Ronald Koeman is hoping to settle the futures of a raft of star players in the coming weeks.

The most pressing issue surrounds Jack Cork, with the midfielder set a deadline of next week to decide whether he signs a new contract or opts to leave St Mary’s with his current deal set to expire in the summer.

Koeman will then turn his attentions to loan stars Toby Alderweireld and Ryan Bertrand, and whether they wish to turn their stays into permanent deals.

There is also the vital issue of Nathaniel Clyne, who is into the final year-and-a-half of his current contract. He was offered a new deal some time ago but has yet to respond with reported interest from the likes of Manchester United.

Saints may be flying high at the moment but Koeman is keen to ensure the future of the club is solid too.

Of Cork, Koeman said: “We are still waiting about the answer of Jack and we like to know it next week.”

When asked if it was important for the club’s plans he added: “Of course, because that makes plans for the future, for next season.

“If Jack likes to stay I’m very happy, if he likes to move then that means that we need another midfield player.”

There is slightly less urgency for the other three stars, but Koeman does not want to be waiting indefinitely for answers.

“This month? No,” he said, when questioned as to whether he wanted answers from Alderweireld, Bertrand and Clyne in January.

“We don't make that pressure on the players, but they can't wait until April.

"In between the end of the month and April, there is time, but I think it is a little bit of loyalty between player and club.

"Okay, we hope that they will stay but we respect every decision, but we would like to know it."

Saints do have options to sign Bertrand and Alderweireld in the summer, and they would like to exercise them, but only if that is what the players want.

“We would like to know fast what the player likes,” admitted Koeman. “If there is any possibility to buy that player and that's in the case of Ryan and Toby.

"Of course, we don't put exactly a deadline but we would like to know it soon what the plans are of the players because that means if it is yes and we can do the deal, then fantastic.

"If not, okay, then we need other players or we have to think about, that we have players in the under-21s who can play in those positions."

He added: “I think that it is important that the club is growing, the team is doing very well and the players are very happy.

"They have got the possibility to play in the case of Ryan and Toby. I think we have good possibilities to sign them players."

Saints do still have Clyne under contract, but the longer his potential new deal goes unsigned the more worrying it is for Saints as his value decreases.

“Yeah, (we are still waiting to hear). It is a little bit the same as we would like to know what the player is doing because it all influenced the plans with what we would like to do,” said Koeman.

"They are important players in the club, like in the case of Jack Cork, as well as Toby, Ryan and Clyney.

"We try to do our maximum to keep these players because they are good players and still at a good age to develop."

Koeman, who said Jay Rodriguez is making progress in recovering from his knee injury but still requires “some time” to get back to first team action, said the situation regarding the striker, who is also in the last 18 months of his current deal, is a separate situation.

“Jay is a different case because he is injured and I think we have to wait to see when and how he is coming back.

"But, of course, we would like to keep Jay in the team."