made in heaven."