Saints Chairman Katharina Liebherr has moved to quell speculation that players will be allowed to leave St Mary’s in the January transfer window.

The resignation of Nicola Cortese from his position as Executive Chairman earlier this week had ignited rumours that the Club would look to sell its leading stars.

Liebherr met with First Team Manager Mauricio Pochettino and his coaching staff at St Mary’s yesterday having taken on the role of non-executive Chairman the previous day.

And the Club owner has now moved to quash any suggestion that players would be sold in the coming weeks.

"The Club has no plans to sell any of the squad during the January transfer window,” said Liebherr.

“The manager and the team have my full support.”

The Chairman’s pledge follows on from Pochettino’s own statement regarding the future of his players made during his press conference ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Sunderland.

“I want to make something very clear,” the manager told the media yesterday afternoon. “No-one is for sale at Southampton. No-one.

“My belief has not changed from a week ago. No player that I don’t want to leave will leave this club.”