#PLStories- Ralph Hasenhuttl reveals Southampton are working on contract extensions #SAINTSFC

RALPH Hasenhuttl confirms that “there are talks behind the scenes” but Saints have no news on potential contract extensions, despite a number of players approaching the final months on their deals. The Austrian instead insisted that Saints are focussing on other day-to-day business, following the takeover by Sport Republic last month. Nobody exited or wanted to exit the club during the January transfer window – which pleased Hasenhuttl – but that picture could look very different in the summer, as it stands. All four of Saints’ first-team goalkeeping group are currently set to leave the club, with Alex McCarthy, Fraser Forster, Willy Caballero and Harry Lewis all on terms that expire this June. Willy Caballero was initially signed as emergency cover (Pic: Stuart Martin) Joining them is Jack Stephens, Shane Long and a handful of B team assets, including hotly-tipped Kazeem Olaigbe and Kegs Chauke, who have spent time training with the first-team. Asked by the Daily Echo whether fans can expect movement on some of these deals soon, Hasenhuttl responded: “We will announce news when there is news to announce, at the moment there is not. “We are trying to concentrate on our daily business, this is very important, the rest will come as soon as we think it is necessary but there are talks behind the scenes.” Adding: “This is for sure.” Despite this, strong and numerous reports suggest that McCarthy and Stephens have already agreed new terms that are as of yet unannounced by the club. Jack Stephens has only made six Premier League appearances this season and just one since September (Pic: Stuart Martin) However, both have since suffered injury concerns that have kept them on the sidelines for an extended period, although Stephens is now back involved on matchdays. McCarthy, 32, is set for his recovery to continue for further weeks after Hasenhuttl revealed that he had a setback with his hamstring injury, after making a brief return to first-team training. It means there will be an extended run for 33-year-old Forster, who has played and impressed in the last five Premier League matches. Hasenhuttl has also enjoyed keeping 40-year-old Caballero around the group and could potentially extend his deal for another year, but it looks likely that Saints will have to invest in a goalkeeper to take them forward. Yet Forster still has an opportunity to make the most of his control of the goalkeeping shirt in the Premier League, which at the beginning of this season looked very much unlikely ever happening again at St Mary’s. Fraser Forster is playing for his next contract, whether that is at Saints or elsewhere (Pic: Stuart Martin) “Yeah, the message is a very clear one. He has now a chance to show up,” Hasenhutl said, of the former Celtic star. “I think he does this in a good way. There are still things he can improve, but (I’m) very happy that he makes some steps forward in his game.” He continued: “He has some fantastic strengths, everyone knows, the weakness in his game he must work on this and he does, therefore we are very, very happy with his development and with the games he has played.”