Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has revealed his ambition to take charge at "a big club" and said he would love to return to Barcelona one day.

The Dutchman, whose outstanding first season on the south coast has resulted in speculation that he could be a contender for the Manchester City post, has also coached at clubs including Ajax, Benfica, PSV Eindhoven, Valencia and Feyenoord.

Koeman had to deal with a number of big-name players leaving Southampton in the summer window but assembled a new team that is in with a chance of qualifying for European football next season.

That work has led to speculation that the 51-year-old ex-Netherlands international could be in line to replace Manuel Pellegrini at City if the Chilean leaves at the end of the campaign.

Asked about that possibility on Spanish radio show El Partido de las 12, Koeman said he spoke to former Barcelona teammate Txiki Begiristain, now City's director of football.

"Txiki has my number," he said, before laughing. "That is a joke. But we are in contact from time to time. We saw each other when we played City. We are friends and in frequent contact. We are both very happy to be able to work in England."

But he added: "I am ready to coach a big club. I have spent a lot of time coaching at various clubs, and this type of experience is very important to be a good coach.

"But at the moment I am thinking just about Southampton. I have two more years on my contract after this season."

Having scored the goal that won Barca their first European Cup in 1992, Koeman said he would be more than happy to take the coach's job at the Camp Nou one day.

"Everyone knows what I have for Barcelona, and what Barcelona has with Ronald Koeman, so if one day in the future I could be the coach, then of course I would be delighted," he told the programme.