Southampton star James Bree has revealed his stance on signing a new contract at St Mary’s Stadium.
Bree’s current deal with the Saints expires this summer, and he has made 15 appearances across all competitions since returning from a loan stint with Charlton Athletic in January.
Southampton have been in extremely impressive form under Tonda Eckert, and climbed into the play-offs by hammering fellow promotion hopefuls Wrexham 5-1 on Tuesday.
The Saints have another vital clash this Saturday, when they host John Eustace’s Derby County, who sit just three points adrift of them.
James Bree reveals stance on signing new Southampton contract
Alongside their impressive Championship form, Southampton have also advanced to the FA Cup semi-finals, where they are set to face Premier League title hopefuls Manchester City.
Bree has played his part in his side’s cup run, producing an assist in their shock 2-1 triumph over top-flight leaders Arsenal in Easter weekend’s quarter-final clash.
The 28-year-old previously scored in the 2-1 victory over Leicester City in the FA Cup fourth round.
Meanwhile, speaking to the Southern Daily Echo’s Alfie House about his Southampton future, Bree said: “With the position we’re in, we’re concentrated on getting through the games. There are more important things going on. But I’ve said before, it’s something I’d love to do. When we can sit down and talk about it, I’d love to do it.”
As alluded to by Bree, contract talks will not be at the forefront of Saints minds for now, as they are vying to seal an immediate Premier League return which previously seemed unlikely.
Crucially, Eckert’s men have a game in hand on play-off rivals Wrexham and Derby, which bolsters their chances of successfully landing a top-six spot.
However, it is worth noting that Southampton’s game in hand comes against automatic promotion hopefuls Ipswich Town just days after their FA Cup semi-final meeting with Man City.
Southampton should be keen on handing James Bree a new deal
Since returning to Southampton from Charlton, Bree has proven himself as a strong, attacking right-back by scoring three goals and producing three assists in 15 appearances across all competitions.
Furthermore, the fact that he has been in such a rich vein of form, having previously been deployed on loan, demonstrates that the former Luton Town man has a great attitude.
Bree has shown a tendency to produce the goods in big moments for Southampton in recent weeks, notching assists in victories over Championship league leaders Coventry City and Premier League giants Arsenal.
Furthermore, his performance against the Gunners shows that he does have the quality to perform against top-flight opposition, which bodes well for the Saints, should they clinch promotion.
Bree has endured a series of injury issues since joining the St Mary’s Stadium outfit back in 2023, but he has earned experience in both the Championship and the Premier League.
Therefore, Eckert should view the 28-year-old as a real asset, who should be handed a new contract, regardless of which division his side are competing in next term.
For now, Bree will be focused on helping Southampton finish in the play-offs, while an unlikely FA Cup triumph could even be on the cards.
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