Danny Ings wants to ‘focus on playing’, says Southampton CEO Martin Semmens with club keen to tie striker down to a new contract

Southampton remain intent on extending Danny Ings stay at St. Mary’s as he enters the final 18 months of his contract.

The Saints star striker has been linked to Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United as both look to strengthen their push in the title race.

According to reports last week, the Premier League outfit are willing to make the 28-year-old their highest-paid player if it means that his future will be with them.

Talks over an extension for Ings at Southampton are on hold at the moment but the club’s CEO Martin Semmens insists that ‘money is not issue’ in the negotiations.

‘Danny wants to focus on playing games, scoring goals and winning games for us…he doesn’t want to talk right now about his future contract, and I think you have to respect that,’ said Semmens.

‘Money is 100 per cent not the issue. Danny has put us under no pressure to provide finances that we are not comfortable with. Those rumours are not true.

‘It is not a decision for now. We have to get on with the season.’

Semmens’ words indicate that contract negotiations could carry on until the end of the season. By then Ings will know if Southampton are playing in Europe next term or if he needs to find a club that will be. It is reported that Ings is seeking a club that is playing in Europe come 2021-22.

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl is confident that Ings will stay at the club as when asked he simply responded ‘yes’.

With both Semmens and Hasenhuttl positive about Ings’ future, only time will tell if they are proven right.

By Evan Clem