SAINTS captain Jose Fonte has revealed that he has been attempting to persuade Morgan Schneiderlin and Nathaniel Clyne to sign new contracts with the club.

The future of both players is the subject of uncertainty heading into the summer, with each having been linked with a move away from St Mary's.

Fonte has spoken to the pair and has encouraged them to stay, telling them that he is confident Saints could challenge for an even better finishing position next season if they remain.

"Honestly, I hope that they consider everything," he said.

"I individually spoke to them in regards to that situation and I know the club is doing everything they can to keep them here.

"They’ve been offered contracts and, at the end, it’s going to be their decision.

"We need to understand that we did everything we can to make them feel special, to make them feel that they are rewarded in every single aspect and I think we have done that, so it’s up to them to make the decision and whatever they do, we have to respect, because this is their own life, but, obviously, I wish we can keep everyone and add a couple more and go for even higher than this year.

"That’s the objective, that's why I've been trying to pass the message and speak to them and make them understand that, if we can keep everyone and add another two or three players, we will be a force next season and I just hope that we can do that."

Nathaniel Clyne

Last summer saw a number of big-name players depart the club, with Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert, Dejan Lovren and Calum Chambers all leaving.

None have enjoyed tremendous individual seasons, though, and Fonte agreed that moving to a perceived bigger club is not always the right thing.

"It (the grass) isn’t always greener, that's true," he said.

"I don’t wish bad to anyone. Obviously, they were my teammates for many years and above all they were good friends and I wish them the best and I want them to succeed.

"But it didn’t happen for them this year and they didn’t have great seasons, but you can’t criticise, you know. It’s decisions, and it's everyone’s own life.

"You have to think about you and your family and, obviously, financially it's not everything, but this is our job, it’s in a very short space of time, and you need to maximise the best possible way.

"But, having said that, everyone has their own mind and you need to make your own decisions. They’ve decided to move on.

"I respected their decisions and I wished them well, but the grass isn’t always greener. Sometimes you need to think that the decisions you make don’t always pay off."

Fonte added: "They didn’t say they regretted it. I speak with most of them regularly.

"Obviously, they are not 100 per cent happy with how it went this year, but they are hopeful that next year will be a new chapter."