Saints need to get a new contract sorted out for Jack Cork or risk the chance of losing him as a free agent at the end of the season.
One thing is for sure, over the 3 and a bit seasons Jack Cork has been at St Mary's in his second spell at the club, he has been one of its most consistent performers as well as being versatile enough to play in a variety or roles and positions.
After a great first season in the premier league for Saints where he was second only to Morgan Schneiderlin in the player of the league stakes, last season Cork found himself ostracized by Mauricio Pochettino who seemed to have decided that his face didn't fit, but he still came strong and took his chances after injury to Victor Wanyama and in the second half of the season was again a vital part of the centre of midfield.
This season he has again found himself competing with Wanyama although now its on a level playing field with Ronald Koeman tending to use each player for a specific task, of the nine league games so far Cork has started 4 and come on as a sub in 3 plus he has scored 2 goals, clearly he has been a vital part of Koeman's squad and adds a dimension to it.
But there has still been no mention of a new contract being put on the table and the longer that goes on the worry is that the player himself will feel that he is not valued at the club and will be looking elsewhere from the January transfer window, indeed there was no shortage of suitors in the summer and Cork looked to be on his way to Crystal Palace before Tony Pulis parted company with the Eagles.
So there are several reasons to get this deal done early, Cork's good form is the most obvious as is his ability as mentioned to adapt to different roles, but perhaps the most pressing is that if Morgan Schneiderlin should depart in the summer then with Cork gone then suddenly the centre of midfield is looking very thin.
Add to that the fact that we would have to pay a lot of money to bring in someone of Cork's experience and ability and I would say that it is a no brainer.
In many respects it is easy to bring in very good players and just as easy to see them go to other club's, the key to a good team is having the core of a squad that is doing the everyday business quietly and efficently, players like Cork and Steven Davis, Davis was just about the only player not linked with a move in the summer, but he has been the core of the team, he doesnt get the headlines as others do, but without him this year and Cork as well for that matter, the star names winning the plaudits would not be half as so good, Cork like Davis is good at winning and intercepting the ball and moving it on quickly to those who can use it better, thats not to say that Cork can't either, but players who do their own job and don't try to do others are gold in any football team.
So it is time for Saints to open negotiations with Jack Cork, he has been the heart of this football club, it has been bad enough watching players walk away for big fee's to watch one walk away for nothing would be a lot harder. .