Frustrated Ronald Koeman insists that Saints will not sell any more of their star players during this transfer window.

Manchester United are reportedly about to offer in excess of £20m for Sadio Mane, while Victor Wanyama has been linked with Tottenham.

The timing of the reports has been particularly unhelpful, with yesterday’s game against FC Midtjylland at St Mary’s almost providing a backdrop for them to flourish, rather than holding Saints’ total focus.

Koeman is clearly angry about the situation, and was utterly definitive in his response.

“The situation is so easy,” he said. “We have to deal with that.

“I don’t like it because maybe players thinking they are not then really focussed what they have to do.

“There is no bid for any player. Not for Wanyama, not for Sadio. There is no bid with the club.

“We have to deal about rumours of the press and maybe somebody of Manchester. I don’t know because there is not any contact or any bid for anybody.

“We don’t sell any more players. That’s very clear in my opinion, but that’s the worst situation for the smaller clubs, because nobody talks about one of the best players of City or United or Chelsea because they are in the best place to be.

“Teams like Southampton, other teams have to deal with it, and it’s not easy because it makes rumours and everybody is talking about that and we have to play.

“That’s difficult but if they don’t change the window from September 1 always we will have these kind of rumours.”

Having lost Morgan Schneiderlin, Nathaniel Clyne and Toby Alderweireld this summer, and with a patchy start to the campaign, Saints cannot afford to lose any more of their big guns.

The real concern will be over Mane, if indeed a club the size of United come calling.

Saints are under no pressure to have to sell but Koeman has the task to keep Mane focussed on football.

“I will try,” said Koeman. “I spoke to Sadio, I will speak to him and to everybody because we have to deal with that kind of rumours.

“We made a statement and everybody knows that statement.”

Koeman was at least fairly happy with Mane’s performance in the 1-1 draw against Midtjylland.

“He played good,” reckoned the Saints boss. “Maybe his last pass was not real quality but he had some good movements, good actions from the right side.

“It was difficult because they are defending well but he was on his level.”

Speaking of the timing of the rumours he added: “Yeah but timing is always bad.

“More worse maybe one day before to play at home but it’s always.

“We keep going. It’s not September 1.

“Write what you like to do about all the rumours and we will see what happens and we will see that.”