Will Still admits Southampton must sell before buying this summer

Still confessed that money is not the main factor behind the need to sell players, instead citing a desire to reduce a bloated squad.

Five senior players have already left the club this summer, while defender Joshua Quarshie has been signed and striker Damion Downs is also set to join.

Even with those exits, Still is working with a large squad in pre-season, and wants to cut the numbers to around 26 players.

"I don't think money is the biggest item right here, right now. I think it's just getting the right balance," Still admitted in his first interview with the Daily Echo.

Will Still gives instructions to his Saints players in pre-season. (Image: Matt Watson / Southampton FC) READ: Interview: Still on choosing Saints, his staff and style, transfers and derby day

"We need to get the numbers down and that's what's happening. That's what we've been doing. But we also want players to want to be here, to want to play for Southampton.

"We want players who want to get out of the Championship as soon as we can and be a good football team, and be good people as well because the people thing is important to us.

"We're working on it and we're trying to get the right balance in the numbers and the profile of players that we want and need. So, yes, it's ongoing."

Saints have already offloaded Kamaldeen Sulemana and Paul Onuachu, pocketing over £20million for the pair who failed to deliver at St Mary's.

Kyle Walker-Peters and Joe Lumley have left at the end of their contracts, and Adam Lallana has joined the coaching staff on a permanent basis.

Onuachu and Kamaldeen left before getting to work under Still in pre-season, but the Belgian-born English coach intends to give players a chance to win their spot in the squad.

Will Still stood alongside group technical director Johannes Spors. (Image: Stuart Martin) "Johannes and I sat down and decided that we need to have a good look at all these players in a new environment," he explained. 

"You don't want to let past influences say he was no good. He might be really good in a new environment and in a new system. We're giving everyone the opportunity to start from scratch.

"We've had a first week that's been incredibly interesting and you see different people with different characters and different profiles of players.

"A player that didn't fit into the system last year, but what they were trying to do might fit into what we're trying to do now.  So every player is going to get that opportunity.

"When we need to make a decision, we'll just be as honest as possible and as open as possible for the best interest of the player, for the best interest of the club."