Southampton head into their FA Cup third round replay with Championship side Norwich on Wednesday (7.45pm kick-off) off the back of another Premier League defeat.

Claude Puel’s men conceded a 78th minute Joey Barton free-kick to lose 1-0 at Burnley last weekend, which was the Saints’ fourth successive league loss.

Their dismal run of form, dating back to a 3-1 victory over Bournemouth on December 17, has seen them slip from seventh to 13th in the Premier League table, although they are still eight points clear of the bottom three, and shouldn’t yet be concerned about being involved in a relegation scrap.

Despite their poor league form, there has been some 2017 cheer for Southampton, as they beat Liverpool 1-0 in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final at St Mary’s last week, meaning that a clean sheet at Anfield in the second leg on January 25 will take them to their first League Cup final in 38 years.

However, they first have to negotiate Alex Neil’s Norwich on Wednesday in a bid to continue their FA Cup run, having drawn 2-2 at Carrow Road last time out, as Puel’s men look to get some momentum going ahead of the second half of the season.

Many feel that the Saints are still short in one or two areas to get back into the top half of the division for a fourth successive season, so Puel may need to add to his squad this month.

Yet, more incomings inevitably means some outgoings, so here are TWO Southampton players that must leave the club in January for their own good…

Jose Fonte

Centre-back Jose Fonte handed in a transfer request earlier this month to state his intentions of leaving Southampton in this window.

The 33-year-old defender, who won the European Championships with Portugal last summer, sees his contract end at St Mary’s in 18 months’ time, yet it doesn’t look at all likely that he’ll extend his stay on the South Coast.

Thus, it would probably be best for both parties if Fonte moved on this month.

The Portuguese is an outstanding centre-back who has consistently been one of the better ones in the Premier League, and deserves huge credit for captaining a Southampton side that have gone from strength to strength since their return to the top-flight in 2011.

However, it looks like his time is up at St Mary’s and, with Liverpool and Manchester United both linked with the defender, Fonte looks set to leave sooner rather than later.

Shane Long

Charlie Austin’s long-term injury has left Puel with just Jay Rodriguez and Shane Long as his frontmen, yet the latter hasn’t quite lived up to expectation in recent weeks.

And, with the Saints potentially eyeing up a move for a forward in the window, as well as seeing Nathan Redmond occasionally lead the line for the team, Long may feel that he needs to move on this month.

The Republic of Ireland international has started just six Premier League games this season, and actually began the campaign as the first choice forward in the squad, although he failed to net and was subsequently replaced by Austin.

Clearly, Long is an important squad player for Southampton, yet at the age of 29, he should be in his peak years, and may need a move away to find the first team football needed to reach that peak.

Sunderland and West Ham have recently been linked with the Irishman, and he’d certainly get first team football at both clubs, and thus should seriously consider a move away if the interest becomes concrete.