SAINTS are keen to extend Antti Niemi's contract - even though it still has three years to run.

The player's agent, Richar Cody, has revealed that Saints have been in touch following speculation that Arsenal were planning a summer move for the Finnish international.

Cody said: "Southampton have been in touch about a new deal and we will listen. But any deal he agrees will be the best for himself."

Earlier this month Cody described Niemi as the most loyal person he's ever known.

Niemi, meanwhile, was a surprise omission from the PFA Premiership team of the season.

He has been outstanding for Saints all season and was among the frontrunners to be named as the goalkeeper of the season.

But in what was surely a classic case of bias to the big clubs, he was beaten by American Tim Howard - even though the Manchester United goalkeeper has found himself replaced by Roy Carroll in recent months!

With the exception of Liverpool's England midfielder Steven Gerrard, the team consists entirely of players from Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea.

Statistically, Niemi is comfortably the best goalkeeper in the Premiership with an amazing goals to shots ratio above 80 per cent.

PFA team: Howard (Manchester United), Lauren (Arsenal), Campbell (Arsenal), Terry (Chelsea), Cole (Arsenal), Gerrard (Liverpool), Vieira (Arsenal), Lampard (Chelsea), Pires (Arsenal), Henry (Arsenal), Van Nistelrooy (Manchester United).