Southampton midfielder Oriol Romeu has dismissed talk of a Southampton exit and has committed to performing well for the Saints this season.
Romeu was linked with a move to La Liga side Celta Vigo in the last few weeks, but unlike his teammate Cedric Soares, the Spaniard stayed at the club beyond the January transfer window.
In a recent interview with the Daily Echo, Romeu was asked about the links with Celta. The midfielder said: “There were rumours but that was just talk.
Should Romeu leave in the summer?
Yes, he's not good enough
No, he can still do a job
“The club always told me that they want me here and I am more than happy to be here. I want to be competing for a spot in the team because I’m ready to go.
“We have some good moments to come until the end of the season because the team is doing very well. The team has a good dynamic and that’s something you want to be part of. You always want to be involved.”
Not a regular anymore
So far this season, the former Chelsea midfielder has made 24 appearances in all competitions for the Saints. 20 of them have come in the Premier League. He has been on the bench five times, but started both of the club’s recent games against Liverpool and Crystal Palace.
He was more of a regular for the club last season. He made 33 appearances in all competitions for the club, with 31 of them coming in the Premier League. He scored once in the league, with that goal coming against Fulham in February 2019.
Southampton signed Romeu from Chelsea in the summer of 2015 for a fee of £5 million. Since then, he has made 178 appearances in all competitions or the club.
TIF Tactics
Romeu, who is valued at £9 million (as per Transfermarkt), adds experience and depth to the Saints side. Letting him leave would not have helped Southampton and they’d have risked looking for a replacement very late in the window. His contract runs out in June 2021, so letting him go in the summer would seem a better idea.