Southampton are hoping to start contract talks with both Ryan Bertrand and Oriol Romeu after tying down head coach Ralph Hasenhuttl to a new four-year deal, according to The Telegraph.
While Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s future might have everyone of a red-and-white persuasion wringing their hands in worry, the skipper is not the only Saints star who is due to become a free agent in the summer of 2021.
Two of the longest-serving players in Hasenhuttl’s squad will also be available for absolutely nothing in 12 months’ time.
So no wonder Southampton are planning to act fast. The Telegraph reports that the South Coast club will soon schedule talks with both Bertrand and Romeu, with the left-back and the defensive midfielder very much part of the bosses’ plans.
That Hasenhuttl wants to keep Bertrand, an England international and one of the best in the position in the Premier League, is no surprise at all. Romeu, however, has started just two top-flight games since the turn of the year and was heavily linked with a return to his native Spain in January.
Though, with Hojbjerg attracting interest from Tottenham and Everton, perhaps the Southampton coach is concerned about losing two experienced midfielders within the space of 12 months.
The report adds that Wesley Hoedt, Moi Elyounoussi, Guido Carrillo and Mario Lemina are all up for sale. But you probably could have guessed that, given that four high-earning forgotten men are all out on loan at the moment.
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