Maya Yoshida looks likely to leave Saints after 8 years at St Mary's with his contract up at the end of the season and the likelihood of a new one being offered a new one decreasing by the week.

It looks like the end of the road at St Mary's for Maya Yoshida who with his contract up at the end of the season and turning 32 in August will probably be allowed to leave in the summer,

Yoshida has played only 5 minutes of Premier League football since 25th October when he paid the price for the defeat to Leicester City on that fateful night, since then a cameo appearance against Norwich where Ralph Hasenhuttl looked to batten down the hatches in the final minutes of our 2-1 win has been the only sighting of him in the League and he is now very firmly behind Jack Stephens and Jan Bednarek in the pecking order.

His appearance against Huddersfield did not see him or for that matter Jannik Vestergaard cover themselves in glory and indeed given that Vestergaard had played slightly more game time than Yoshida since Leicester, it indicates that the Japanese central defender is 4th in the pecking order and that could drop further should we sign a central defender or two in the next couple of weeks.

Saints need to reduce their wage bill in the summer with several high earners out on loan having to return to the club albeit temporarily and the feeling is they will now look to the future and Yoshida is sadly now verymuch part of the past.

Although I have been a critic of Yoshida over the years, I have done so not in a personal fashion but based on fact, I have never denied that he has been a good servant to the club and played a part in our successes, but from his very first season it has been clear that he is not a 38 game a season Premier League quality player.

In his second season Mauricio Pochettino signed Dejan Lovren to play alongside Jose Fonte and for the next four season Yoshida was very much a back up only starting to play more regularly when both Van Dijk and Fonte had left the club.

Over the 8 seasons he has started 135 Premier League games with another 19 off the bench, but it should be noted that almost a quarter of them 31 were in his first season and most years he struggled for game time unless there were issues.

But this should not belittle his contribution to Saints, he is what he is and that is a good back up player and he has done a job at times.

But it looks like the end for Yoshida at St Mary's in the summer, he will move on for hopefully a final pay day as a player, I don't know whether he has any aspirations to be a coach but he could do a job for a club outside of the Premier League and play a couple of more seasons yet.

I applaud Maya Yoshida for his contribution, what I have always done is put that contribution into perspective.

Photo: Action Images

underweststand added 17:50 - Jan 12 I'm pleased that you had a few good words to say about Maya (Nick). Admitedly, he's not always been regarded as a first team choice and successive managers used him in different roles - but he has no.3 for a reason - as he started there in 2012. I'm pleased that you've also come on board with the thought that our CB's need cover, even though they are pklaying well at present, but injuries /suspensions can change the picture dramatically...look at Newcastle and Villa. IF...we buy someone new?.. we must be sure he's not going to turn into another Hoedt or Vestergaard and for that reason I'd be happy to see Maya offered a years extension - if for no other reason that he's been a good club man and should to be treated honourably.

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bstokesaint added 19:51 - Jan 12 To be fair to Maya when he had a proper run in the side he won the club’s Defensive Player of the Year award. I’m not sure he’s worse than Jan and Jack, but they’ve been given a chance to form a partnership. I wish him well whatever the outcome.
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A1079 added 22:19 - Jan 12 I will admit, I have so much time for Yoshida. He has been there for the team when we have needed someone to stand in and he did really well when Fonte and Van Dijk got injured. I will concede that he was prone to moments of error but equally he would pop with a goal or two. He has never complained or whinged and just got on with things. He clearly loves the club, the fans etc. I don't know why and it is just based on his interviews, but I would not be surprised if he ended up going into coaching or management. Whatever he does, I wish him well. He has been a true loyal servant. He will always be welcome to SMS.

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aceofthebase added 15:49 - Jan 13 I think it is very likely he will get a one-year extension to his contract and well deserved it will be. He is still a useful player who can deputise at many positions.
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Newdawn2014 added 16:28 - Jan 14 I hope so , such a genuinely nice guy and will sweat blood for the team.
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LoisDeem added 16:39 - Jan 14 I would like Maya to get an extended contract, and I believe he's still good enough to be the 'third man' in the event of our new found 'dynamic duo' suffering minor injury, but not as part of any ill fated trio at the expense of team cohesion and mobility -never go back, Ralph. Whilst I would also like to see a similarly experienced CB come in to bolster our resources, I would really prefer to see Hoedt or Vestergard aspire to Stephens type improvement levels, or work as hard as Bednarek clearly has. This not to save our thrifty board and owners money, more to shut up the moan for England fans that we seem to have attracted along the way.

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