In regards to Danny Ings’ contract situation, has there been any progress over the last few weeks? — Will L
The simple answer to this question is no — but it is obviously more nuanced than that. An offer from Southampton, which would see Ings become the club’s highest-paid player, remains on the table and is yet to be signed. This points to the fact that the striker is waiting to see whether there is any concrete interest from one of the Premier League’s top sides this summer, when he’ll have only a year remaining on his current deal.
As previously reported by The Athletic, Manchester City are one of his preferred destinations, and with City last night announcing Sergio Aguero will be leaving the Etihad Stadium this summer, the links to Ings will only get stronger. But the fact of the matter is that Erling Haaland, Borussia Dortmund’s prolific Norwegian striker, is Pep Guardiola’s top target, with Romelu Lukaku also featuring alongside Ings on the Premier League leaders’ list of potential Aguero replacements.
However, if it becomes clear that the likes of Manchester City aren’t going to come calling for Southampton’s star man, then one would expect him to remain on the south coast and sign a new deal. But how long Southampton want to wait for this is surely going to be a question being asked by the powers that be at St Mary’s. At some point, they are going to have to start searching for potential replacements, even if the 28-year-old ends up staying. They can’t allow themselves to get into a situation where the summer transfer window is in its final days and Ings leaves, which would give them very little time to find a new striker.
Another thing Southampton are determined to avoid is selling their star striker for a cut-price fee. Even though his season has been interrupted by injuries and he hasn’t hit the heights of last year, Ings has continued to show his class throughout the campaign. Letting him go for a measly sum just because he only has 12 months left on his deal would not make sense to the club. One source claims Southampton would rather let him leave on a free in 2022 than accept a low-ball figure this summer.
As long as Ings’ contract remains unsigned, there is going to be an element of flux with the summer transfer window creeping into view.
Alex Jankewitz looked good in the Swiss Under-21 win vs England Under-21. We haven’t seen a minute of him since the red card (at Old Trafford). Is this Ralph Hasenhuttl protecting him or a sign that he will be moving on? It would be a massive shame if the most talented player we have had in our youth teams for years left due to a lack of opportunities and online abuse, but I wouldn’t blame him — Rory S
Jankewitz proved to be another popular theme among Southampton fans, and it shouldn’t come as a surprise.
The midfielder, who handed in a transfer request in January, hasn’t featured for the first team since getting himself sent off after a matter of seconds on his maiden Premier League start against Manchester United. Despite apologising to Ralph Hasenhuttl and the rest of the squad for his actions, the 19-year-old has seemingly fallen way down the pecking order.
As Rory mentions, Jankewitz impressed against England Under-21s last week and put himself at the forefront of fans’ thoughts. I don’t think being overlooked by Hasenhuttl has anything to do with protection.
The club’s manager has Ibrahima Diallo at his disposal and has also played Stuart Armstrong in the midfield role alongside captain James Ward-Prowse. If Hasenhuttl had been protecting him, then surely you would give him some minutes against Bournemouth in the FA Cup quarter-final. The game was over and it would have been a good opportunity to help rebuild his confidence.
But he remained on the bench before going away on international duty with Switzerland’s under-21s.
There are enough games remaining this season for Jankewitz to get himself back in the starting XI, or at least impressing enough in training to earn cameos from the bench. As Rory says, it would be a shame for a player of Jankewitz’s potential to leave either this year for a fee or next year as a free agent.
Is there an acceptance behind the scenes that the club is in limbo until there is new ownership?— Charlie M
Good question, Charlie.
Acceptance is probably not the right word to explain it. There is obviously a sense that the ownership of the club is up in the air, although those behind the scenes are continuing to operate as normal. Given the way Southampton’s season has tailed off since the turn of the year and there is an FA Cup semi-final and transfer window to think about, they can’t afford to be stuck in limbo.
As long as Gao owns 80 per cent of Southampton Football Club, the movers and shakers behind the scenes will continue to plan their budgets around the self-sustainability model. There is little to be gained from planning for a new owner until it becomes obvious a sale will take place.
Will Vestergaard be offered a new deal or will the club look to cash in? — Jozef G
Vestergaard’s current contract runs out next summer, so other clubs will naturally be assessing the situation after the season he’s had.
The Athletic’s understanding of the situation is that talks are yet to take place over an extension. Tottenham Hotspur have recently been linked with the centre-half, which prompted the defender to admit he was flattered by the speculation.
“I can only say that, of course, it’s always a pat on the back with stories of interest from other big clubs,” he told Danish sport magazine Tipsbladet. “But right now I have a contract with Southampton, so it’s not something I can talk about.”
Southampton will obviously want to retain a player of his quality for the years to come, but, like Ings, a lot will depend on whether Vestergaard wants to stay at St Mary’s.
What is different to the Ings situation, though, is that Southampton already have a potential replacement in the squad should the 28-year-old leave for new pastures. After a difficult start to life on the south coast, Mohammed Salisu will be waiting in the wings to seize any opportunity that may come his way.
It would be great to have some insight into the goalkeeper situation. It certainly seems that Alex McCarthy and Fraser Forster are battling for the No 1 spot — is there a mood around the club as to who is winning that? What about Angus Gunn? Is there a hope that he’ll be able to return and fight for a place or are we just hoping to generate some transfer interest? — JoeJoe W
The goalkeeping situation is a fantastic topic and must be a nightmare for the club’s decision-makers.
Alex McCarthy, Angus Gunn and Fraser Forster will all view themselves as starters, which suggests one will almost certainly have to leave this summer.
The Athletic recently revealed that Southampton are in talks to extend McCarthy’s contract. This, you’d expect, highlights the fact that he remains part of the club’s plans going forward.
But Forster has now overtaken him as Hasenhuttl’s go-to goalkeeper in recent weeks after a string of fine performances. This has led to many wondering whether the former Celtic No 1 could be rewarded with a new deal.
While this is not yet known, it’s an interesting debate. You’d expect that if an extension was to be offered, it would be on reduced terms.
Hasenhuttl believes that in McCarthy and Forster, he has two players who can be the No 1 but, at the end of the day, only one of them can start. Keeping both would depend on either goalkeeper being somewhat satisfied playing second fiddle.
In terms of Gunn, he has spent this season on loan at Stoke City and still has over two years remaining on his contract. If Southampton were presented with an offer to sell him that would see them recoup a large portion of the £13.5 million they spent on him in 2018, then surely it would have to be taken under serious consideration.
As part of the deal that took Gunn to Stoke last summer, the Championship team can have him on another season-long loan for the 2021-22 campaign. However, Southampton can cancel that clause if a better, permanent, offer comes in or if another side who could help improve his value wants to take him on loan instead.
Hasenhuttl wants a full-back. But the team couldn’t bring a full-back to the transfer window this winter. Do you think we’ll be able to get a full-back in the transfer window next summer? Vitamin B
The winter window proved to be a difficult month for most clubs trying to sign players because other sides were reluctant to let members of their squad leave during such an intense season. But the upcoming transfer window should be a different kettle of fish.
From speaking to several sources about Southampton’s plans for the close season, signing a full-back remains a key priority. And there’s a very good chance they will get this business done.
Ryan Bertrand still hasn’t signed a new contract, Yan Valery and Jake Vokins were sent out on loan and Hasenhuttl won’t want to continue playing Salisu at left-back to cover an injury or suspension. The Austrian can’t go into another season with only Bertrand (if he extends his stay) and Kyle Walker-Peters as his two options.
Manchester United’s Brandon Williams was a player they targeted in January due to his ability to play on either the left or right side of defence, yet the Old Trafford side were reluctant to let him leave at the time. But you’d expect he will be pushing hard for a loan move after going a season without playing regularly. Southampton still admire Williams, but that potential loan deal has already shown that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side will need to play ball if it is to go ahead.
Williams aside, the south coast club are also exploring alternative options at the back, and could look to take advantage of a European club struggling for cash to sign a highly-rated prospect. Money will be tight for most clubs this season, especially for those on the continent, so Premier League teams may be presented with opportunities to buy players they wouldn’t normally be able to at a low-cost price.
