Ronald Koeman has insisted Saints will not be selling Jose Fonte, and instead will look to sign another centre back before the close of the transfer window.

Saints skipper Fonte was surprisingly linked with a move to Aston Villa yesterday, but remains the mainstay of his team’s defence this season.

Koeman was definitive in his response to the speculation.

He said: “I don’t know if he is a target for another club.

“He is our captain, he’s a very strong defender, he’s a club man like Kelvin Davis and no one second thinks in my mind to sell that player.

“He’s part of the team, he’s the captain.

“No way to sell the player.”

Koeman is looking to bolster his central defensive ranks rather than weaken them further.

He has already lost Toby Alderweireld this summer, who opted to move to Tottenham rather than take a permanent deal at St Mary’s.

On top of that Florin Gardos has been ruled out for six months with a knee injury.

Saints have brought in Steven Caulker, but still need further back-up and competition for Fonte and Maya Yoshida.

“Sometimes we need to be patient and we know and we have the experience from last year that in the last week of the transfer window we had some new players,” reckoned Koeman.

“Sometimes you like to have the squad in the beginning of July when you start the season but there’s no reason to be nervous at the moment.

“I am happy with the players that we have. We like to bring in another defender and if we bring in another defender then I am very happy for this season.”

Koeman was again coy on a bid for Virgil van Dijk.

Saints are believed to have made a move for the Celtic’s Dutch defender, though any deal is likely to remain on hold for another couple of weeks while the Scottish champions attempt to qualify for the Champions League.

They have also been linked with Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly.

When asked about the Frenchman, Koeman replied: “I know the defender, but if we look to bring in a defender we have the whole list, and you're talking about a list, but nothing else.

“What I don't like is talking about rumours, names.

“We will see what happens. I don't say anything about it.”

The Saints boss also again confirmed that Emmanuel Mayuka has no future at the club with a potential move to Russia having stalled.

He also confessed it is going to be difficult for Gaston Ramirez to force his way back into the frame at the club.

“He's close to be fit, and that's the latest news,” said Koeman. “I don't know (if he’ll see out the transfer window), the situation for Gaston is difficult, he knows that.

“It was already difficult last year, and it's still difficult because first options in his positions are other players than Gaston is.”