Ronald Koeman has given midfielder Jack Cork till the end of next week to confirm that he will sign a new contract.
It is fair to say that Jack Cork has been a great servant to Southampton Football Club since returning to St Mary's after initially playing on loan during season 2008/09, in his original spell he played 22(1) games in the Championship and in this spell he has played 94(21) and scored two goals, both this season.
However it is also fair to say that at times Cork has been ostracised, not least at the start of last season when despite indeifferent form by the newly signed Wanyama, Mauricio Pochettino refused to play Cork except under exceptional circumstances until Wanyama was injured in the December.
Since then despite excellent form every time he played there has been the feeling that he is second fiddle to the Kenyan and that the two cant play in the same team, at least that is the statistics born out by the number of times the pair have featured in the same side.
This being the case its hard to blame Cork for humming and harring on a new contract, indeed he seemed set to join Crystal Palace in the summer until Tony Pulis left the club pre season.
To lose Cork would be a big blow, especially if we were also to lose Morgan Schneiderlin in the summer as looks likely.
The contract is on the table it now only needs to be signed.
Koeman insists he still wants Cork to remain at the club, but with the transfer window drawing to a close he needs an answer very soon.
He said: "We are still waiting about the answer of Jack and we like to know it next week.”
When asked if it was important for the club’s plans he added: "Of course, because that makes plans for the future, for next season.
"If Jack likes to stay I’m very happy, if he likes to move then that means that we need another midfield player.”
But the problem is that on one hand Ronald Koeman wants things sorted out immediately so not only can he plan for next season but he could consider shipping Cork out and getting a replacement now if the player confirms he is not going to sign at present.
But on the other hand Cork is too good to be a squad player and he will feel that might be his fate if he commits himself now, sohe would probably prefer to see what happens at the end of the season.
Im sure that every Saints fan hopes that Cork decides that what is happening at the club is something he wants to be a part of, it is exciting times and he would be lucky to get better elsewhere in truth, with Palace,West Brom and Hull likely to try and sign him now if he did refuse to sign and Saints decided to cash in and try to buy elsewhere.
With injuries though we cannot afford to let Cork go at the moment and he will know that, but the stalemate needs to end and this is why Koeman perhaps feels the need to go public on it.