Southampton talks with Romano Denneboom over and Rudi looks to go

As speculation mounts as to who might join or, more importantly, leave the club before the transfer widow closes on Monday, Wotte revealed that Rudi Skacel has asked to speak to clubs abroad to try and secure a move.

The head coach also confirmed that Saints had been in talks to try and sign Dutch striker Romano Denneboom.

But these have now ended after FC Twente boss Steve McClaren decided he didn’t want to sell him.

For now, though, Wotte’s focus remains solely on those players at his disposal for a crucial St Mary’s double header against Swansea tomorrow and Sheffield United on Tuesday.

He said: “If a player’s not happy with us and wants to leave then fine, but leave as soon as possible.”

He added: “Rudi Skacel asked for permission to talk to clubs that want to talk to him.

“He wanted to be ready for a medical and was getting close to signing a deal before Norwich.

“It is easier for him to go to a club abroad, for clubs in the Premiership or Championship there would have to be compensation.

“He has a few days left to sign a contract abroad, but otherwise he will stay.

“For the time being, if a player is considering leaving I don’t want him in my squad.

“I want only players who are totally committed to Southampton Football Club.”

Skacel is seeking his second successive January transfer window move from St Mary’s – last year he left on the final day of the window to join German club Hertha Berlin.

While Wotte didn’t rule out making another signing before Monday’s transfer deadline, the Dutchman has insisted he will not be signing players unless he is certain they will improve the team.

“I don’t want any players that are not better than the players that we have,” he said. “It’s no use otherwise because we can always take a player on loan from England.

“If I bring in a player from abroad it has to be somebody that has proven his quality and has played at a certain level of football.

“Then again, it is also a risk bringing in somebody late in the season – so if we do it has to be somebody with specific qualities.

“We’re looking for this player and we spoke to Romano Deeneboom of FC Twente.

“At one stage he could leave but then Steve McClaren decided he had to stay.

“Then he scored two goals for Twente in a cup game on Wednesday so there is no point asking again if he is available.

“He was a player that I knew myself, I’d worked with him with the under-21 team of Holland and at another club in Holland.

“A player like that could help us, but we are shopping with pennies and not with millions so it’s not easy to bring in quality.

“We will try and keep our ears and eyes open and be creative.

“Of course we are looking for players to help us but they have to be better than what we have.”