Ryan Fraser remains a Newcastle United player – Southampton boss Russell Martin explains why | OneFootball

Ryan Fraser signed a five year contract with Newcastle United back in summer 2020.

As things stand, he is still a Newcastle United player.

Only 11 months remain of that five year contract.

After spending last season on loan at Southampton and helping them get promoted, Ryan Fraser said he was desperate to sign for the Saints on a permanent deal, yet he hasn’t as yet.

Southampton boss Russell Martin has been explaining why…

Russell Martin speaking to the Daily Echo about trying to sign Ryan Fraser on a permanent deal:

“I think we’re all hopeful that at some point that will happen. But he’s contracted to Newcastle. I think he would love to come back and we would love to keep him.

“Everyone wants him: Me, the fans, the owners, the players and the staff – Wee Man himself, but he is under contract at another club and a good contract.

“It’s their prerogative to do what they want with him at the moment and unfortunately for us and for Wee Man, it’s not what we want.

“So much of football is about timing and there might come a time where it’s no longer viable for us or an option. We have to be looking at other people as well.”

The words I have highlighted in bold ‘…he is under contract at another club and a good contract…’ appear to me to be key.

Interesting to look back and see what exactly Ryan Fraser said back in Augsut 2023 when signing on loan at Southampton…

“It feels really good. The minute Russ phoned me, it was something I really wanted to happen. I just can’t wait to get started now and help the team out in any way I can.

“The club doesn’t deserve to be down here. We need to get back up as soon as possible this season, and all the lads will be doing everything we can to get us there. I’m just so happy to be here.”

The Southampton boss specifically mentioning the ‘good contract’ that Ryan Fraser is on at Newcastle United.

I have to say, I wouldn’t have touched him with somebody else’s bargepole, when Mike Ashley and Steve Bruce presented the Ryan Fraser signing as some brilliant bargain deal. He acted disgracefully in running down his Bournemouth contract and then refused, Michael Owen style, to keep on playing to try and help Eddie Howe and Bournemouth avoid relegation back in that COVID-affected and split 2019/20 season.

It was widely reported that Ryan Fraser managed to get a £3m a year (£60,000 a week) Newcastle United five year contract, due to depriving Bournemouth of a transfer fee and showing a shocking attitude on the pitch during that final relegation season, according to countless Bournemouth fans if you bother to search out what they think of him.

In return, Newcastle United have had 30 Premier League starts from Ryan Fraser and three goals scored.

I think we can take for granted that Newcastle were still paying most of his wages last season, when on loan at Southampton.

I can’t believe that Newcastle United will be awkward with Southampton when it comes to agreeing a fair transfer fee for the winger.

However, it appears quite clear, at least in my opinion, that Ryan Fraser won’t budge an inch on getting anything less than every single penny of his five years reported £3m per year off Newcastle United.