Southampton: Saints must tie key men down to longer contracts
By Marc Walker
Southampton have hit some good form at just the right time under Ralph Hasenhuttl and have improved their prospects of avoiding relegation significantly.
In the Austrian’s time at the club, some players have emerged as key men and now look to be crucial to the club’s short and long-term future in the Premier League.
Nathan Redmond, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Jan Bednarek in particular have put in some superb displays that have contributed to recent positive results.
Redmond’s tally of six goals in hist last 10 games has seen him hit some of the best form of his life, Hojbjerg has emerged as a real leader and physical presence for Hasenhuttl’s pressing style and Bednarek contribution defensively – two goalline clearances against Everton and Crystal Palace in particular – has been vital.
Other players such as James Ward-Prowse have also been revitalised of late, so a positive move by the club would be getting them tied down to extended deals.
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Redmond and Hojbjerg in particular must be a priority as they are the two with contracts running out in the near future.
Their current deals expire in June 2021 (according to transfermarkt.com), but they will be free to negotiate with other clubs once they run into their final year.
In many ways too, they will be the two players on the radars of other clubs as they are so crucial to their areas of the Saints team.
Bednarek and Ward-Prowse have signed on at St Mary’s until 2022 so are of less priority at this stage, but they will need to remain as key men in the coming seasons after showing their importance.
Securing the nucleus of the squad for additional years would not only cement the future of a significant part of the team but would also help to convince Hasenhuttl himself that there is a project to fully commit to.
The Austrian signed a two-and-a-half year deal after taking over from Mark Hughes and will need to have assurances to stay for this length of time and beyond. He is bound to be in the focus of some big clubs at some point due to his modern style.