EX-Dell star Gordon Watson has told Saints to slap a big ‘NOT FOR SALE’ sign on Graziano Pelle after the in-form star was linked with Juventus.

Watson admits it’s impossible to stop transfer speculation swirling around Saints’ attacking crown jewels.

But he believes the time has come for the club to take a new stance with prolific attacking trio Dusan Tadic, Sadio Mane and Pelle.

Watson is adamant other clubs have mistaken ‘great business’ in the transfer window as an open-ended selling policy that is a chink in the armour at St Mary’s.

After Pelle had reportedly been linked with Juve, and fresh speculation again linked Sadio Mane with Manchester United, Watson said enough is enough.

“You can’t stop speculation,” Watson explained. “It means you’re doing something right. You can’t stop it, especially in the international break when there is less to write about.

“It isn’t just Pelle, you’ve got Mane and Tadic. The three of them are the best attacking three in the league!”

He added: “The thing is you have to make a stand now.

“This is one of the best Saints squads ever and a team that should be pushing for the Champions League. Without a doubt, fourth place is up for grabs.

“But the club have to take a stance with these players and say they are not for sale.

“There’s no surprise Pelle has been linked away, but with the club’s ambitions they need to take a stance with these players and clubs now.

“There are people that think that because we’ve sold lots of players, that it’s a weakness.

“But you have to remember that Saints have sold good players for astronomical prices and pulled off great business.

“I would say the club should be saying the likes of Mane, Tadic, Pelle are not for sale.”

Watson has been impressed by the way Saints have brought in replacements that have been better than their predecessors and far cheaper.

“Pelle is an example of that,” he said.

“I spoke to Koeman about Pelle when he first arrived and he said in Holland he was playing at 70/80 per cent fitness.

“You can’t do that in the Premier League and Koeman challenged him to up his game and he’s come up with the answers.”

Although Watson partly accepts the ball is in the player’s court if any offer were to materialise.

“From Pelle’s point of view he needs to decide, if an offer comes, whether he’s in it for the financial gain or set on contributing to the squad at Saints,” he said.

“Nonetheless, this should be viewed as a good sign. It is a good sign because you’re doing something right that your players are being speculated about.

“Not many teams wouldn’t want a player of Pelle’s quality – if it isn’t Juventus, it will be some other club.

“Like I’ve said, Pellè, Mané and Tadic are integral to Saints and they are the ones that finish all the good work off for this great team.”

Pelle’s star status has risen ever since he made his senior Italy international debut in October 2014.

He scored the winner on his debut in a Euro 2016 qualifier in Malta, and has since scored three more times for his country – including further Euro 2016 qualifying group winners against Malta (again) and Norway.

Pellè also netted for Italy against England last season and with 11 goals this term for club and country, he can expect to see some action in a friendly in Belgium tomorrow night.