Southampton plan on keeping attacking duo

Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino has insisted that he has no intention of selling either Rickie Lambert or Gaston Ramirez.

Uruguayan playmaker Ramirez was the Saints' record signing when he joined from Palermo for £14m last summer, while Lambert topscored for them in their first season back in the Premier League.

However, Pochettino, announced as Nigel Adkins's replacement in January, has stressed that neither of his key attacking pair is going to leave the South Coast before next season.

"We count on Rickie," said Pochettino in the Daily Echo. "We are happy with him. I didn't know there was any interest in him. This is a surprise for me."

"I just listen to Gaston. Not his agent. Gaston is happy here and we expect him to stay and to put a lot into the team."

Southampton have already recruited Croatian defender Dejan Lovren and former Celtic midfielder Victor Wanyama this summer.