Southampton boss Ronald Koeman confirms Eljero Elia interest

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has admitted that Eljero Elia is one of the players that he would like to sign during the January transfer window.

Koeman is known to be eager to recruit a wide player next month to cover the absence of Saido Mane, who is due to be a part of the Senegal squad that will compete at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Tottenham Hotspur's Andros Townsend was believed to be on Koeman's shortlist, but it now appears that he has turned his attention to Werder Bremen winger Elia.

"He is one of the players on our list to bring in in January. It's still not done but yes, I am interested in the player," he told reporters.

"If he signs for Southampton, I think he will be a good option. We need at least one more player up front because we lose Sadio Mane in January for the Africa Cup.

"We need another player for that position and he is a good option. If he does sign for us, it will first be as a loan deal."

Elia, 27, was a member of the Netherlands squad that reached the final of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.