MANAGER Ralph Hasenhuttl insisted he never thought James Ward-Prowse could leave Saints – and believes he is on the path to become a legend at the club.

Ward-Prowse on Thursday committed his future to the south coast side by signing a fresh five-year contract to remain at St Mary’s.

It put an end to speculation over his future, with the Daily Echo understanding Saints turned down a £25million bid from Aston Villa for him last month.

Hasenhuttl saw the likes of Danny Ings and Jannik Vestergaard exit St Mary’s to Villa and Leicester respectively.

But the Austrian boss explained how Ward-Prowse, who also signed a long-term contract in 2020, was a different scenario.

Quizzed about his captain’s new deal, the manager said: “I have never had the thought he could leave us to be honest.

“It is the completely different situation to Ings and Vestergaard where we knew that the power was moving to the player.”

Asked whether getting Ward-Prowse to sign fresh terms also sent a statement that Saints could keep their best players, Hasenhuttl replied: “Definitely, yes.

“As we said, we are a club that develops players and we will always be a club that also sells players at some point and we always will be in the future.

“But this also happens to the very big clubs, so it is not about that we are at the other end of this level.

“This is okay, sometimes it is hard for the fans to see players leave. For me also, I would like to have Danny here for the next five years here.

“But sometimes players decide to make the next step and not to decide to be a legend for the club and when you have to accept that as a manager then you must keep on going.

“There are new players coming in and hopefully you have the right choice and then you bring a new one in and he is a new hero for the fans.”

Ward-Prowse has already made 323 first-team appearances for Saints, becoming only the 28th player in club history, and the 19th of the post-war era, to surpass 300 games.

Earlier this year he became the first midfielder in Premier League history to complete successive seasons without missing a minute of action.

Quizzed on whether Ward-Prowse is, or could be, a Saints legend, the manager said: “Yes, he decided to go this way.

“That doesn't mean that he stays here forever but when you are that long at a club you get a special position in the club and in the heart of the fans.

“I think this is sometimes what players don't see, you can earn a lot of money anywhere but you have seldom chance to become a legend I think.

“When you have this chance, it is too often not important enough for the players anymore, maybe this was a little bit different in the past.”

Ward-Prowse is expected to feature when the St Mary’s side face Manchester United on Sunday (2pm).