Saints could return for Tonny Vilhena in the summer after refusing to meet Feyenoord’s asking price for the midfielder on transfer deadline day.

Ronald Koeman worked with the 20-year-old during their time together in Holland and was keen on bringing him to St Mary’s following the departure of Jack Cork.

However, Feyenoord asked what Saints considered an unreasonably high fee for a youngster heading towards the final year of his contract and who isn’t playing regularly.

Saints opted not to stump up that cash this time round, but might be tempted to move again in the summer when Vilhena’s value will have significantly lowered.

Koeman said: “It’s always a little bit of playing between clubs if you are interested in a player, and Tonny Vilhena is a young player with one season more contract.

“You put a price on that and Les Reed is the man involved and to speak to the clubs about players and to do the business.

“But Feyenoord asked too much money also in my opinion about a young player, one, with, second, one season more contract and, third, he is not playing. Ok, we didn’t agree that.”

When asked if Saints might revive their interest at the end of the season Koeman replied: “Maybe in the summer.

“First of all, it’s an interesting player, because it’s a left-midfield player and, all the young ones, we don’t have a left-foot midfield player – we don’t have it – and that makes the player special, and I know the player of course.”

He added: “The club can say ‘this is the price and lower than that that’s not possible’, and we are free to say ‘okay, that’s our price and higher than that we don’t do the business’.

“It’s a pity for the player, because really the player likes to come.

“I have contacts with the player, but I said to the player, ‘okay, we keep contact, and maybe there will be another chance in the end of the season.’

“It’s up to this position. It depends our squad for next season.”

Overall, Koeman was happy with his January business, which saw the club recruit Eljero Elia and Filip Djuricic on loan with a view to full time moves in the summer, and tie up a permanent deal for Ryan Bertrand.

Saints also kept hold of all their star names.

“I am very pleased because what I said after the game last week that at least we expect one player to bring in, and finally Djuricic is the new player on loan until the end of the season,” reflected Koeman.

“We kept everybody in the club.

“There was a lot of rumours also about that, that maybe some players will leave the club, but happy about the squad what we have and happy about some players who are back after injuries what they had the last few weeks.”

Djuricic is awaiting his work permit but will soon add extra options to Koeman’s squad.

“I know the player from Holland and he was already two or three years on the scouting list of Southampton FC,” said Koeman.

“He made a move to Benfica. Maybe too fast for the player what he was. He’s now 23-years-old.

“It’s an offensive midfield player who can play in different positions in midfield, on the free role on the left or right wing on the team and the player gives me more options and more competition in the team.

“He gets the possibility to show his qualities and maybe after that we can sign him for the longer term.”