Much media space has been used up in the last day or so claiming that Manchester United are going to sign Nathaniel Clyne however nothing has changed.

Nathaniel Clyne has been talking about a new contract with Saints, that has been speculated in the press for a month or more with rumours flying around that he would move to United in January and now those rumours are circulating again that he will move north with claims that he has rejected a new contract.

So what has changed, the reality is absolutely nothing, the club would of course love Clyne to commit himself to a new deal now, but the fact is it is not in the players interest to do so just yet.

Clyne is in a strong position and his stock is high and it could get higher so why would he want to sign a deal now, there is much time left to negotiate and if Saints do get into Europe via either the Champions League or the Europa League then the club will have more cash to pay him a higher amount than now.

Clyne and his agent will know this and therefore will be willing to bide their time till the summer, the worst case that could happen is that Saints fail to get European football next season and then it would be harder to increase his wages,but if the club did defy gravity and qualify for the Champions league then they could afford more money.

So although the media's "United Sources" will delight in making mischief, especially in light of the feuding between the two clubs respective managers the fact is that United may be far from Clyne's best option anyway, if United fail to qualify for the Champions league then all hell will be let loose, Van Gaal's job is far from safe and his position could be untenable if United should fail again to make the Champions League, would Clyne want to step into that arena, especially if Saints had themselves qualified.

So as much as the media would like to portray Clyne as having rejected or stalled on a new deal, the reality is that little has changed, Saints will of course continue to try to persuade him, but Clyne will take the sensible option for himself and wait and see where both clubs are come the end of May.

Photo: Action Images

davenbennett added 13:45 - Feb 26 Don't want to see him go, but as with all the players - if you don't want to play for Saints, then bye bye We have proved after the summer "fire sale" that the team can actually be stronger by selling, if the price is right, and buying players as good as or better than were sold. Maybe it is asking too much to replace Clyne, Spiderman and/or Wan and Jay Rod in the summer, plus Toby. But we done it once and the nippers coming through will be a year older.

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TimSaint added 14:07 - Feb 26 Don't think his performances of late have been up to his usual high standards. His first touch is not as good as it was, he doesn't get forward as much as he used to (perhaps under instruction) and seems to give up chasing the ball or player down in certain circumstances (2nd half v Liverpool springs to mind - but again, maybe he is under orders to stay back more). Maybe this speculation is getting to him ? The press do him no favours by linking him with a move to Old Trafford on the eve of our game there, but despite that, he has come across well in interviews and talked up the club's chances of Europe and the Champions League. My theory is that maybe he is becoming a little complacent and knows he will be picked if fit. Perhaps is someone was pushing for his place, like Chambers last season, we would get more out of him in terms of performance and sell on value (but I would of course prefer to keep him) !!

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SanMarco added 23:39 - Feb 26 He is one of the two, Schneiderlein being the other, who I think will definitely go. How we replace them (and Toby as things don't look so good with him now if there is to be a bidding war) will define next season for us.
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