​Hasenhuttl admits Southampton struggling to tie down free agents | OneFootball

Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl admits the club are struggling to agree terms with their soon to be free agent players.

The club announced long serving left back Ryan Bertrand is leaving after his deal expires in the summer.

There are several players whose deals run out in the summer of 2022, such as Danny Ings and Jannik Vestergaard.

Asked about talks with such players, Hasenhuttl told the Daily Echo: "I have always said that players that are with us and have one more year of contract, they are our players.

"I think in the moment it is not so easy to find a club where you have a better chance to develop and a better chance to play football than in our club.

"I think this is also something that is not normal or automatically there for players. I think the players that are here really like to be here, they enjoy to be here and as always, it's getting more tough every year to extend contracts with players because very often not only the players, but mostly the agents are interested in moving the players around.

"This is normal in this market, or it's become normal in this market. We are not the only club who is struggling with extending contracts with some players, especially when the bigger clubs are calling for them."

He continued: "I think it's always a good sign of development when they have a chance to go there. The problem is that we paid a lot of money for them and when they go then for free, this is money then you lose, if you want.

"But on the other side, we had their performance for these three or four years they have been here and therefore we have to pay."

Given Bertrand is injured and will soon be out of contract, Hasenhuttl finished: "It is also a risky situation for the player, because when you are a player who has injury problems and suddenly a big injury comes in the last season, it can be over very quickly.

"I think this is also not always a benefit, also a risk they take."