Southampton manager Russel Martin confesses that Kyle Walker-Peters, who has been linked with a potential return to Tottenham, is refusing to sign a new contract at the South Coast club.
Kyle Walker-Peters left Tottenham in 2020
Walker-Peters is into the final year of his deal at the St Mary’s and there has been plenty of speculation over his future.
All through the summer, it was widely reported that the Lilywhites want to bring the right-back back to Hotspur Way, with Ange Postecoglou allegedly viewing the 27-year-old as a good fit for his system (GiveMeSport).
However, a transfer never materialised for the defender, who remained put at Southampton, but it now appears as if he is not keen to extend his stay at the club.
It was reported by Fabrizio Romano a few days ago that negotiations between the Saints and Walker-Peters’ entourage over a contract had broken down.
Walker-Peters is not signing a new Southampton deal
This has now been confirmed by Martin, who revealed that the England international is not willing to sign a new deal and admitted that he is unsure if the player will stay beyond January.
The Southampton manager told The Daily Echo about the Tottenham academy graduate: “He won’t sign a new contract right now. I don’t know if that will change at any point.
“It is a situation we have to be conscious and aware of. If it’s not going to change then he needs to give us everything on the pitch as Stuey (Armstrong) and Che (Adams) did last year.
“It will be the owner’s call in January (if Saints will cash in on Walker-Peters), it will depend on how much he has played by then and his level of performance. It will come down to how he is feeling and how we are feeling. It depends on so much.
“I can’t give you a definitive answer on that. It also depends on who comes in for him and what clubs value him at because nobody has done that in the last three transfer windows. Kyle has been brilliant for us, and whilst that continues to be the case, it is not a problem at all.”
Spurs Web Opinion
There will be a major scramble for Walker-Peters’ signature in January if he is available for a cut-price fee. I am not sure if Spurs will enter the race for the 27-year-old, particularly given that Djed Spence has impressed when opportunities have come his way.