Southampton boss Ralph Hassenhuttl has hinted that he would be willing to sell players next month - opening the door for Fraser Forster to exit and potentially return to Celtic.

The English goalkeeper opted to stick around in the Premier League in a bid to challenge Alex McCarthy as number one at the club. However he has, as yet, not made a single appearance this season.

The Hoops had hoped to sign the stopper on loan before he decided to fight it out at his parent club, but a lack of game time could force a rethink.

Forster was Neil Lennon’s first choice to sign before eventually he brought in £5million man Vasilis Barkas, but the Northern Irishman would have little hesitation moving for Forster once more if a deal could be done. And Hassenhuttl suggested he would be open to moving on players who may want to leave - if the price is right.

“It seems rapid that the next transfer window comes - it seems like yesterday I spoke about the last one, which was closed a little bit later,” the Saints boss said.

"I am never scared of any transfer window because this is the way we go. When we are performing well and other clubs are coming wanting to take our players and give you the money you want, you always discuss it.

“We are never a club at the end of the highest in Europe, we never will be. But we are also not a selling club. If it’s necessary we have to. If players do not extend their contracts and are free, they have to go, they go.”