Southampton want Villa captain Ron Vlaar

New Southampton boss Ronald Koeman has admitted he wants Villa's Ron Vlaar if Dejan Lovren joins Liverpool.

Vlaar – whose current Villa contract has just a year left to run – has been linked with several clubs after impressing while on international duty with the Netherlands during the World Cup this summer.

Now his fellow Dutchman Koeman, who managed Vlaar during his time at Feyernoord has openly admitted that he would like to link-up with the defender again should Lovren's £20m move to the Reds go through.

"Ron would definitely be an option," Koeman said.

"But I think he won't be cheap right now. Let's just wait and see."

Finances certainly wouldn't appear to be an issue for Southampton, who have lost the services of England trio Adam Lallana, Luke Shaw and Rickie Lambert for a combined fee of around £60m so far this summer.

Vlaar's former national boss Louis van Gaal, now in charge at Manchester United, is also reported to be interested in the defender.