Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino insists the days of selling their best young players are over.
Luke Shaw, James Ward-Prowse and more experienced skipper Adam Lallana have all been linked with bigger clubs.
Pochettino said: "We will do as much as we can to make sure they are here for a long time.
"We cannot control or avoid other clubs being interested in our young players. That is out of our hands.
"It was clear from the beginning when (chairman) Nicola Cortese called me that we were going to focus on the academy, strengthen it and use as much as we can from it.
"I am a believer in the philosophy to push up the young players. I am a keen supporter in nurturing them, making sure they come through the ranks and being part of this club.
"We also have to remember that players like Ward-Prowse and Shaw are only 18. Sometimes we speak about them as if they are 24 or 25.
"They have a very long path and have a lot to learn still."
