Manchester United and Southampton both target Newcastle defender

Louis van Gaal has lined up Janmaat as his preferred alternative to Nathaniel Clyne, with the Southampton right-back set to choose between Manchester United and Chelsea after turning down the offer of a new deal at St Mary’s.

And with Clyne seemingly certain to leave the south coast this summer, Southampton boss Ronald Koeman has also identified Janmaat as his preferred replacement for the England international.

The growing interest will present Newcastle owner Mike Ashley with a difficult decision as he attempts to remodel a squad that could yet be drawn into a frantic battle to avoid relegation to the Championship.

While a host of players are expected to leave St James’ Park this summer, Janmaat is one of the few senior squad members identified by the Magpies hierarchy as a key part of their future plans.

The Dutchman has impressed at both right-back and centre-half this season, with interim head coach John Carver even flagging him up as a potential captain last week.

However, having shelled out just £5m to sign Janmaat last summer, Ashley will be presented with the opportunity to turn a sizeable profit if either of the defender’s suitors step up their interest once the transfer window reopens.

Newcastle’s stated transfer policy is that every player has their price, and if Newcastle were to be offered around £10m for Janmaat’s services this summer, Ashley could find the deal impossible to resist.

Manchester United’s interest reflects van Gaal’s admiration for a player who was an integral part of his Holland side’s run to last year’s World Cup semi-final.

The Old Trafford boss is hoping to sign Clyne for around £20m this summer, but Chelsea’s growing interest in the 24-year-old could yet throw a spanner in the works and Janmaat has emerged as his preferred fall-back option.

Van Gaal has been given the green light to oversee another radical overhaul of his squad in the close season, with Mats Hummels, Memphis Depay and Edinson Cavani also understood to be on his list of targets.

He has been forced to play Antonio Valencia on the right-hand side of his defence on a number of occasions this season, and wants a more orthodox right-back as part of his squad.

Clyne remains his preferred addition, but competition from Chelsea has forced him to reassess his options and sources in the North-West claim Janmaat is seen as a realistic alternative.

Intriguingly, if Clyne heads to Chelsea, Manchester United officials could find themselves battling with Southampton in an attempt to sign the 25-year-old.

Saints boss Koeman is resigned to losing Clyne this summer, with the full-back’s refusal to sign a new deal effectively forcing the St Mary’s hierarchy to cash in on one of their leading assets before his value begins to fall.

Koeman and Janmaat worked together at Feyenoord, and developed a close relationship as the Dutch club finished in the top three of the Eredivise in each of their seasons together.

Having developed an expansive, attacking style during his first season in the Premier League, Koeman is determined to sign a full-back comfortable in possession and willing to get forward on the overlap, and his previous experience of working with Janmaat appears to have persuaded him that the Newcastle defender fits the bill.

Whether Janmaat would be keen on a move to St Mary’s is open to debate, but there is still a chance that Southampton could qualify for the Europa League this season and a return to European competition in a Newcastle shirt currently seems a distant dream.