Southampton: Report reveals crucial clause in Ralph Hasenhuttl’s contract

Southampton have had a release clause inserted into Ralph Hasenhuttl’s contract that could demand as a much as £20m to prise him away from St Mary’s.

That is according to the Telegraph’s Sam Wallace, who outlines the exact situation at the club as they search for the right buyer in an insightful column.

The value of the clause, Wallace explains, varies depending on the size of the club that make an approach for the Austrian – the top £20m figure being for the biggest and ensuring Saints are well compensated if he moves on eventually.

This is a strong move from Saints and also shows the commitment from Hasenhuttl to what he is attempting to build on the South Coast.

Change of ownership will allow Hasenhuttl to reach full potential at Southampton

The clause leaves the door open to their excellent manager leaving at some point and retains that respect towards the man himself, whilst also allowing for some reward for Saints for the part they will have played in his managerial development.

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After previous managerial sackings based on style of play – Claude Puel and Mauricio Pellegrino in particular – Saints have undoubtedly got the man they need to keep the fans on side and make a real impression in future Premier League seasons.

A crucial part in helping the club reach its full potential during the Austrian’s tenure will be a change of ownership though. Sam Wallace confirms that there are five different groups interested in buying Jisheng Gao’s 80% stake with fans growing increasingly frustrated by lack of investment.

More funds is what Hasenhuttl needs now to push on. He needs more depth in his squad and more quality overall, with endless injuries and a mid-season slump only confirming this more.

In the last five years, Saints have had the lowest net spend of any club still in the top-flight (via transfermarkt.com). They pride themselves on self-sustainability but will not be able to break new ground without an injection of cash.

Hasenhuttl knows what he needs and made his feeling clear only yesterday, saying that a bigger squad was needed in the future to ensure players were ready to play at the Premier League level.

The search for a new owner will be ongoing but this moment really marks a crucial stage on Saints’ plans. They have a great manager, excellent representation at board and academy level and a world class training facility, and now more funds are needed to further the good work going on.