Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has said that defender Ron Vlaar will not be leaving the club this summer, despite being linked to Saints.

Ronald Koeman had been quoted in the Netherlands as saying the Dutch international was an option if Dejan Lovren leaves St Mary's this summer, although he distanced himself from that this week.

Villa boss Lambert has now made it clear that the 29-year-old will not be sold.

"Ron is not only an Aston Villa player, he is our captain," he said.

"He has one year remaining on his contract — and he is staying here.

"We will be talking with him in due course about extending his deal and we are confident those talks will be positive.

"Ron has always said that he is really happy here — and has done nothing to suggest anything has changed.

"None of this speculation is coming from him, or anyone connected with him. We aren't selling. It is as simple as that."

When asked about Vlaar after Monday's 1-0 friendly win at Swindon, Koeman said: "These are rumours. I didn’t say anything about Ron Vlaar. I only said I know him as a player."