RALPH Hasenhuttl remains "positive" about the prospect of Danny Ings signing a new contract at Saints, insisting: "I don't see any reason why he shouldn't stay with us."

Saints' talisman moved to the south coast from Liverpool, initially on loan, in 2018 and has been in brilliant form with 38 goals in 75 appearances.

Following a knee injury suffered last month, Ings could return when Saints head to Brighton & Hove Albion tomorrow.

But it was the striker's longer term prospects which have been the topic of conversation, after one his team-mates, Jan Bednarek, became the latest in a string of players to commit their future to Saints last week. He follows the likes of James Ward-Prowse and Oriol Romeu in penning new contracts in recent months.

Ings's current deal is set to expire in the summer of 2022.

Asked if Saints would have a decision to make regarding the 28-year-old at the end of this season if he hadn't signed a new contract by then, boss Hasenhuttl said: "Yes, the decision is clear - that he stays with us until the end of his contract.

"Either (that or) there comes a club that pays the money we want to have for him and then he can leave, but I don't know if he wants this, I don't know if he wants to leave.

"I know what he has with the club. I know how much the fans love him here and what we can give him.

"I mean, he made it as an English international from this club, so you don't have to be part of a top six club to reach the internationals for England. So also this we could manage for him.

"I mean, there are some reasons. Yeah, sure, money is always a good argument, especially when you look at the bigger clubs, how much they can spend on players. But I think we wanted to show him how much we want him.

"Definitely I think this message is coming and the rest is on him to decide if he wants to stay with us."

Hasenhuttl added: "If not, we will also find a future. But I hope he will, because he's a very important player for our team.

"We do everything (so) that he can score for the team. The team works for him and he works for the team, so it's a good relationship.

"For me it’s a very important signal that I see that more and more players want to sign here and more and more players want to stay with us. And the rest is up to him."

Quizzed further on if Saints would allow Ings to run down his contract rather than sell in the summer, Hasenhuttl added: "If he doesn't want to sign a new contract, then he stays with us, and I only sell him if there is an offer that we definitely cannot deny.

"But he is not 20 or 22 years old. And I think a top club, yes, has an alternative to take him.

"I think this is not what he wants to do and the rest we can also offer him. So I am still positive that he stays with us and I don't think about anything else. He knows how much we want him.

"I think he feels comfortable. He feels the atmosphere is fantastic to play good football. He enjoys playing with us. I don't see any reason why he shouldn't stay with us."