Both Tottenham and Liverpool have been dealt a huge blow in their pursuit of Southampton attacker, Jay Rodriguez, as he is set to sign a new contract with the South coast club. Both teams have been linked with a £15 million move for the England international but Ronald Koeman is a huge admirer and wants to tie him down to a new five-year-deal.

The 25-year-old has not played a competitive game for over a year after rupturing his cruciate ligaments at the end of last season, meaning he could not be part of the England World Cup squad in Brazil.

Along with Nathaniel Clyne, he is out of contract at the end of next season so the Saints are looking to get both key players to pen new deals as soon as possible.

Koeman is yet to have the chance to field Rodriguez in a Southampton team but he believes he will stay at the club: "He was talking to the club. He's a good player and I think he will be an important player for us next season." He added; "If he stays, I think that is a good signal to the club, to everybody."

The former Burnley striker has recently returned to training and is not expected to play this season but he is hot property and was in the form of his career before his injury took place. He bagged 15 Premier League goals last season in just 33 games, with many of them from playing left wing.

He managed 17 in all competitions and his form earned him a first England cap, when he appeared against Chile at Wembley Stadium on November 15th.

Rodriguez was expected to be named in the World Cup squad but injury cruelly thwarted his chances but he is coming back and is ready to re-ignite his promising career.

Spurs and Liverpool have certainly been having some problems in attack this season, with Harry Kane the only regular scorer in the Tottenham ranks, they certainly need more fire-power.

Daniel Sturridge is the Reds' main goal threat but he's been struggling with injuries all season meaning goals have been hard to come by for Brendan Rodgers' men.

Tottenham have been linked with many forwards in the past few months but Rodriguez has been a big target ever since the arrival of the former Saints manager, Mauricio Pochettino, who arrived at White Hart Lane last summer.

If Rodriguez does sign a new deal at St Mary's it will come as a bitter blow to both clubs, who are desperate to re-establish themselves in the top four of English Football, after they will surely miss out this term.