Saints will try and resist the temptation to get swept along in what looks like being a summer of Premier League transfer madness.

With well over £250m already spent by top flight sides before the market has really got going, it is set to be the biggest spending close season ever for the elite clubs.

Boosted by a mega-money new TV deal, Premier League sides are lining up a spending spree, the likes of which has never been seen before.

For their part, Saints are determined to strengthen sensibly and prudently, as they have in recent years, but will try and avoid get sucked into the worse of the excesses.

There is expected to be decent money for new manager Claude Puel to spend.

The club have already brought in around £50m from the sales of Juanmi, Victor Wanyama and Sadio Mane, while Graziano Pelle could add to the coffers if he is sold this summer.

So far Saints have dipped into the transfer market just once, recruiting Nathan Redmond for £11m.

Though it is largely unseen, they have already invested some of the new TV deal cash by agreeing bumper contract extensions with a number of key players, a policy they are keen to continue.

They also remain committed to investing money in strengthening the infrastructure of the club behind the scenes.

With the majority of Premier League clubs expected to break their transfer record this summer, Saints are keen to maintain stability in the squad.

They have been badly stung by record transfers in recent years.

Over the last decade or so several much vaunted record breakers have proved to be significant flops.

Agustin Delgado, Gaston Ramirez and Dani Osvaldo were the most notable, and cost the club tens of millions.

Saints have instead moved towards a policy of recruiting a core of players for fees of around £8m-£12m, a plan which has worked a treat up until now.

Whether that will have to change as inflation bites remains to be seen.

Bournemouth are set to break their transfer record by paying Liverpool £15m for Jordon Ibe, who is a promising young talent but not a proven star at this stage of his career.

Watford have turned down £25m for Troy Deeney and a staggering £38m for Odion Ighalo.

Meanwhile, Manchester United are being heavily linked with a £100m offer for Paul Pogba.

There have already been three signings costing more than £30m – currently the most expensive is the £34m Liverpool paid Saints for Mane.