Southampton are confident manager Ralph Hasenhuttl will sign a contract extension to continue his reconstruction of the club, but are in no rush to finalise formalities of a new deal.

Reports of the Austrian having agreed fresh terms are premature, with sources telling The Independent that while he is held in the highest esteem by Saints’ hierarchy, the focus has been on navigating the challenges to their business model and daily operations during the coronavirus pandemic.

Hasenhuttl, who was appointed in December 2018 on a contract until the summer of 2021, is expected to ink an extension “as soon as the time is right to do so.”

All parties are relaxed about the situation and are addressing more pressing concerns. Safeguarding the immediate future of the club and staff was a priority, which saw Southampton become the first Premier League side to reach an agreement with players over wage deferrals to assist with cash flow during the crisis.

The squad opted to defer part of their salaries for the months of April, May and June along with the board of directors, Hasenhuttl and his coaching staff.

Southampton’s owners, Gao Jisheng and Katharina Liebherr, view the manager as the right choice to shape the club in the long-term.

They did not shift from that viewpoint in the aftermath of a 9-0 humiliation at home to Leicester City on October 25, which left the team 18th in the standings on eight points.

Eight victories since then, including in the reverse fixture against Brendan Rodgers’ side as well as a win at Chelsea, have moved Southampton closer to their provisional target for safety.

A figure of 36 was set, with Saints two points off it with nine fixtures remaining before the suspension of football due to Covid-19.

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