"I've been told" - Reporter drops big Southampton transfer claim as Hasenhuttl priority emerges

Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl will not sign a new central defender unless one of his existing options leaves St Mary’s at the end of the season, according to The Sun journalist Tom Barclay.

The reopening of the transfer window will present Hasenhuttl with the opportunity to freshen up his Saints squad in the summer.

According to The Athletic, Hasenhuttl has identified bringing in a new centre-half as a priority heading into the summer.

The report suggests the Austrian is keen to bolster his options at the heart of Saints’ defence and it could mean that one of his current options may need to depart in order to make room for a potential fresh face.

Hasenhuttl currently has four central defenders – in the form of Mohammed Salisu, Jan Bednarek, Jack Stephens and Lyanco – at his disposal.

However, he is currently unable to call upon Lyanco, who joined from Torino following Jannik Vestergaard’s £15million switch to Leicester City last summer, due to injury.

Lyanco is understood to be ahead of schedule as he continues his recovery from a hamstring tendon problem suffered in the FA Cup win over Coventry City in February.

Arsenal to sign Marcus Rashford?! Hear more on The Football Terrace…

Barclay believes Hasenhuttl will only welcome a new central defender to St Mary’s if one of Salisu, Bednarek, Stephens or Lyanco leaves the club in the summer.

The journalist does not feel Saints will go into next season with a quintet of options in the position.

Barclay told GIVEMESPORT: “I’m not 100 per cent sure but I think, from what I’ve been told, if someone’s coming in, it’s probably more likely that someone’s going out rather than them suddenly having five senior centre-backs.”

Stephens’ £50,000-per-week contract is set to expire in