The January transfer window may still be three months away, but that hasn’t stopped rumours and speculation flying around about which Premier League stars may seek a move in the New Year.

The international break this fortnight will give Premier League bosses a chance to reflect on their side’s start to the new season, as well as consider the futures of some of their players.

Claude Puel of Southampton may be one of those managers doing exactly that.

After a sluggish start to the new season, in which the Saints didn’t win any of their opening four league games, Puel’s men have picked up two wins in three, and remain unbeaten in the group stages of the Europa League.

By now, the new manager may have an idea about who he wants to retain for the season and who he wants to move on in the window, so here are THREE players the Frenchman might let go in January…

Maya Yoshida

Maya Yoshida has been at St Mary’s since the Saints returned to the Premier League in 2012, as then-manager Nigel Adkins looked to bolster his defensive options ahead of their top-flight campaign.

And he did just that, making 31 league starts to help Southampton to 14th in the table.

However, it’s not quite been as good for the Japan international since then.

In the three seasons following prior to 2016/17, Yoshida has made a combined 35 starts in the Premier League, and has once again fallen down the pecking order following the arrival of Virgil van Dijk.

Although he’s clearly a good squad player, the 28-year-old may feel that it’s time to leave the South Coast in a bid to seek first team football.

Alex McCarthy

Former England Under-21 international Alex McCarthy joined the Saints in the summer, but has yet to dislodge Fraser Forster as the club’s number one goalkeeper.

And he’s unlikely to any time soon, such is Forster’s good run of form, and the fact that McCarthy has been limited to just one start this season in their EFL Cup win over Crystal Palace.

Although he only signed in the summer, it might be worth the 26-year-old going out and looking for first team football.

He has once before been called up to the senior England squad and, if he still harbours ambitions of playing for his country, he needs to be playing regularly.

A loan spell away from the club in January may help him achieve that.

Jack Stephens

Another player, like McCarthy, who could do with a loan spell away from St Mary’s to aid his development.

The 22-year-old has yet to make an appearance in the first team this season, and doesn’t really look like making one any time soon such is the defensive quality which the Saints possess.

He’s played for England at every youth level up from the Under-18’s, and was part of the Under-21’s team that won the Toulon Tournament earlier this year.

He has had previous loan spells at Plymouth Argyle, Swindon Town, and Coventry City, so maybe it’s time to drop down a division or two again to help his progression.