Ralph Hasenhuttl ‘to sign new Southampton deal after halting talks following 9-0 Leicester defeat’
Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl is expected to sign a new deal at the club before the end of the season, according to reports.
The Austrian was set to sign a new deal earlier on in the season, but Hasenhuttl and chief executive Martin Semmens decided to postpone negotiations following the Saint’s embarrassing 9-0 thrashing by high-flying Leicester City in October.
That result left Southampton in the relegation zone with only eight points from ten games, and the club were even sitting in 19th place with only nine points to their same at the end of November.
Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl is in line to get a new deal before the end of the season
The Austrian feared for his job when the Saints lost 9-0 at home to Leicester in late October
However, a string of positive results from the Saints – which includes wins away at Chelsea and Leicester and at home to Tottenham, has convinced the Saints that their 52-year-old boss can buy into the club’s long-term vision, and the two parties are confident of reaching a new contract agreement, say the Telegraph.
Southampton have undergone several behind-the-scenes changes at the club since the crushing Leicester defeat at St. Mary’s, including the appointment of Matt Crocker as director of football operations.
Crocker, who previously held the role of the Football Association’s head of development coaching, was brought into the club in late November and his influence at Southampton appeared to have an immediate effect.
The club have seen results improve recently, including a revenge win at Leicester in December
The Saints won their first two matches since Crocker’s appointment – both of them league ties at home to Watford and Norwich City – but defeats to Newcastle and West Ham in their next two games briefly halted the momentum.
However, the Saints went on to win five out of their next eight league games to rise to 13th in the table, seven points clear of the relegation zone.
Southampton are largely indebted to striker Danny Ings for his goal contributions in recent weeks – the former Liverpool man has scored 14 goals in the league this term, including five goals in his last nine Premier League outings.
Danny Ings may have saved Hasenhuttl’s job with his 14 Premier League goals this season
While the club do not consider themselves safe from the drop at present, the Saints believe that recent performances warrant Hasenhuttl to receive an improved contract, with his current deal set to end in 2021.
The 52-year-old Austrian joined the club in December 2018 after previous managerial spells at RB Leipzig and FC Ingolstadt in Germany.
