According to reports from The Express yesterday evening, Southampton are ready to offer England international Jay Rodriguez a five-year contract to keep his potential suitors at bay this summer.
The 25 year-old has missed the entire of the current season with an ACL injury, but impressed last term to net 15 times in 33 Premier League appearances – making him the third-top scoring Englishman in the top flight after Daniel Sturridge and Wayne Rooney.
The winger-forward was a shoo-in for England’s World Cup squad until his sideline bout and the Premier League has been waiting for his return to fitness with great anticipation. Ronald Koeman revealed last Friday that Rodriguez is training with the first team squad once again – as reported by Southampton’s official website.
And the next step for Southampton is tying the former Burnley star down to extended terms. His current contract expires at the end of next season and The Express claim Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City could all launch summer bids in an effort to improve their home-grown quotas on the cheap.
Resultantly, the Saints will offer Rodriguez a five-year contract extension in the coming weeks.