Tottenham Boss Mauricio Pochettino to Inflict More Misery on Southampton with Double Bid

Southampton duo Morgan Schneiderlin and Jay Rodriguez are edging closer to linking up with former manager Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham Hotspur, reports suggest.

After finishing eighth in the Premier League last season, Saints have seen their squad decimated during the summer transfer window having already lost five players.

Rickie Lambert and Adam Lallana led the exodus in moving to Liverpool, where they were joined by centre half Dejan Lovren on Sunday, while promising full backs Luke Shaw and Calum Chambers have joined Manchester United and Arsenal respectively.

Pochettino, who was in charge at Southampton last season, also left the south coast club to take the reins at White Hart Lane and Press Association Sport suggests he is close to inflicting more misery on his former club with the double capture of Schneiderlin and Rodriguez.

France international Schneiderlin has been targeted by both Tottenham and north London rival Arsenal but the 24-year-old would reportedly favour the opportunity to reunite with his former manager.

Pochettino was recently quizzed on the possibility of making a move for Schneiderlin but refused to openly discuss his plans to strengthen the Spurs squad.

"We are trying to improve the squad but I never speak about players from other clubs," the Argentine coach said after his side's recent win over Chicago Fire as part of their tour of the US.

"I have respect. I am just focused on my team."

Rodriguez, the club's top scorer last season, is also reportedly close to a move despite currently being sidelined with an anterior cruciate ligament injury he suffered last April.

Southampton are also likely to lose record signing Dani Osvaldo in the coming weeks. The striker proved to be a disruptive influence during the first half of last season before he was shipped out on loan to Juventus for the remainder of the campaign.

Although the Bianconeri are unlikely to attempt to sign the striker on a permanent basis, a return to Serie A is likely to beckon.

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has brought two new faces to the club in Dusan Tadic and Graziano Pelle from his former club Feyenoord but with roughly £94m already accumulated in outgoing transfer fees, the Dutchman will be expected to make a host of further additions.