'I hope it is people putting two and two together and coming up with five'

Russell Martin says it is "no surprise" that Southampton director of football Jason Wilcox is being talked about for a role with Manchester United.

According to reports on Friday, the former Manchester City academy director is being considered by United for a position to work under Dan Ashworth - who has been approached to become the club's first sporting director.

Speaking in his pre-match news conference about the reports, boss Martin said: "I hope it is people putting two and two together and coming up with five.

"I've got a lot of respect and time and a great relationship with Jason. It's no surprise that someone would look at him and the job he has done in such a short space of time here and over a long period of time at Man City and be interested in working with him.

"I'd like to think he would have a chat with us if there was anything in it, he's so honest and so open. I think he's been such a big driver of the culture we now have here, he's enabled us to do the work that we want to do and supported me and the staff incredibly well here and I've got nothing but praise for Jason and the impact he has had on us and what he has allowed us to do."

Wilcox only joined the Saints from Manchester City in January 2023 and his time at the club has included Premier League relegation and now a promotion push.

"I think he respects the work that we do and has a big opinion himself and we talk a lot and he's really open so I've enjoyed working with him," Martin added.

"Hopefully I get to work with him for a long period of time but I can't talk on behalf of Jason, I just hope it is one of those things that comes out and blows over very quickly as there is a lot of that in football.

"There's big changes coming at United and because of his relationship with someone there before [Manchester City's Omar Berrada] and the job he is doing here, I think it's a good thing for the club that people get linked to roles such as that. I think he feels he's got a job here he wants to see through and so do we."