RALPH Hasenhuttl admits the financial impact caused by the coronavirus pandemic has impacted the way the club negotiates new contracts with its players.

Saints have, in recent months, tied down some of their key men to new deals including skipper James Ward-Prowse, Oriol Romeu, Jan Bednarek and Stuart Armstrong.

But they are still keen to secure the future of some more star names, with both Danny Ings and Ryan Bertrand believed to be in talks to extend their stays on the south coast.

It is understood Bertrand's current deal expires at the end of this season.

But the left-back, who has started all-but-one of Saints' matches so far this campaign, is keen to commit to the club for the long-term.

Speaking to the Daily Echo last month, the 31-year-old said: "Definitely, I want to stay. That’s my thought process.

“I see myself staying here and it would be great to be part of this club for the long haul.

“I’ve been here so long. I have still got plenty of years left in me. And to go beyond that and possibly work for the club even after football.

“I’m fully focussed on hopefully extending my contract here.

“I don’t think it’s too far away. It’s in the club’s hands, to be honest.”

Saints this week announced their financial results for the last financial year, posting a £76.1million pre-tax loss, down in large part to a downturn in broadcast revenue and matchday income since the pandemic began.

Asked if that financial impact is also being felt when it comes to negotiating a new deal with Bertrand, as well as any other players the club may look to offer new contracts to, Hasenhuttl said: “Definitely. This is a fact and this fact definitely has an impact on football for the future.

“If you want to have a safe future, then you have to fix it now. You have to know now what are the limits in the future and what you have to do for the future.

“The last thing we will do is gamble with some numbers of wages that we will not pay.

“This is a basic of every negotiation with every player in the future. The players know this.

“We are definitely not the highest paying club in the league. There are some that do it, okay, we cannot. They know this.

“Everybody who wants to follow us and wants to come with us is invited to. I think we showed every player we want to continue working with them.

"Then it’s about the players to decide what they want to do and that’s it.”