CHIEF executive Martin Semmens confirmed “money is not the issue” regarding Danny Ings’s current contract negotiations at Saints.

Speculation has mounted as to whether the forward will sign a new deal at St Mary’s, with his current contract set to run out in the summer of 2022.

Ings has scored 40 goals from 82 games for Saints since signing initially on loan from Liverpool – before going on to make his move to St Mary’s permanent.

The England frontman has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs throughout the January window, including Tottenham.

Asked to clarify the reality of Ings’s contract situation, Semmens told BBC Radio Solent: “The conversations have gone on. We have had talks with Danny – they are 100 per cent professional, no problem and we have been very happy with them.

“I think the first thing to stay is Danny is very happy here. He wants to stay with the club. He’s enjoyed it, he’s enjoyed every second of it and we’ve enjoyed every second of having him.

“One-hundred per cent, money is not the issue. It’s not an issue with us around the money and nor with Danny.

“Danny has put us under no pressure to provide finances or anything that we are not comfortable with.

“Everything is fine in those negotiations.

“It think what’s important to say is, at the end of the day, Danny wants to focus on playing games, scoring goals and winning games for us.

“He doesn’t want to talk right now about his future contract and I think you have to respect that.

“I think sometimes we forget these people are humans and normal people and they don’t have to do what Sky Sports News or talkSPORT says.”

Ings has scored seven times in 13 Premier League appearances for the Saints this campaign, as well as finding the net for England in a friendly against Wales back in October.

“Danny has a contract with us for 18 months. He will be with us during that time and he fits in brilliantly with the team. There is no need for us to rush that,” said Semmens.

“But during that time we will sit together and we will come up for what’s right for him in the future.

“Danny is 100 per cent happy here. We are 100 per cent happy with him – you’d never see a more professional person.

“The relationship with Ralph is perfect. He works hard for this team, for the club, for the fans every day. There is no issue.

“At the end of the day he has a contract with us, he will be with us during that contract. We hope he will stay beyond that but at the end of the day that is his decision.

“But it’s not a decision for now. We have to get on with the season.”