SAINTS will tomorrow have to stop a player they tried to sign last summer.

The club enquired about Memphis Depay just over a year ago, but were told he would spend the rest of that season in Holland.

After another strong campaign with PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United came calling and splashed out around £24.6m to bring the 21-year-old to Old Trafford.

Depay has been arguably United’s biggest attacking threat so far this season and will pose a real risk to Saints when the teams meet at St Mary’s.

“You know with young players they need time and maybe sometimes it’s a little bit irregular and that’s normal for young players but they have great individual qualities,” said Koeman, who confirmed Saints wanted Depay a year ago, but said they were “not close” to signing him.

“Depay is a fantastic player for Manchester United and Martial normally if he gets the time and opportunities will show his qualities.

“Young players they need time because they have to improve themselves and sometimes going up and down and these are young players.

“They have some good moments and also difficult times and that’s normal and we have the same with our young players.”

He added: “Normally Depay play out of a wing position but you saw last Tuesday the first half from the left and second from the right hand side he’s fast and plays one against one.

“Still I think he is more dangerous from the left side because he goes inside with a strong right foot and fast dribble.

“He’s a player I like because they play one against one, they are always dangerous and if they get the ball it is always something offensively.

“We have to deal with his qualities and that means the right full back and also players close to our right full back.”

One player Saints will not have to contend with is Luke Shaw.

The former Saints academy player is facing the rest of the season on the sidelines after a horror injury sustained in the Champions League in midweek.

With several of the Saints squad knowing Shaw from his time at the club, Koeman has expected some reaction from his dressing room.

“Normally yes,” he admitted. “I didn’t hear anything but I saw straight after the game some Twitter and things on social media because still a player of Southampton, from the academy of Southampton, and a bad feeling with the Southampton people about the injury.

“I wish the player a speedy recovery.

“It will be important for the player because he started on a very high level this season. He will come back, he is young, it will be a tough time for the player but I think he’s strong enough to come back on his level.”