Ronald Koeman has told his Southampton players to focus on football after Victor Wanyama finds himself in on-running saga

The Kenyan midfielder was quoted in the national press discussing a possible move to Arsenal, saying: “Wenger has been talking about me. He has let it be known he would like to sign me this summer.”

Wanyama denied making those comments on Twitter only for that post to be deleted and replaced by a contradictory series of messages.

Getting his message across: Ronald Koeman

He wrote: “Sorry - was caught off guard this morning about a story that I hadn't read. To put it straight. We all respect Arsenal but right now I'm only focused on helping Saints to have a strong finish to the season.

“The newspaper article does not say that I have spoken to Wenger or anyone else from Arsenal - and that's the truth.

“We are doing so well and what other managers think of me as a player is totally out of my control.”

Before those messages were posted, Koeman spoke with Wanyama and the rest of his squad about the attention they are attracting and urged them to keep focused on the remainder of this season, starting with tomorrow’s visit of Tottenham.

He said: “I spoke to Victor this morning. We had a meeting with all the players because what we need is now to really have the focus on the last five games and we play for a European position on the table and we have a massive game this Saturday and no interest in talking in rumours in the press about future and contracts and have the focus on the football side.

“That’s difficult but it’s not true what they put in the press and I believe the player.

“It’s a good signal for everybody that we have to be focussed to the football side and not about the contracts. I do not answer any more questions about player’s contracts and the focus on the last five games.”

The Saints boss added: “It’s not a lot about the players but in my case as well because I have always to answer questions about Schneiderlin, about Clyne, about the future of the players.

Morgan Schneiderlin

“I think now is the moment to really focus what we have to do which is to win the games and not about future of players.

“If I keep going talking about future of players it’s easy for the players to do the same and we said together we need to be focussed on the football side and we don’t need to talk about the other side.”

Koeman reiterated that Saints do not need to sell players this summer, but admits that speculation is inevitable.

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“On one side it’s normal because, ok, we are Southampton, we are not Man United, because they are always talking about new players, and normally in teams like Southampton, a little bit more down, they are talking about interest in players of Southampton and, ok, we know that, but it’s up to the press.

“They can write and they can say what they want, but no problem.

“We have to keep that spirit together, and that was my message to the players.

“Ok, we can’t do anything about that.

“You have to look out what happened if they ask you that kind of questions. That’s your job. You’re not a young kid, you have to respond, and if you respond you have to know what you respond.”

Koeman also pointed out that no matter what his star players may or may not say, they are all still contracted at the club for next season.

“You know always in the last part of the season there are always rumours talking about interest in players, and I don’t like to say every time it’s true or it’s not true,” he insisted.

“It’s important that everybody knows his position in the club, they have contracts, you can’t talk about moving because you have a contract, and that’s not respectful to the club. We spoke about that, that we need that focus. If we don’t have really that focus we can’t bring the level what we normally bring this season.”