Southampton manager Russell Martin is close to agreeing on a contract extension that will keep him at the club until 2027. Last season, after leading the team back to the Premier League following his arrival from Swansea City, Martin was instrumental in guiding the team to a club-record 25-match unbeaten run and finishing fourth in the Championship.
When he first joined Southampton, Martin signed a three-year contract, which saw him guide the team to a return to the Premier League by defeating Leeds United 1-0 in the play-off final. Since then, he has been actively involved in Southampton’s summer recruitment efforts.
The team is currently in talks with West Ham United about bringing midfielder Flynn Downes back to St Mary’s after his successful loan spell with the team last season. Southampton hopes to secure Downes in a swap deal that would see defender Kyle Walker-Peters move in the opposite direction. The departure of former director of football Jason Wilcox from Manchester United has not deterred Martin from his role at Southampton.