Southampton: Hasenhuttl sends contract message to Danny Ings

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has sent a strong message to Danny Ings in a bid to make his star striker sign a new contract.

Saints have tied many key players and Hasenhuttl himself down to new deals and they a clearly hoping that Ings follows suit to show a real statement of intent.

Previous reports have claimed that an agreement between the club and their talisman is close, but Hasenhuttl’s most recent comments on the situation suggest that Ings is stalling on a decision.

Speaking to Sky Sports (via the video below), the Austrian said:

"“It’s not normal that you get a situation like he has in a football club and this is something special I think. I don’t want him to throw this away just for more money. “I speak to him once or twice a month about this topic. We must concentrate on our job – I don’t speak to him every week about his contract as it’s not my job. It’s his responsibility, he has to make the decision and nobody else.”"

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There is no doubting that it will be a huge blow to Saints if Ings decides to depart and not sign an extension at St Mary’s. He is a key player and one that would be a very influential and powerful presence in the dressing room currently.

It is still a strong possibility that he will stay on with Saints but players stalling on contract decisions in the past has often led to alarm bells starting to ring.

A previous report from the Athletic’s David Ornstein claimed that a release clause was potentially wanted by Ings and his representatives, so maybe this is what is causing problems between the two parties.

Having seen how Saints operate in the past, we as fans can be sure that the club will be putting plans in place for any eventuality.

They will be looking to a future with Ings at the heart of the team, but also finding other targets to pursue if they have to let their main goalscorer go in the near future.

It will be hard to find someone who suits Hasenhuttl’s style so well – a new signing would almost certainly have to spend time adjusting to the pressing and the positions that they are required to take up.

There is still time for things to shift significantly in this situation though and we will surely start to know more soon.