Southampton expect to agree a new contract with manager Ralph Hasenhüttl before the end of the season, having been rewarded for their faith in the Austrian since the 9-0 defeat to Leicester City in late October.

Hasenhüttl, 52, signed an original contract until the summer of 2021 when he took over the club in Dec 2018 and it was his decision, along with that of chief executive Martin Semmens, to put any extension discussions aside after the nine-goal defeat to focus on stabilising the club. Although the club are yet to reach what they consider a safe points total, there is confidence that Hasenhüttl buys into the long-term future and is prepared to commit to a new deal.

The club has been restructured in recent months with the arrival from the Football Association of new director of football operations Matt Crocker, who had previously worked at Southampton’s academy. The work on rebuilding the squad began last month with the departure of Cedric Soares and Maya Yoshida on loan in the transfer window to Arsenal and Sampdoria respectively, both older players who will be free agents in the summer.

Hasenhüttl’s influence is crucial with the Austrian expected to set the path for the foreseeable future. His input is anticipated in every part of the club and the new contract will discourage any Premier League or Bundesliga clubs looking at him as a potential new appointment.

He was backed emphatically by the club’s board in the aftermath of that record-equalling Leicester defeat with the message to the squad that it would not be the manager who would shoulder the blame for the defeat. The club’s principal owner Gao Jisheng, his daughter Nelly, former majority owner Katharina Liebherr and Semmens were in agreement that Hasenhüttl was the right long-term choice. Provisionally a target of 38 points for safety was set in the aftermath of the defeat to Leicester that left the club on eight points and in 18th place on Oct 25.

Currently on a run of 16 points from their last eight games, including a win over Leicester at the King Power last month, the club believe they can move up from 13th and secure a top ten finish come May. They also have the future of a number of players to resolve once safety has been achieved. Striker Shane Long, whose current deal expires in the summer, will sign an extension and stay beyond this season.