Southampton: Hojbjerg hints at willingness to sign new Saints contract

Southampton captain Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has hinted at his willingness to sign a new contract with the club in the near future.

With his current deal set to run out in the summer of 2021, Saints will be looking to tie the Dane down to new terms.

The appointment of Ralph Hasenhuttl as the club’s new manager has coincided with a boost in hopes for the future and the return of positive football. Players like Hojbjerg will be key if the Austrian’s team is going to be reach the levels that they want to.

Speaking at Southampton’s official fans’ forum last Thursday, Hojbjerg said:

"“I know for some people, you have to sign a contract to show that you are committed to the club long-term. But I can assure you all that there is no doubt that I am 100% committed to the club.”"

The 24-year-old is a player that would be a target for Champions League clubs at some point.

Ralph Hasenhuttl confirmed that he is ‘on the lists’ of some top European teams after playing at a consistently high level for Saints in recent seasons.

He has emerged as a real leader since the club lost former captains in Adam Lallana and then Jose Fonte, and has often been the man to face the press following poor performances.

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Hojbjerg will no doubt appreciate the role of Saints in his development so far though and this is the first spell of his career where he has settled.

After coming through Brondby IF’s youth setup, he joined Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich in 2012.

There he made 25 senior appearances in four years and also spent two loan spells with Schalke 04 and Augsburg, but has become a real first-team regular in England.

Since signing for around £13m back in 2016, he has played 98 games on the South Coast and has really led by example on the pitch.

Whilst he may be a player that eventually moves away, Saints fans will be buoyed by the fact that Nathan Redmond signed a new contract earlier this month.

At the same fans’ forum where Hojbjerg was speaking, CEO Martin Semmens also spoke of the key objectives that had been set out; mentioning signing Redmond and Hojbjerg up to new deals and sorting the squad in the summer transfer window.