EPL Transfer Latest: Pochettino Confirms Southampton Interest in Wanyama, Damiao and Banega

Jul 04, 2013 11:58 PM EDT

Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed his interest in Victor Wanyama, Ever Banega and Leandro Damiao as the Saints look to move up a couple of notches before the start of the new English Premier League season.

Southampton have already made a statement of sorts in the transfer market by completing the signing of Dejan Lovren for £8.5 million ($12.7 million) from Lyon last month and it seems like there is plenty more to come, with Pochettino revealing his transfer plans for the summer.

"We manage a lot of information about very good players," he said. "One of them is Damiao, also Banega and also Wanyama.

"We are managing the situation as well as we can at the moment.

"The main thing is that we as a club, Southampton, are managing when these negotiations happen so that is what is happening.

"We are managing when these players are going to be signed and how we sign them.

"Our goals are very clear. I am also not trapped by the fact that I said I wanted to have our transfer window closed by July 1.

"We are not interested in 15 or 20 players. We are interested in maybe two or three key players.

"At the same time, I also want to say our squad at the moment is really good and it is not like we are trapped in the sense that we need these players to be a better squad.

"Our squad as it is really good already, but we just want to bring in two or three players that reinforce key areas in the squad to become an even better team."

Pochettino is familiar with the talents of Banega, having seen him up close during his time in Spain, while Internacional forward Damiao will be a more difficult signing, with Tottenham also reportedly interested.

Spurs have been linked with a move for Damiao for what seems like ages now, and the player's agent recently confirmed he was in talks with an unnamed club.

Wanyama rejected personal terms on offer from Southampton, after the Saints agreed a fee with Celtic.

The move is thought to have collapsed, with Wanyama now looking to switch to Cardiff, but Pochettino is still hopeful a deal can be struck.

"It could happen," he said. "We have certain positions that we want to reinforce. I'm confident that our goals will be met."

The manager also revealed the players who will be leaving this summer, with the likes of Billy Sharp, Dean Hammond, Lee Barnard, Richard Chaplow, Steve De Ridder and Tadanari Lee set to look for new clubs.

"They are a group of players that, because of different reasons, we are not counting on in the future," Pochettino added. 

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