SAINTS manager Russell Martin insisted James Ward-Prowse and Romeo Lavia will “both be involved” for the season-opener at Sheffield Wednesday –“as it stands”.

The pair have been the subject of massive transfer bids from West Ham United and Liverpool respectively but so far no approaches have been accepted.

David Moyes’s Hammers and Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool could both return with improved offers while other Premier League clubs also hold interest in the duo.

Saints visit Hillsborough to begin their Championship season in front of the Sky Sports cameras having offloaded defenders Mohammed Salisu and Duje Caleta-Car earlier in the week.

Martin insists Lavia and Ward-Prowse are set to feature, saying: “Both will be involved tomorrow night as it stands, I don’t know if anything will change between now and then.

“Do I think they will be Southampton players by the end of the window? I have not got a clue. What I hope and what I think are probably very different.

“However, it would be pointless to come out and say I think they’ll be here or I don’t because ultimately I have no control over that really.

“If they’re both not here at some point or one of them isn’t it will be because the club and the player have both had something that is beneficial for everyone.

“I think that’s why it has dragged on so long so far and I think it might continue to drag on, but both of them while they have been here have been great, at very different stages of their career.”

Speaking generally about transfers, Martin added: “The preparations have probably gone as well as we could have hoped, especially with all the noise surrounding the players and that stuff.

“They’ve coped with it really well and I’ve got so much respect and gratitude for what they’ve given us over the last few weeks – I’m really pleased with that.

“The team has probably changed twice since the start of this week and it will probably change again tomorrow depending on what happens.

“It is what it is and it shows the club have done well in terms of the profile of player they have recruited over the last 18 months to two years – we’ve got many assets.

“I think the players have dealt with it really well. We have to put out a team tomorrow night that is capable of being fully present and all-in on what we’re trying to do,” Martin added.

“I hope between now and tomorrow none of that changes. The players have been great because you have agents, media, social media and loads more to contend with.

“A lot of the players who have gathered interest are very, very young – so it’s really not easy to deal with all of that. They’ve been really honest all the way through.

“Jason has been really honest with the players and has let me know the full picture as well, which you don’t always get, but here everyone has been really transparent. That helps.

“You plan and prepare for the best hours of the day which as coaches are out on the grass, as long as that continues whatever happens in the next four weeks we will be prepared.”