FRANNY Benali admits transfer speculation is an inevitable distraction for the Saints players - but believes their class will prevail against FC Midtjylland.

The Saints legend believes rumours of unhappiness and possible moves away from St Mary’s for Victor Wanyama and Sadio Mane are unsettling for the rest of the squad.

Benali said: “It’s bound to affect them and take their eye off what they should be concentrating on, which is the team they’re playing for.

“Players come and go but once the season starts it’s not a good situation. From my own experience, it’s unsettling if a teammate is thinking of leaving so this transfer window still being open doesn’t help.

“Ronald has publicly said that no player is going to be leaving and that’s good enough for me. But the transfer window unsettles players and it unsettles clubs.

“When the season starts you like to think that’s your group of players. The window brings uncertainty to so many people so the sooner it closes the better.

“When players perform as well as Victor and Sadio have done they are going to attract interest from other places.

“But we want to see them performing in a Saints shirt. Victor’s a key player on the back of Morgan going and Sadio had a fantastic season last year and has pace that frightens defenders to death.

“We need them both raring to go because when our injured players come back it’s going to make a big difference.”

Despite the transfer speculation, Benali believes Saints will have too much for FC Midtjylland tomorrow night “It’s great to see everyone embracing the challenge of European football,” he said. “I saw the first-leg, Midtjylland proved tough opposition which just shows there are no easy games at all in European football.

Daily Echo: Franny Benali with Lawrie Mcmenemy, Matt Le Tissier and fans at the Saints Disabled Supporters' Association's open day at St Mary's (Pic by Habib Rahman)

“They’re a strong physical side that can play but well their time-wasting tactics were a frustration for everyone connected with Saints.

“It stopped us playing at the high tempo we like to play, but there’s no reason why we can’t get the result needed to get through to the group stage.

“Midtjylland would have been delighted with their goal and will fancy themselves but it’s up to us to show our class and quality.”

Benali was speaking at the Saints' Disabled Supporters Assocations' open day at St Mary's, where scores of fans were given a behind the scenes tour around the stadium.