May 15, 2015 13:44:24 UK
Southampton head coach Ronald Koeman is confident that he will not face another major exodus of players this summer, having had to rebuild before the current campaign.
Koeman took charge at St Mary’s during a summer of a number of key departures, with Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert, Dejan Lovren, Luke Shaw and Calum Chambers all opting to move on.
Normally, it will be a more quiet summer than last year.
Ronald Koeman
However, Koeman was able to recruit some more than able replacements and his side are still in the hunt for a Europa League spot as the season draws to a close.
And the Dutchman is upbeat about the prospects of keeping most of his squad intact, with England right-back Nathaniel Clyne seemingly close to agreeing a new contract following a change of agent.
Koeman told reporters ahead of a visit from Aston Villa: “I don’t think it will be the same changes in the club that we had last season.
“It’s still quiet regarding all the players, there has not been one serious bid on the table. It’s all about rumours in the press, but nobody, no club, has knocked on the door to have questions.
“Of course, it’s maybe too early. Everybody is waiting until the end of the season to make decisions about players and transfers and we will wait, but normally, it will be a more quiet summer than last year.”
The Saints are currently in seventh place in the table, one point behind Spurs and one point ahead of Swansea City.
The men from the South Coast can be backed at 1.75 to defeat Villa at lunchtime on Saturday, while they are 7.00 to win 1-0 and 2.25 to keep a clean sheet.
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