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Schneiderlin stays, Koeman insists

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman insists Morgan Schneiderlin will remain at the club for the start of the season and is expecting to sign "two or three" players this weekend.

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Schneiderlin and teammate Jay Rodriguez have emerged as primary targets for Tottenham Hotspur -- now managed by former Saints boss Mauricio Pochettino -- but executive director Les Reed and chairman Ralph Krueger have ruled out any more high-profile sales.

"It's the decision of the board but I don't talk about it," Koeman told Sky Sports. "He's a player at Southampton and he will continue as a player at Southampton.

"I spoke to Morgan two days ago and he is still not in the shape to play a friendly at this level. He needs more training sessions. If he's ready, he will play."

Schneiderlin tweeted his desire to leave after the departures of Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and Dejan Lovren to Liverpool, Luke Shaw to Manchester United and Calum Chambers to Arsenal, but Koeman is adamant that the midfielder will feature in Southampton's opening Premier League fixture against Liverpool in two weeks.

"We have spoken about the tweet and I have told Morgan these things need to be kept in-house," Koeman added. "He is our player and will continue to be so.

"He will play against Bayer Leverkusen in the friendly next week and against Liverpool on the first day of the Premier League."

The loan capture of Chelsea full-back Ryan Bertrand follows the additions of Eredivisie pair Dusan Tadic and Graziano Pelle with Koeman keen to strengthen further.

Koeman said: "I won't talk about any of the players but we are looking to bring in players into this squad at the level that we need to have a good season.

"We are close to signing two or three players and we hope to do that by this weekend."