Although Premier League clubs can now not bring any new players in, they can sell them or loan them out to teams in other Leagues subject to their rules.

Although Saints can't sell players to other Premier League or EFL club they can still be raided by teams in other countries, although the club have stated that they will not entertain any transfer deals after the Premier League transfer deadline of last Thursday.

But they are now left with a top heavy squad both in terms of experienced professionals and younger players, however they can trim these by loaning them out to clubs either in the Championship or below as long as it is done by August 31st.

From the experienced professionals list, Shane Long, Steven Davis, Fraser Forster, Matt Targett and Maya Yoshida could not even get on the bench for Sunday's game against Burnley, add to that Sam McQueen, Sam Gallagher, Josh Sims, Jake Hesketh, Harrison Reed to the 18 who were on duty and you have more players than are needed and who won't get near a first team game.

So who will Saints be looking to move out before the deadline ?

Obvious name is Fraser Forster, currently down to 3rd choice you would think that he will go on loan somewhere, either to a Championship club or perhaps abroad, Steven Davis has been linked with Rangers and he too could be on the move after great service to the club over the past six years, in the central midfield pecking order he will be at least 6th choice and if he is 6th then Harrison Reed will be 7th, I would not be too surprised to see both leave on loan.

I would expect Matt Targett to stay, he is highly rated and the club will be looking to see him put pressure on Ryan Bertrand this season, likewise Shane Long, although he is now 4th choice striker, I think given injuries and the worries that one or more strikers may be sidelined, that he will have a part to play this season.

Yoshida found himself 5th in the pecking order on Sunday, although I would not be surprised to see him move above Jack Stephens, I do think though that one of them could well move out on loan in January if the other central defenders stay injury free.

Sam McQueen is a likely loan mover, Aston Villa are linked and Bristol City were sniffing around in the summer, likewise Sam McQueen, both need game time at their age, cant see to many opportunities at St Mary's.

Josh Sims will be disappointed to find himself down the pecking order, however I think he will be one on the fringes of the team and could well be needed, Jake Hesketh perhaps needs to go out on loan, he is still a good prospect but he is yet to truly break through and having not played so far at another club perhaps needs to go away for a season to get him that edge that only first team football can give.

So far Saints have loaned out five players and that shows how overloaded the squad is at the moment, Jordy Clasie is at Feyenoord, Guido Carrillo at Leganes, Sofiane Boufal at Celta Vigo, Ryan Seager at Telstar and only this week Alfie Jones went to St Mirren.

They could be followed by another five in the next fortnight and that would still leave us with a full squad.

Photo: Action Images

BoondockSaint added 14:09 - Aug 16 The team didn't have to make that statement. I doubt any teams in other countries are planning to "raid" the Saints for players who were nearly relegated last year.
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SaintNick added 15:50 - Aug 16 Swansea have been raided and they were relegated
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mikesaint added 16:15 - Aug 16 Saints should loan out Ward-Prowse, Stephens, McQueen, Davis, Gallagher, Sims, Hesketh and Forster.
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highfield49 added 17:10 - Aug 16 Quite a list and, of those mentioned, I think I'd want to hang on to Targett and Sims who are versatile and possibly Gallagher who could perhaps provide a different attacking option with his extra height. Other than that some of them could do with the experience of competitive football and others are in the category of surplus to requirements. Anyone know if the "loan to buy" option applies (similar to Ings) or are players only allowed to be loaned out now?

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highfield49 added 17:23 - Aug 16 Just running through the list again Nick do you have any idea what has happened to Harry Lewis? I was expecting him to come back from loan at Dundee Utd and perhaps pushing on towards the first team squad. I can't see him on the current staff at all now.
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BoondockSaint added 18:14 - Aug 16 I stand corrected Nic! You are absolutely right.-So we still have to worry about McCarthy and Gabbiadini for the next couple of weeks! Just when you think things are settled.........
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Hugh_Jarce added 17:07 - Aug 17 Need to hang on to Harry Reed as cover for Cedric. Agree other academy guys should go on loan for first team experience until Xmas if Hughes doesn't need them now
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underweststand added 06:25 - Aug 18 MH talks about " the 25 man squad " and this is the most sensible way to look at it. If all those mentioned were to be loaned out, and we had serious injuries to any of the "regular starters " we'd be reduced to dipping into the U23 squad to use players who are untried at Prem. level. Remembering VvD's long absence last season, we saw that Jack Stephens DAJFU, but he wasn't anywhere near the finished article at the time (or now). Of course every player wants game time, but unless a lower league club is desperate to loan a certain player with some League experience (e.g. Reed, McQueen) there is no point in loaning out a player just for the sake of it and who might end up sitting on their bench - instead of ours. Utilising the talent we have is most sensible, and we saw that players like Stephens, Targett and Mc Queen have the ability to play in alternative positions. We have one of the youngest squads in the Prem. and so we still need the likes of Yoshida and Davis on hand to help with their experience. There surely isn't a Saints' fan who would talk about loaning out Shane Long - if he scored once in a while... instead of only once a season, but even Shane needs game time, but we need regular goalscorers.

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