Tuesday 28 April 2015 18:41, UK
Southampton will not accept offers for forward Jay Rodriguez or midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin this summer, according to their Head of Football Development Les Reed.
Reed told SSNHQ: "It wouldn't be our intention to sell any of our players this summer.
"We're in the process of renegotiating contracts with some but our main purpose at the moment is keeping this squad together and adding to it."
Last year, the club sold some of its biggest names in an exodus of players, including Luke Shaw to Manchester United and both captain Adam Lallana and Dejan Lovren to Liverpool.
However, Rodriguez and Schneiderlin were told they were going nowhere, despite being linked to moves elsewhere, and the club do not expect them to leave this summer.
When other managers say they need a bigger squad, that means go out and buy more players, whereas we develop our players. I think that part of the depth in our squad will come from our academy graduates actually being more permanently in the squad.
The Saints are currently sitting seventh in the Premier League table and Reed describes their season as "fantastic".
Success means there is likely to be interest, not just in players but also manager Ronald Koeman, although Reed expects the Dutchman to stay at least until his contract expires in two years.
"He's said he's going to stay,” said Reed. "Ronald's record at Feyernood and Ajax, where he did a really good job, was that he saw his contract out. He hasn't got a record of jumping".
Reed, who is currently working on the club's five-year strategy, believes they'll be playing European football next season, beating their own expectations:
He added: "If you look at the fixtures in a cold way, then we've got every chance of finishing in the top five.
"If we qualify for Europe, then we'll be absolutely delighted. We weren't going into this season with Europe as a target, and if we do (make it), then we show we've got that momentum moving forward."
Koeman says he'll need a larger squad should Southampton qualify for European football next season but Reed does not expect an influx of big name signings at St Mary’s.
Reed said: "We don't operate like other clubs.
"When other managers say they need a bigger squad, that means go out and buy more players, whereas we develop our players. I think that part of the depth in our squad will come from our academy graduates actually being more permanently in the squad."
Reed says centre-halves Jack Stephens and Jordan Turnbull, who have been on loan at Swindon, could return to play regularly next season, and Rodriguez, who has been out injured for a year, will return.
"Jay's training most days now fully with the team,” Reed said. "He's looking in good shape, he's a superb athlete at the moment, from spending such a lot of time training.
Jay (Rodriguez) is training most days now fully with the team. He's looking in good shape, he's a superb athlete at the moment, from spending such a lot of time training.
"The big question is how does it stand up in the intensity of a Premier League game? It's too early to look at that, at the moment .
"I think he'll be playing next season now. It would be lovely to get him out on the pitch but then you have to weigh that up against the risk. What's important for Jay is that he has a real thorough pre-season with the squad and is fit and strong".
Goalkeeper Fraser Forster is also out injured, but the club won't be signing a big name in the summer to replace him.
Reed said: "At the moment we're looking at Fraser Forster coming back in January next year but, in terms of strength and depth, we'd probably loan a keeper for the full season.
"We're confident Fraser will be back, so we don't want to buy a keeper who is going to be a bench keeper. It makes sense to do a loan or maybe get a young keeper who could help us in the future."
