Injured Rodriguez pens new Saints deal

SOUTHAMPTON have secured the future of Jay Rodriguez by almost doubling his wages — even though he has missed the whole season with a cruciate injury.

The 25-year-old striker, who was being monitored by Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham, has agreed a four- year deal worth approximately £60,000 per week.

It is a major coup for Southampton, who are determined to retain the services of their best players and are also negotiating with Nathaniel Clyne, who has a year left on his contract.

The club are keen to avoid the exodus of last summer when key players l eft, i ncluding Adam Lallana, Luke Shaw, Dejan Lovren, Rickie Lambert and Calum Chambers.

Rodriguez is now desperate to get back to playing first-team football in order to win back his place in Roy Hodgson’s England squad ahead of Euro 2016.

Right back Clyne, who has broken into the England team this season, had been given a 10-day deadline by manager Ronald Koeman to agree a new deal but the player, who recently switched agents thus delaying the talks, has re-entered negotiations this week.

Manchester United are interested in Clyne but Southampton sources says that no bids have been tabled and talks are going well. CHELSEA’S Eden Hazard has been voted the Football Writers’ Association player of the year to add the PFA award he won last month. Tottenham striker Harry Kane finished second and Chelsea captain John Terry was third.