Southampton call for January signings to be banned from playing in rescheduled games after Newcastle clash was postponed, as Ralph Hasenhuttl says: ‘It’s not fair’

Southampton are leading calls for January signings registered after a postponed game to be blocked from playing in the rearranged fixture, talkSPORT understands.

Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl is leading the charge for the rule to be in place after his side’s January 2 clash with Newcastle was called-off due to COVID cases in the opposition squad.

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Since that game was scheduled to take place, new-monied Newcastle have signed England right-back Kieran Trippier for £12million from Atletico Madrid and look set to add more big names.

The Magpies are reportedly the richest football club in the world following their October takeover by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, and are looking to flex their financial muscle this January.

Manchester United’s Anthony Martial has been linked with a loan move, along with a whole host of other big signings such as Juventus midfielder Aaron Ramsey.

Eddie Howe’s side currently sit 19th in the Premier League and in the relegation zone, but heavy investment in the winter window is expected to turn around their fortunes.

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Hasenhuttl has confirmed the subject has already been discussed with the league which has seen 18 games postponed already this season due to coronavirus infections.

“We were discussing in the last Premier League meeting about what happens with the winter signings for the postponed games, if they’re allowed to play or not,” the Saints boss told talkSPORT.

“For us it’s the same, we can now also with our new owners sign key players and that is not really fair to play in games that have been postponed.

";The last word is they have not spoken so far.”

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Southampton were sold to Serbian billionaire Dragan Solak earlier in the week, and Hasenhuttl said his side are 'no longer a selling club'.

But, despite Southampton themselves looking to strengthen during the window, their Austrian manager wasn’t happy about the postponed game.

“In the end I was disappointed that we couldn’t play because we have been in good shape,” he said. 

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“We also had five cases of COVID and it’s not long ago that we had to fill up a team with nine academy players and got a big defeat against Man United.

“I was disappointed that this game didn’t happen, I also didn’t know the situation, exactly how it was at Newcastle. 

“Nobody knows it and it makes it difficult to speak about it but it is clear that everybody, not only me, was disappointed that this game didn’t happen.”