ORIOL Romeu is enjoying his time at Southampton and wants to stay for as long as possible – with the Spaniard revealing he doesn’t spend much time thinking about his contract situation.

Instead, it appears the plan is for player and club to take it “year by year”, with Romeu largely concentrating on keeping his performances levels high.

Now into his seventh season with the club, the former Barcelona and Chelsea man last signed a contract in November 2020, with his current deal set to expire at the end of next season.

Despite the looming deadline, the St Mary’s stalwart remains focused on ensuring that he is at his best for his team, by maintaining his body.

One of the elder statesmen in the Saints dressing room, 30-year-old Romeu said: “I’m enjoying it.

“I’m feeling good physically. I’m probably feeling now, the best moment of my career.

“I’m looking after myself, I’ve found some habits that are really helping me, I want to carry on with that and then we’ll see how far we go.

“I’ve still got a year and a half left, I really don’t think of it much.

“I’m enjoying it here, I want to go year by year and see how far we go.”

Saints’ vice-captain clearly believes that his work off the pitch is allowing him to perform on it.

When quizzed upon the habits he mentioned, the midfielder revealed: “Eating wise, I’ve improved a lot.

“I’ve changed some things that are helping me to gain more muscle and reduce fat within my body.

“Sleeping, resting, recovery – always things that are important nowadays. I don’t think I would be able to perform at this level if I hadn’t done this.

“Since I think it was lockdown, I started working with a nutritionist a lot more, looking every detail. It has really helped me, and it’s something I will continue and keep doing in my career.”

Romeu and Co. will have to hope their preparation is spot-on for the visit of Manchester City this weekend, with Pep Guardiola’s men seemingly marching unopposed to the title with 12 Premier League wins in a row.

Saints themselves enter the fixture hoping to bounce back after a decent run of form of their own was ended with a 3-1 defeat away at Wolves last weekend.