Ralph Hasenhuttl insisted James Ward-Prowse was never going to leave Southampton, despite summer links with Premier League rivals Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur, while speaking to the Hampshire Live.
Given that Southampton supporters have been forced to watch so many of their star players take that well-worn path from St Mary’s to Anfield in recent seasons, the last thing they needed was to become a so-called ‘feeder club’ for another top-flight side.
Aston Villa paid £30 million to lure talismanic top scorer Danny Ings away from the South Coast during the summer transfer window before attempting to repeat the trick with another of Hasenhuttl’s star players.
According to Sky, Villa submitted a £25 million bid for England international Ward-Prowse at the end of July – far less than the £50 million Southampton were demanding (Athletic).
Tottenham came calling too, via The Telegraph, before the academy graduate finally put an end to speculation by signing a new five-year deal – one that makes him the best paid player in Saints history.
Did James Ward-Prowse make the right call staying at Southampton?
“There was not for one minute a fear that he would leave us, to be honest,” Hasenhuttl said ahead of Friday’s top-flight clash against, ironically enough, Aston Villa.
“I was sure that he knows the role he has to play for this club.
“It’s more than losing a very good footballer; a free-kick expert, he’s a real model for our club and it’s always helpful when you have someone like that here.
“He’s somebody that the young lads are looking up to and want to (emulate). This is why it was important that he was then committing even more to the club.
“I think we found a solution where we had a win-win situation for the club and for him. This is how it should be.”
As it stands, Southampton are one place and one point better off than an Aston Villa side who have lost their last four Premier League games, increasing the pressure on manager Dean Smith.
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