Southampton: Ronald Koeman gives Nathaniel Clyne contract ultimatum as Morgan Schneiderlin suffers injury

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has given Manchester United target Nathaniel Clyne 10 days to commit to a new contract with the club.

The English defender is entering the final-year of his contract and is a summer target for Louis van Gaal, who has made strengthening his defence a priority ahead of next season.

Southampton are reluctant to let more of their key players leave after losing a whole host of first team stars to rival clubs last summer. The Saints have had a phenomenal season and are still competing for a place in Europe with the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham.

The Dutchman has revealed that the club have offered the right-back the best offer possible and are currently waiting on an answer from Clyne, who could be tempted to make a move to the bigger club.

"We're still speaking with Clyney and his agent, but of course we have to know in 10 days. The club is doing an offer the maximum what we can do and then we expect the player's answer," Koeman said, as quoted by ESPNFC.

"I've spoken to Clyney, he's very happy and of course there is some interest but nobody has really bid for the player. All the players are happy with how the team is doing."

"But it's football, you never know. In football if you go in your last season of contract, we don't like that," the former Feyenoord manager explained.

Meanwhile, the manager also revealed that key midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin has suffered a knee ligament injury, which is set to rule him out for the rest of the season.

This will come as a big blow to the Saints as they look to finish ahead of Tottenham and Liverpool to qualify directly to the group stages of the Europa League. On a positive note, they will have the services of Victor Wanyama, who has returned after serving his suspension.

"It's not good, he will be out for the rest of the season. It's ligament on his left knee and he is out for three, four, five weeks," Koeman confirmed, as quoted by the BBC.

"You like to have everyone available and Morgan is a key player for the team, an important one in the midfielder position," the Saints manager added.

"Injuries are part of football and we have Victor Wanyama back from his suspension."