Southampton: Saints defender the next to be handed a new contract?

Southampton defender Jack Stephens could reportedly be the next player at St Mary’s to be handed a new contract.

According to a report from the Athletic’s Dan Sheldon, the 26-year-old can expect to be offered new terms after proving his worth to Saints last season.

Despite not starting 2019/20 in the Saints starting line-ups, Stephens worked his way in after the 9-0 loss to Leicester and stayed in the team for much of the rest of the season – missing just two of the 29 Premier League matches from late October until July.

He has always had his critics and is always seemingly battling against other players for his place in the side. However, this is what he looks to thrive on and produces a real fight for the cause when he is in favour.

With defensive options limited anyway and Stephens’ contract running out in 2022, it is no surprise to see him being offered the chance to stay on for a longer period of time.

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Stephens and Jan Bednarek built a solid partnership that served Saints well last season and they look well ahead of Jannik Vestergaard in terms of what Ralph Hasenhuttl needs from his centre-backs.

The signing of Mohammed Salisu has also added significant strength, physicality and potential to the ranks but also means that Stephens will have to work hard once again to start games.

It is important to add that he has done nothing wrong at all and it would be somewhat cruel to knock him out of his settled place. Over the course of his 111 appearances in red and white, he has improved hugely.

That is just what Saints need at this time though – strong competition for places to drive their talented players onto even better things.

Once attribute that Stephens has over his fellow players is an ability to play the ball out from the back with consistency and this led to him recording three Premier League assists in 2019/20.

Although it looks like it will not be easy for him from now on, Saints and Stephens need each other at the moment and he can be part of something special over the next few years.