Ronald Koeman hopes Southampton will hold on to Morgan Schneiderlin and Nathaniel Clyne

Chelsea are the latest club to be linked with midfielder Schneiderlin, who is under contract till 2017 but wants Champions League football as he approaches his peak years.

After last summer’s post-exodus stand-off, Schneiderlin has also been linked with Arsenal amongst others.

“It's for the player to decide, but he's happy at the moment,” said Koeman. “It's up to the player what he wants to do. He was surprised how we are doing and how comfortable he is in the team.

“It will be hard [to keep him], when there's interest in the player it's very hard of course but normally if we play a season like we have done so far there will be interest.

“We know our players, we know our level and it's a compliment for the team and for the club.”

Atletico Madrid are “counting on” having Alderweireld back from his loan next season, which would break up the most reliable defensive partnership in the Premier League.

Saints possess an option to buy the 26 year-old Belgium international for about £6.8m, but Atletico can cancel that and bring him back for a penalty fee of about £1.5m.

Koeman said: “I'm confident because the player likes to stay - but he's still the player of Atletico Madrid and that's the difficulty.

“He’s been a very good part of our defence. He's still young with a great future in front of him, he's always good in position, very comfortable on the ball and good in his passing.

“He didn’t play a lot in Spain but now he’s playing more regularly and is developing.”

Nathaniel Clyne has also been linked with Chelsea but Saints are hopeful he will extend his contract beyond 2016.

“We’re still talking to Clyney and his agent about keeping him at the club,” added Koeman.

Hull City loanee Gaston Ramirez is also under contract to Saints until 2016, but is not eligible for tomorrow’s game at St Mary’s.

Koeman added: “We'll talk about his situation in some weeks.”