Ronald Koeman is keen to boost his squad numbers and sign some more experienced players this summer if Saints qualify for Europe.

The prospect of the club competing in at least the Europa League next season is becoming an increasingly likely one, given their current position and form.

Koeman knows that would put an additional strain on his squad, meaning he would like to reinforce it if Saints do qualify.

Tomorrow's opponents, Everton, have seen their domestic form suffer this season partly as a result of their own Europa League campaign, and Koeman is considering how Saints could try to avoid a similar situation.

“That's the problem sometimes for teams like Everton, Southampton,” he said.

“The big teams have so much players and they can handle two, three competitions and for us it will be more difficult, but that's one of the reasons in my plans for next season.

“Maybe we need more numbers, more experienced players to have the possibility, if you play for Europe, to have enough good players to handle those competitions.”

Koeman insisted the Europa League is even more of a drain than the Champions League, because of the challenge of playing on a Thursday night, but he is adamant that Saints should still be striving to reach that sort of level.

“The Europa League is more difficult than the Champions League, because you play on Thursday and you have to travel maybe on Friday and [play on] Sunday - it's only two days,” he said.

“If you play Tuesday, Wednesday Champions League then still you have three or four days, and that's more difficult, but for the club it's important, for the players it's important, because it's a nice experience and you have to handle with the squad about freshness of the players and, of course, you will have more risk about injuries, but it's always good to have that example if you go to Europe.”

Of course, playing in the Champions League is not out of the question yet, with Saints six points behind fourth-placed Manchester United ahead of the last eight games.

Koeman was asked whether qualifying for Europe's elite competition is realistic for his team.

“Realistic is difficult, because we have the distance in points,” he said.

“It's all about if we win the next two, three games then still we are fighting for that, but I think it's more for the big teams - but we try.

“We have the focus after the international break and we play eight finals, and the season so far is fantastic and if we will reach European football that means that the season is a special one for the club.”