Claude Puel hopes Virgil van Dijk will stay at Saints for at least another two or three years.

The Dutch centre half is being linked with a move away from St Mary’s on an almost daily basis at the moment, with Everton the latest club reportedly poised to offer £40m for his services.

Though there is very little chance of Saints being prepared to do any business in January, speculation will be rife over whether the club can hang onto the 24-year-old beyond the end of this season.

Puel was realistic in his assessment of the rumours, but does hope van Dijk will stay at least a while longer.

He said: “For me it’s just speculation because Virgil is happy here.

“He improve and it’s important he continues this work.

“Of course if he can stay two or three years more at Southampton it will be fantastic.

“We will see the future but it’s a good club, with calm and quality he can play good football and we can play this football and technical, collective, all this game give him possibilities to see his qualities and it’s a fantastic player.

“His technical qualities, his physical level and calm and self-control and on the ground. It’s difficult to find other centre backs with a lot of qualities.

“It’s important he continues this work like other players.”

He added: “I enjoy for his work and he develop very well since the beginning of the season with possibilities, with his regular and with fantastic physical and technical.

“I say at the beginning of the season for me he can become one of the best five or six defenders in the world. He has the capacity.

“It is difficult to see on him something better and this is important he continues with stability and calm and Southampton is a good club for this player.”

Sam McQueen, who has made such an impact in the left back role this season, is likely to figure against Arsenal tomorrow night, but is another around whom there is speculation.

McQueen's performances have naturally altered a few others to the possibility of signing him.

Puel wasn’t giving too much away regards possible talks over a new deal.

“We continue with all the young players like Sam, like Reed, like many different players, because they are just at the beginning of their career,” he said.

“I think it’s the same for them – it’s a good club to improve with calm and with good spirit. “It’s a family club and it’s important for young players to stay here and to learn their work.”

Saints have Steven Davis and Sofiane Boufal available again for tomorrow night’s League Cup quarter-final away to Arsenal, but Dusan Tadic and Matt Targett remain sidelined.