Shane Long has delivered a perfect pre-season boost to Saints fans after rejecting interest from other clubs to sign a new four-year contract at St Mary’s.

The Daily Echo understands that there was serious interest in the Republic of Ireland striker from several big clubs this summer.

However, Long has decided that his long-term future is at Saints and has penned a deal that ties him down until 2020 when he will be 33.

Saints have prioritised getting star names to sign new deals as they look to ensure they keep a core group of players together for an extended period of time.

Long joins Ryan Bertrand, Virgil van Dijk, Fraser Forster, Steven Davis and James Ward-Prowse in committing to Saints for the long run.

He was due to be out of contract in two years and, given his age, could have tried to force a move knowing it might be his last big transfer.

That he has opted to commit to Saints makes this deal a particularly satisfying one for the club.

The only player whose contract situation now remains somewhat precarious is Dusan Tadic.

The Serbian is on a deal that expires in 2018.

Whether Saints look to rectify that situation now remains to be seen.

It may well be that the club will allow Claude Puel the chance to make his own decision on Tadic before rushing into anything.

The Long deal continues the club’s trend of directing funds into tying down their current crop of players and recruiting diligently in the transfer window, while avoiding joining the ever-inflating transfer market scrap that some clubs are drawn into.

Long was one of Saints’ outstanding players last term, netting 13 times in all competitions and becoming virtually undroppable, with his tenacity and lung-bursting style seeing him emerge as St Mary’s first choice striker after initially being stuck out on the wing or on the substitutes bench after his £12m move from Hull City.

Rumours had circulated that after such a brilliant season, the 29-year-old would be targeted by the Premier League’s big spenders, some of whom did follow that up by registering an interest in signing Long.

Saints have now quashed any further speculation by getting the Republic of Ireland international to pen a deal that will likely see him see out his remaining peak years at St Mary’s.

Long’s Southampton career thus far has seen him play 73 times for the club, scoring 20 goals.

His form last season also saw him win the Daily Echo Player of the Season award, as voted for by the club’s fans.

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