Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has warned midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg that he will not retain the club captaincy unless he signs a contract extension at St Mary's. Hasenhuttl has committed himself to the club, signing a new four-year contract this week, and his assistant Richard Kitzbichler also extended his deal on the south coast. Having also announced that Shane Long has penned a two-year contract, the focus for the Saints, who are 7/1 with bet365 to finish in the top half of the Premier League this season, is to tie down skipper Hojbjerg, but that has proven problematic. The Denmark international is out of contract next summer and Hasenhuttl has warned him it will be too difficult for him to lead the team if he doesn't sign an extension. Speaking on BBC Radio Solent about the issue of Hojbjerg's future, Hasenhuttl said:
"I don’t think the situation would be good for him. "
As a captain, you cannot lead a team without extending your contract. This is always difficult."