Ralph Hasenhuttl has hinted that Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg doesn't want to extend his Southampton contract beyond the end of next season.
The Danish international has been a huge success at St Mary's since his move from Bayern Munich but it appears his time on the south coast could come to an end this summer.
The 24-year-old has been heavily linked with a move away from the club, with both Tottenham and Everton tipped to move for him as he will soon be in the final year of his contract.
With Hasenhuttl taking the captain's armband off the player and giving it to James Ward-Prowse amid the uncertainty over his long-term future, the Austrian has opened up on the current situation at the club regarding Hojbjerg.
“It’s important for the team to have a clear message of what we want to have," said Hasenhuttl, as reported by HampshireLive.
“The captain is a special position in a squad because he is the leader. He is normally going forward and steps ahead of everybody. He tries to push everybody.
“I don’t mean Pierre [Hojbjerg] cannot do this without his captain’s role. But in general it’s not absolutely perfect if you go into your last season being the captain and say, ‘I don’t want to extend my contract’.
“Then you must look for players who stay with us longer.
“I think it was a clear message from my side and both players (Hojbjerg and Ward-Prowse) understood it completely.
“It doesn’t mean I have a lower meaning about Pierre, because he knows that I really appreciate what he does for this club and how professionally he works for this team.
“He, as me, wants to be at the highest possible position in the table when he should leave for the summer. If he goes and we are eighth or ninth, then it would be fantastic for him."
