Ralph Hasenhuttl insists it is better for Southampton to sign young players from top teams

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl revealed that it is better for his side to sign young players from top Premier League teams and give them opportunities.

The Saints signed ‘young flowers’ Tino Livramento and Armando Broja from Chelsea‘s U23 team during the summer.

Both players have impressed with the chances they have received, while Thierry Small arrived from Everton‘s youngsters too.

‘For us, it is relatively difficult to sign big stars,’ Hasenhuttl said.

‘It’s much better to sign the best young players in the country and give them a chance to play.

‘If you are good, young and you don’t go through to the top team that you are training with then you know where you have to go because here you get the chance to play and this is the way we want to go.

‘When you have a small flower growing, then you have to give water to it and give them time to grow and take care of it because when you do nothing it won’t develop and become a beautiful big flower and this is something we want to have, something we can show.’

One player turning heads since his arrival has been Livramento, 18, who gave a man-of-the-match performance in the 1-1 draw with Manchester United last month.

‘Physically he has a very good package,’ Hasenhuttl said. ‘He’s tall, he’s quick, he has a lot of speed and this combination is perfect for his position.

‘There are still some things to improve, especially his passing and maybe the final pass but he has the quality to do this and this is fantastic, and he is a very good player to work with.’

Hasenhuttl’s youngsters face Wolves on Sunday seeking their first league win of the season, having drawn four of their first five games.

Midfielder Stuart Armstrong is still out, Theo Walcott is back in training while defender Jack Stephens faces up to three months out with the knee injury sustained against Manchester City last week.