'Difficult to keep Manchester United target Clyne,' says Koeman

Louis van Gaal’s side are willing to pay €35 million to lure the Saints right-back to Old Trafford this summer, and the Saints boss is unsure he will be able to retain the star

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman admits the club will find it “difficult” to keep Manchester United target Nathaniel Clyne at the club this summer.

Goal understands that Louis van Gaal has recently stepped up his efforts to lure Clyne to Old Trafford, with the club willing to pay £25 million (€35m) to acquire his signature, while Javier Hernandez has also been mooted as a potential makeweight in any part-exchange deal .

Clyne revealed earlier this week that he wants to play Champions League football and Koeman admits that he faces a battle to convince the 24-year-old to remain at St Mary’s.

“It’s up to the press how they take that kind of comments. I would like to play in the Champions League as well, it’s the aspiration for every player, it’s a normal aspiration,” he told reporters.

“If you don’t mention that there’s something wrong. We’re discussing with his agent to keep Clyney at the club. We know it’s difficult because I read in the press that there’s interest.”

Southampton retain a slim hope of qualifying for the Champions League this season and sit sixth, just five points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester City, and Koeman hopes that securing a top-four finish will convince Clyne to stay.

“Maybe that can be an influence in his final decision,” he added.

“I think always players need to have aspirations. We hope one day we’ll compare to the big ones.”

Champions City have lost three of their past four league matches, but Koeman believes Manuel Pellegrini’s men remain favourites to clinch fourth-place.

“The door is always a little bit open. It’s difficult because even if Man City have been struggling in recent weeks with results they have now two home games and they have enough quality to be in the top four,” the Dutchman said.

“If we win all of [our games] it’s a big chance to finish fourth in the league, but to win all the last six games is difficult.”

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