SAINTS have offered new contracts to stars Jan Bednarek and Kyle Walker-Peters, who have entered the final 12 months of their deals.

Bednarek, 28, and Walker-Peters, 27, are both on contracts that expire in June 2025 and face uncertain futures as a result.

The long-serving duo could leave the club for free next summer unless terms of re-engagement are agreed upon. 

Manager Russell Martin has frequently stressed that he is keen to stop players leaving for free after Che Adams ran down his contract last season.

Saints have offered new deals to Polish international Bednarek and two-cap England man Walker-Peters following promotion to the Premier League.

The club remain in discussions with Bednarek and want to conclude a deal, while Walker-Peters is assessing his options this summer.

Martin told the Daily Echo: "Janny we're in discussions with. Kyle's been offered and we are in discussions with him.

Jan Bednarek is on an extended holiday after competing at EURO 2024 with PolandJan Bednarek is on an extended holiday after competing at EURO 2024 with Poland (Image: PA)

"Kyle stayed last summer when there was a lot of interest and talk, but I don't think anyone quite met our valuation.

"It would have been really easy for him to kick the door down and try and push something through but he didn't.

"There's always been that understanding that we respect each other, and he would give us that. Now he wants to assess the situation in this transfer window and see.

"I don't have any problem with that at all. He knows we want him. He knows we want to keep him," Martin continued. 

"But if we can't, then we will get enough money for him that we think it's good business. Otherwise, he just won't leave the building.

"I think everyone's fairly on the same page with it. He's in a great position physically. He's training really well.

"He didn't play against Eastleigh because he played more minutes than any other player in the Championship, I think, last season.

"There's no point in risking him at the moment whilst all of this talk and discussion is going on. He's in Spain for our training camp next week.

"He may play in Spain. We'll have a chat about it but he's in a good place so we'll just have to wait and see."

Walker-Peters was left out of the squad to face Eastleigh for the start of pre-season, while Bednarek is yet to return from holiday. 

West Ham hoped to negotiate a deal for Walker-Peters alongside the permanent transfer of Flynn Downes to St Mary's.

Downes, 25, has completed his move separately while reports suggest the Hammers have moved onto other right-back targets.

Striker Adam Armstrong also entered the final year of his deal this summer but agreed a new three-year contract to stay at Saints until 2027.

Martin conceded this week that Che Adams is unlikely to return to the club despite a new contract being left on the table for the free agent this month.