Ronald Koeman says it is up to Saints to approach him over a new contract if they want him to stay – but insists there is no rush for them to do so.

Koeman’s contract situation is starting to take on increased significance as this season draws to a close, with the popular manager having just a further full campaign remaining on the three-year deal he signed when he first joined.

He again reiterated his commitment to see out that deal, and that the club have yet to speak to him about the possibility of signing a new contract.

Koeman says he will not be the one making the first approach, but does seem slightly baffled as to why it is such an issue at this stage.

“If the club likes to talk they will come and I will see,” he said.

“I don’t knock on the door.

“When I worked in Feyenoord I signed three times a one year contract and we spoke in January.

“There’s time enough. Why? We can wait.”

Saints have presented Koeman with a five-year plan, outlining their ambitions for the future.

Koeman admitted he was happy to see the club wants to continue to progress, but believes it will be difficult.

He said: “The club makes a five-year plan and of course I’m interested in how we see the plan and discuss about that plan and agree or not.

“I had that meeting with the board of the club and it was separate to my contract.

“The board of the club shows how they see the next five years in the club and it was good to see they still have ambition to grow and to make the next step.”

Koeman added: “We like to do it always better than we did it the last year before but it’s difficult because everybody knows the Premier League and there will be interest in some Southampton players and it’s difficult to keep the team together for two or three years.

“The club, the team, the players are showing great belief and spirit to finish again this season on a high position on the table.

“We are still fighting for Europe and that’s fantastic for the team.”

Koeman insists he remains ambitious in his managerial career, but refused to talk about specific links with the likes of Arsenal and Everton.

“I don’t like to talk about individual clubs because I think everybody has ambition, and I have that also, but I signed a three-year contract with Southampton,” he said.

“The club spoke to me about the next five years planning, we didn’t speak about a contract, but it’s still not the end of the season and we get time for that.

“Rumours are rumours and rumours will be always in football.

“What I don’t like is to always go into that and talk about rumours because I don’t know.”