Transfer Centre

Ronald Koeman keen tie to down Ryan Bertrand, Toby Alderweireld

By Simon Sinclair, Reporter | 23 January 2015

Southampton boss Ronald Koeman reveals that he is keen to tie down loan players Ryan Bertrand and Toby Alderweireld to permanent deals to the club.

Southampton boss Ronald Koeman has revealed that he needs to know quickly whether loan stars Ryan Bertrand and Toby Alderweireld will be making their moves to the club permanent.

Both defenders have impressed for the Saints at the back this season after joining on season-long loan deals from Chelsea and Atletico Madrid respectively.

However, Koeman has cast his eye on the future of both players as there are options to buy in both deals, and has insisted that he needs to know if they are interested in making their switches to the club permanent in the near future.

He told reporters: "We would like to know fast what the player likes, if there is any possibility to buy that player, and that's in the case of Ryan and Toby. Of course, we don't put exactly a deadline on it but we would like to know it soon what the plans are of the players.

"If it is yes and we can do the deal, then fantastic. If not, okay, then we need other players or we have to think about, that we have players in the Under-21s who can play in those positions.

"I think that it is important that the club is growing, the team is doing very well and the players are very happy. They have got the possibility to play in the case of Ryan and Toby. I think we have good possibilities to sign them players."

Koeman has also given midfielder Jack Cork a week to decide whether to sign a new contract at St Mary's Stadium as his current deal runs out at the end of the campaign.