Friday 2 January 2015 19:50, UK
Southampton boss Ronald Koeman would welcome Steven Gerrard into the heart of his team should the Liverpool captain change his mind and opt to stay in the Premier League next season.
The former England captain, who turns 35 in May, has decided to leave his boyhood club to seek a new challenge away from Anfield at the end of his current contract.
Although Gerrard has stated he does not want to play for a "competing club" and is expected to head to Major Soccer League in the United States, Koeman believes Gerrard could slot right in at St Mary's.
"It is maybe a little bit strange to see Steven Gerrard out of the club Liverpool, and if he likes to continue, he can come (here)," the Dutchman said at a press conference on Friday.
"I am serious – if he likes to continue football in England, he can come."
Koeman added: "For Steven Gerrard, you have always a position for him.
I am serious – if he likes to continue football in England, he can come.
"He is a fantastic football player, really at the top level in the midfield position and the captain of the club, with an impressive football career."
Southampton stayed in the top four of the Premier League with a 2-0 win over Arsenal on New Year's Day to rekindle belief they can last the distance through to May having come out of a testing spell which saw them lose five successive games.
Koeman said: "Every team sometimes has a dip in the season. It is difficult to always stay on the top, and there are a lot of reasons, but we are back in the way we like to play football and with the confidence of the players.
"Little by little we believe in our qualities and we believe in a top finish in the league.
"But we know you have to work hard for that, and cannot do it on 85 or 90 per cent. We have to be 100 per cent in every game and if we can keep that, then everything is possible."
Koeman will be without midfielder Sadio Mane for Sunday's FA Cup third-round visit of Championship high-flyers Ipswich.
Mane limped off having put the Saints into the lead against Arsenal and the Saints are waiting on medical tests before the extent of his injury can be determined. It could hit his hopes of joining up with Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Koeman said: "We have to wait for the scan, then we can talk about his situation."
Just like in the Capital One Cup, where Southampton reached the quarter-finals before losing at Sheffield United, Koeman does not intend to make many alterations for the Ipswich game.
"The most important thing is to always speak to the players, about their freshness, but I do not change a lot in the team, because I do not believe in rotation," he said.
"We are a bit tired, but we are professionals and on Sunday we will be sharp to play against a good side from the Championship."
Koeman also reiterated his desire to keep defender Toby Alderweireld on next season after a loan deal from Atletico Madrid.
"Yes I know I spoke to Toby. I would like him to stay but I don't know if the club have already made an offer for him," he said.
