With Spurs and Arsenal chasing him among-st others, Toby Alderweireld assumed he would be leaving Athletico Madrid for the bright lights of London, that was until he received a phone call from Ronald Koeman.

Back in the Napoleonic Wars it was said that Admiral Lord Nelson had what was referred to as "The Nelson Touch" in the main this referred to the way that Nelson prepared for battle, leaving no stone unturned and making sure that every man under his command knew what was expected of them and that he trusted them to do their duty.

Now we at Southampton have what is called "The Koeman Touch" after Toby Alderweireld revealed that it was Koeman himself taking the time to phone him personally that made him shun what must have appeared on paper to be bigger and better clubs coming in for him.

The fact that the Saints manager took the personal approach to call him and tell him just how he would fit in to Saints plans and just why he should come to St Mary's rather than Spurs, Arsenal or even Newcastle and Sunderland persuaded the Belgium International that St Mary's would be the place for him.

This is great news for Saints fans who had all heard rumours of the way Koeman liked to operate at his former clubs but now have public confirmation of that in action for the first time with Saints, hopefully now Koeman will keep that going and Toby Alderweireld won't be the last player to join the club after hearing of the ambitions of its manager.

Photo: Action Images via Reuters