SOUTHAMPTON boss Russell Martin hasn't given up hope of convincing Tino Livramento to stay at St Mary's this summer, despite Newcastle's transfer efforts and surprise interest emerging from the full-back's former club Chelsea.

The Saints signed Livramento from Chelsea two summers ago for £8m but now value the right-back at more than £30m.

Newcastle want the 20-year-old as cover and competition for Kieran Trippier but aren't willing to meet Southampton's asking price.

A surprise complicating factor emerged in recent days, with Chelsea now keen on taking Livramento back to Stamford Bridge this summer - with the Blues reportedly then willing to send the defender back to Southampton on loan for the coming season.

That might appeal to Livramento, who is said to have concerns about joining a club where he won't play regularly, which is an issue for the Magpies in their bid to tempt the highly-rated young defender to the North-East.

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New Saints boss Martin wouldn't be drawn on Livramento's situation when quizzed on transfer interest in the defender, but did say that he's still hopeful of convincing some Southampton players to stay put despite relegation from the Premier League.

"I have nothing to say about James Ward-Prowse or Tino Livramento," he told the BBC.

"Whilst they are here all we can do is ask them to train and give everything they've got.

"In terms of transfers I've got nothing to say, some people will stay and some people will leave. Jason Wilcox [director of football] will take care of all that stuff and we will have conversations about it because he wants my opinion, but he is looking after the best interests of the club.

"I'm pretty relaxed about it. I hope I can convince some of the players who are 50/50 to stay.

"I think there will be some players who we can't avoid who will end up back in the Premier League, that's the nature of the game and you have to respect that."

Chelsea are said to have included a buy-back clause when they sold Livramento to Southampton two years ago which, taking into account a sell-on clause also included, is thought to be around the £38m mark.

Livramento enjoyed a brilliant debut season with Southampton but was then ruled out for more than a year after suffering an ACL injury. He returned for the final two games of the most recent Premier League season, by which time Southampton's relegation had already been confirmed.