Southampton manager Russell Martin has stated that he's hopeful of 'one or two' more signings at St. Mary's on Deadline Day, as reported by The Daily Echo's Alfie House.

The South Coast club have already made a staggering 17 signings this summer - albeit not all with the first-team in mind - while they have all-but confirmed a deal for Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale. But the Premier League side could welcome more faces after the England shot-stopper ahead of the transfer window slamming shut at 11pm this evening.

Speaking to reporters ahead of Southampton's Premier League clash with Brentford, Martin initially sought to downplay the prospect of late business at St. Mary's by insisting he was 'hopeful' rather than 'expecting' more arrivals, but then said there could be 'one or two more' before the transfer window closes. He said on transfers:

"I hope so, rather than expect so. I think there will be maybe one or two more but I think it will depend on who leaves the building. Everyone is really clear on their situations."

Saints have been linked with a number of players ahead of Friday's transfer cut-off. They're in talks to sign West Ham winger Maxwel Cornet but face a late challenge from Crystal Palace to seal a season-long loan deal.

Martin's side have also made proposals to re-sign former star midfielder James Ward-Prowse, now also plying his trade at the London Stadium, while they remain confident that striker Yuri Alberto is keen to make a move from Corinithians to join last season's Championship playoff winners.

Premier League survival will be Southampton's main ambition for the season so any last-minute signings will be welcome, but especially those who can offer Premier League experience.

Cornet and Ward-Prowse both provide that, while the latter has a unique connection with the Southampton fan base.

Southampton have been active in the transfer market following last season's promotion from the Sky Bet Championship, bringing 11 players into their first-team squad.

Lesley Ugochukwu, signed on a season-long loan from Chelsea, Mateus Fernandes, a permanent arrival from Sporting, and Cameron Archer, who departed Aston Villa this summer, are among those to have excited Martin.

The Southampton boss said at a press conference: "They've only had a few training sessions but we're really excited to work with them.

"We want players who are hungry to be here and I've really been impressed by them in the first few days of training.

"They now need to get themselves into the team which is the biggest challenge. It's all down to their willingness to learn and being open to ideas.

"Lesley in the number six position will compete with Flynn (Downes) and he's adapting really nicely.

"Mateus is a really, really talented footballer and can be quite flexible in terms of position. We'll see how long it takes for them to adapt.

"Archer gives us flexibility. He's a proper goalscorer, quick, really intelligent with his movement. It's just about how he adapts to what we want. He's scored a lot of goals in training this week, looks sharp."

Southampton beat West Brom over two legs before they clinched promotion in May's play-off final against Leeds, and Martin wants a similar atmosphere this weekend to that of their 3-1 semi-final triumph.

"I hope the fans bring the same excitement as we got for the West Brom game," he said. "Give us everything you've got, we'll give you everything we've got." 

Russell Martin says Southampton's business this summer has been good for the "long and short-term future of the club".

Saints have signed 11 new players to their squad so far and also turned loan deals for Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Flynn Downes into permanent transfers.

"We’ve done good business this window," Martin said.

"18 months to two years ago in the January window, it was very much about spending money for here and now because we need to stay in the Premier League.

"We all agreed we wouldn't do that and potentially put the club in a dangerous position down the line. We have made signings for now and players who are going to also be really good over a long period of time."

Back in that January 2023 window Martin referred to, Southampton broke their transfer record and signed winger Kamaldeen Sulemana for a fee of over 20m.

They also introduced Paul Onuachu and Carlos Alcaraz, with the three having made just 104 appearances between them since signing.

"I'd love to go spend £25m-£30m on one or two players, of course, but we knew we wouldn't be doing that and this is the situation we're in," added Martin.

"I don't lose any sleep over that because we're all aligned and we have real clarity in what we're doing."

Martin was asked about whether the likes of Lesley Ugochukwu and Mateus Fernandes could feature against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

As the newly promoted club finalizes its transfer plans, Martin hailed their recent arrivals.

He stated: “ Yes, that's all they've had, but I really like them both as people. We watched a lot of both of them and we're really excited to work with them.

“I think the club, the ownership group and ourselves, everyone's really aligned. We want players who are hungry to be here, desperate to improve, to want to be part of the style that we play in.

“This is their opportunity, it's not a step to something else. They want to be here with us in the Premier League.

“Of course, they'll all have their own ambition and different motivations, but I've really been impressed by them in the first few days of training.

“I think they're both really exciting signings. Young, hungry and they now need to get themselves into the team.

“That's the biggest challenge because we have a fairly settled team that have played a lot of games together, good relationships. Now they have to force their way into that.”

He added on Fernandes: “Yeah, really good footballer. Really, really good footballer. That's why we're so keen to bring him here.

“When Rasmus said the deal had been agreed, at one point I thought we'd maybe not get him because there was a lot of interest and Sporting weren't overly keen to let him go.

“And in the end, I think, dictated to by financial necessity or whatever. We're really pleased to get him in the build. I think it's a brilliant signing for us. Someone we've watched for a long time.

“I think already we've seen in a couple of days the level of detail he has in his game, in possession, and also he's hungry and aggressive without the ball.

“It's an exciting one for us and the club. And it's another young player that could be a really brilliant piece of business financially for the club eventually as well.”