Mauricio Pochettino insists the Saints board would be the ones to make the decision if Luke Shaw were to be sold.

The teenage left back has been linked with a host of big name clubs, with speculation intensifying this week that Manchester United was a likely destination before the World Cup.

Pochettino was adamant it was mere speculation and said it was the Saints hierarchy who will decide on the youngster’s future, if such a time comes.

“That’s the first time I hear about that, it’s news to me,” he said.

“At the end of the day Luke Shaw is a player that belongs to Southampton and it will be the club, Southampton, that makes the decision as to what happens to his future.

“Of course there will be interest in him but right now he is a player at Southampton Football Club and it looks like it will be continuing that way.”

When asked what he would do if Shaw were to request to go to United, Pochettino replied: “That he needs to speak with the club. He needs to speak with his owner.”

He added: “He’s very happy at Southampton and all the players I’ve spoke to are very happy at Southampton. They are professional players and most of them have professional long term contracts and that’s a very good thing for the club.

“They are very happy here.

“They are professional footballers and understand what it is to be a professional footballer at a club such as Southampton.

“There’s nothing that we have to speak about or make them understand.”