RICHARD Chaplow has targeted a permanent move to Saints after extending his loan until the end of the year.

The midfielder arrived at St Mary’s in September on an initial one-month deal from parent club Preston.

That officially expired after Tuesday’s 4-0 win over Dagenham & Redbridge.

But Chaplow will now remain at Saints until December 31, taking him up to the maximum 93 days allowed for an emergency loan.

And the 25-year-old, who has been frozen out at Deepdale by Darren Ferguson, is hoping his stay won’t end there as he sets his sights on a January transfer.

“I knew the team was good before I came and I knew it was a good club,” Chaplow said.

“It would obviously be a club I would be interested in coming to, otherwise I wouldn’t have come on loan in the first place.

“But first and foremost I’ve got to focus on these next two months, put some more good performances in and it’s then up to the people it concerns to try to sit down and arrange something.”