Southampton are close to agreeing new contracts with Jack Stephens and Alex McCarthy, but still have work to do to retain a number of other first-team stars, per Hampshire Live.
The Saints have moved to hold talks with Stephens, McCarthy and a raft of players who are out of contract next year. Boss Ralph Hasenhuttl is reluctant to see players leave St Mary’s for free. The Austrian will also look to sell those who reject new terms, like Danny Ings.
Southampton sold Ings to Aston Villa for £25m, plus £5m in add-ons, after the striker chose not to renew. He entered the final year of his Saints terms this June, and is now one of the Villans’ top-earners. The Birmingham outfit also sought to sign James Ward-Prowse during the summer, but the midfielder instead signed a long-term extension.
Ward-Prowse is now under contract until 2026, but six players are set to leave St Mary’s for free next June. Stephens and McCarthy are among the players now in the final year of their Southampton contracts. As are Fraser Forster, Shane Long, Armando Broja and Harry Lewis.
Nathan Redmond, Moussa Djenepo, Oriol Romeu, Nathan Tella, Mohamed Elyounoussi, Yan Valery and Theo Walcott are free agents from 2023. But the Saints still have work to agree terms with a number of those nearing the end of their contracts.
Do Stephens and McCarthy deserve new Southampton contracts?
Hasenhuttl is likely loath to lose both Stephens and McCarthy for free with their current Southampton contracts, worth £48k and £50k-a-week respectively, expiring next year. Both have started all three of the Saints’ Premier League fixtures so far this season.
They are one-third of the six players Hasenhuttl has entrusted to play all 270 minutes thus far. As are summer signing Valentino Livramento, plus Mohammed Salisu, captain Ward-Prowse and Adam Armstrong. The latter two also netting two of the Saints’ four goals.
Stephens was a regular in the top-flight last term, too, with 18 appearances, while McCarthy guarded Southampton’s net 30 times. While Stephens’ importance at St Mary’s only rose further this summer, following Jannik Vestergaard’s £15m move to Leicester City.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
