Saints are prepared that they could lose players again during the summer, but are ready to come back stronger once more.

Victor Wanyama may have played his last competitive game for the club, as he enters the closed season with just one year remaining on his contract.

Graziano Pelle is in the same situation, while speculation is bound to surround Sadio Mane once again.

However, Koeman is optimistic about the future.

“Of course you like to keep everybody in. It will be difficult but than if you finished 15 then normally it’s more easy to keep everybody in,” he said.

“After this season again we have to be prepared to lose some players and then it’s all about what we need to sign to keep the strengths in the team and the club.”

Of Mane’s season he added: “More up than down. We speak about a young player.

“It’s only his second season of the Premier League but the boy is doing how dangerous he can be and it’s fantastic.

“He can be more consistent but what the boy showed this season and last season is fantastic.”

Koeman was delighted that Saints rounded off their campaign with a 4-1 win over Crystal Palace, and ensured they kept matters in their hands on the final day as much as possible.

“First I need to know how we can win with three goals difference today because really Crystal Palace make it very difficult for us,” reflected Koeman.

“Again today we were very clinical and some luck on the shoulders and ok we did our job. “That was the message to the players to first do your job by yourself, win the game and if we get any help from the rest of the teams please.

“We did our job, 4-1, three points and West Ham, Liverpool and maybe Man United missed a chance.”