Russell Martin Manager
The Polish international has penned a new three-year deal, potentially keeping him at Southampton until 2027. However, Russell Martin conceded that Walker-Peters’ current position is to not sign a new deal at St Mary’s. The 27 year old has started every league game for Saints on the left of defence, with summer signing Yukinari Sugawara settling in on the right. Asked for an update on Walker-Peters’ contract situation,
Russell Martin said “He won’t sign a new contract right now. I don’t know if that will change at any point. If it’s not going to change then he needs to give us everything on the pitch as Stuey (Armstrong) and Che (Adams) did last year. It will be the owner’s call in January (if Saints will cash in on Walker-Peters), it will depend on how much he has played by then and his level of performance. It depends on so much. I can’t give you a definitive answer on that. Kyle has been brilliant for us, and whilst that continues to be the case, it is not a problem at all. Bednarek’s new deal could take his time at Saints to a decade, having joined the club from Lech Poznań in 2017. I think it’s massive for the club. Janny has grown into the season nicely. He’s getting better and better. He’s an outstanding person who has grown into a leader in the last year. With the responsibility he takes on and off the pitch, he’s a big character for us. He’s an amazing professional. It’s been a privilege to watch him evolve over the last year. I don’t think we should take him for granted. I think he’s a top player. With a year left on his contract, it would have been easy for him to say I want to see that out. That has been other people’s prerogative last season, and this season still. But he loves it here and he loves being a part of it. I think he likes working with us and has a lot of trust in us. It’s a brilliant statement of intent from the ownership group to back us on that by giving Janny a new contract. I think he would have had a lot of offers if he allowed his contract to run out.”
