Southampton: Hasenhuttl delighted with new Ward-Prowse contract

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has spoken of his delight at seeing James Ward-Prowse sign a new five-year deal at St Mary’s.

The news was officially confirmed by Saints on Monday morning and sees the current club captain commit his future to the South Coast until 2025.

After the announcement, Hasenhuttl was full of praise for one of his key players and explained exactly what this news means for Saints in the long-term.

Speaking to southamptonfc.com, he said:

"“It is not only his (Ward-Prowse’s) story of being developed as a player here, but also the commitment and attitude he shows in his work. He was not playing so much when I arrived, but he has listened and worked on every aspect of his game, and that is why he has reached the level he is now at.“He has a passion for the club that everybody knows about, and he is respected by everyone here. I know he is a role model for our younger players especially, and these are all reasons why he was the right choice to be a long-term captain of this team and this club.”"

Ward-Prowse’s new deal is just one key piece of business that Saints have made recently.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s new four-year contract was a sure signal that a push up the Premier League table could be coming during the 2020/21 season. The Austrian holds everything together at the moment and is integral to getting Saints fully back on track as a club.

More from Saints Marching

• Grading the Southampton Transfer Window Part 2: Arrivals
• Grading the Southampton Transfer Window Part 1: Departures
• It’s time to talk about Gavin Bazunu
• Rain clouds on the horizon? Southampton beat Plymouth Argyle
• A lament for Southampton legend James Ward-Prowse

His commitment to youth saw the likes of Will Smallbone and Jake Vokins break into the first-team picture in 2019/20 and both have rewarded with new four-year deals to enable them time to develop even further.

Shane Long has also become an important player as an ideal partner with Danny Ings in attack and committed to Saints for another two years.

Signings were needed – as were/are sales of unwanted players – and two ideal incoming players in Kyle Walker-Peters and Mohammed Salisu have been brought in for a combined £23m. Some cash was recouped with the £15m sale of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to Spurs too.

More sales and signings can probably be expected, but Ward-Prowse signing on through his prime years could be the most important piece of business yet.

He is the perfect captain for Saints in the long-term because of his knowledge of how the club should be working, and his performances on the pitch have improved tenfold after guidance from Hasenhuttl and his staff.

Fitness will never be an issue with Ward-Prowse – he consistently runs further in games than anyone else and this energy is just what Hasenhuttl’s pressing style needs in the centre of the park.