Southampton striker Shane Long is in talks over a new two-year contract with the club, according to a report from The Sun journalist Tom Barclay.
The 82-time Republic of Ireland international has been with the Saints since joining from West Brom in 2014 but his current deal with the club is set to expire in the summer (Transfermarkt). However, it seems that Ralph Hasenhuttl is keen to keep the 33-year-old around, with the club set to tie him down until 2022.
Having started the season out of favour, Long has become a regular of late for Southampton and has started in eight of their last 11 fixtures in the Premier League, scoring one goal and providing two assists in that time (Transfermarkt). During his time with the club, the former Reading and Hull City striker has never been prolific.
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Indeed he has scored just 34 goals in 201 appearances in all competitions for the south coast club (Transfermarkt). However, it seems that several Saints fans would be happy to see him stay for another couple of years.
Indeed they have been impressed with the Irishman’s performances of late and insist that he deserves a new deal. Here is what some had to say on Twitter…
Good, he never stops running and chasing every cause. Deserves it 😎
— ShipstonSaint (@AllwaysPhil) February 11, 2020
If you’d have told me i’d say this a year ago i’d have laughed in your face… extending Shane Long’s contract by a year is the correct decision #saintsfc
— Joe (@floppy_donkeys) February 10, 2020
Must admit if you’ve asked me at the start of the season.. I would never had said give Shane Long a new deal but to be fair to him he’s been good since the revival of the team.
Deserves the new contract imo. #SaintsFC
— Jay (@SaintJxy) February 11, 2020
Deserves it.
— Matthew (@MatthewJBDev) February 11, 2020
Want Shane Long to get a new contract purely because if he goes I’ll have reached the stage where there isn’t a single #SaintsFC player older than me
— Sam (@SamDobson1) February 11, 2020
Great to hear that Long will reportedly sign a contract extension and stay beyond this season. His current deal is set to expire in the summer but it’ll be stupid to let him leave, especially for nothing. His link-up play is crucial to us and he always puts in 100% #SaintsFC pic.twitter.com/7n0oxeaBoH
— Saints1885.com (@Saints1885_com) February 10, 2020
Bizarre that in terms of strikers, he’s the worst finisher we’ve had since Ali Dia. And yet we all (including me) want him to stay! Just shows how important work rate is
— Dave Corlett (@DaveC_BD) February 10, 2020
Saints fans, do you think that Shane Long deserves a new contract? Let us know in the comments below…
