Southampton are reportedly preparing to offer Matt Targett a regular starting spot in the squad following speculation linking him with the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal.
The 23-year-old has been with the Saints for his entire career but has found game time hard to come by following his promotion to the senior squad in 2013, making just 43 Premier League appearances in the six seasons since.
Targett has emerged as a target for a number of clubs this summer, however, with the Reds, the Gunners, Leicester City, Newcastle United, Fulham and newly-promoted Aston Villa all said to be interested in him as they look to strengthen their respective backlines.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is said to want Targett to serve as back-up to Andrew Robertson, while the Villans are in the market for competition for Neil Taylor at left-back.
According to the Daily Mail, Southampton are keen to keep hold of Targett and will guarantee him game time next season as they instead decide to cash in on Ryan Bertrand, who has been linked with replacing Lucas Hernandez at Atletico Madrid.
Targett - valued at £10m - has three years remaining on his current contract at St Mary's.
Neil Wilkes
