Stuart Armstrong thinks his biggest priority right now is putting Southampton back into the Premier League, rather than his personal future beyond this season.
The Scotland international signed a three-and-a-half-year contract extension in January 2021, which expires at the end of the current season, meaning he may leave on a free next year.
This summer, Armstrong faced some uncertainty about his future, but Southampton manager Russell Martin (a former teammate of Armstrong’s) persuaded him to stay on the south coast and play in the Championship.
Martin has subsequently stated that no contract talks have taken place between the club and Armstrong, adding that the 31-year-old is instead focusing on his football rather than his personal life.
This week, the midfielder reinforced his stance, telling the Daily Echo: “Yeah, I think that [contract situation] is second, I know the gaffer from previous years and we have a good relationship.” The fundamental goal is to help the squad return to its rightful place in the Premier League, and whatever happens after that is good.”
Armstrong has been an important element of Martin’s Southampton team so far this season, with the midfielder making all 14 Championship games and starting nine of them.
In October, he scored twice in two games against Stoke City and Rotherham United, the first of which was the only goal in a 1-0 win away at the bet365 Stadium.
Saints are now unbeaten in the league and sit fourth in the table ahead of this weekend’s match against Millwall. After several seasons of relegation struggles in the top flight, Armstrong is in a promising position.
