IT would be a lovely surprise for us all, but there are few reasons for Kyle Walker-Peters to extend his Saints contract and he looks set to leave.

While nobody has said out loud that he is definitely departing this summer, nobody has said he is not either, and it has been a long time coming.

The defender recently repeatedly used 'they' to refer to Saints rather than 'we', when he was asked about what the club must do to fix relegation.

Walker-Peters was only 23 when he signed his five year Saints deal in June 2020, and many of his best years have been spent at St Mary's.

On Merseyside, while one English right back seems destined to be booed and jeered out, there is a totally different outlook on the south coast.

The context of boyhood Liverpool fan Trent Alexander-Arnold's Anfield exit is a little different, but both have served their clubs impeccably.

Almost ever-present, Walker-Peters has raced to 201 appearances for the club he initially joined on loan as a budding Spurs academy graduate.

Kyle Walker-Peters will have plenty of Premier League interest this summerKyle Walker-Peters will have plenty of Premier League interest this summer

Former boss Ralph Hasenhuttl said the versatile Walker-Peters reminded him of World Cup-winning, legendary Germany captain Phillip Lahm.

"He is so good on the ball, he always has good decisions, he can run and makes nearly no mistakes. He is getting better and better," he added.

That all went to explain why the Austrian sometimes deployed the right back as a central midfielder or number 10 in training sessions at Staplewood.

Publicly and privately, managers, teammates and dressing room sources have all praised Walker-Peters for his attitude and professionalism.

When he sensationally lost his place to 18 year old Tino Livramento on the first day of the 2021/22 season, he simply worked harder.

Without any real fuss, Walker-Peters made himself undroppable at left-back instead. It earned him an England call-up in March 2022. 

After Saints were relegated from the Premier League in 2023, he expressed to the club that, if the opportunity was there, he wanted to move on.

With Livramento sold to Newcastle United for upwards of £40million, Walker-Peters remained at St Mary's for the Championship campaign.

He was one of Russell Martin's most important players, playing 46 times out of 49, and landed himself in the division's team of the season. 

He created the goal that beat Leeds United on the final day, and who knows what impact that had psychologically on their eventual play-off opponents.

Speaking to the Daily Echo about his time at Saints in November, he said: "It's an extremely special part of my career. I'm forever grateful.

"I hope the fans are also grateful. I've never kicked up a fuss, never refused to play or thrown any tantrums. I've always tried to give my all for the club."

And as this Premier League miserable season comes to its end, under interim boss Simon Rusk, Walker-Peters has looked back to his best.

"I think the best way I can describe Kyle would be low-maintenance, high-performance, and that is the dream for a coach," said Rusk.

Is he the perfect player, or even the perfect defender? Of course not, but if he was, he would not have played over 200 times for Saints.

What Walker-Peters is, is a very good player and professional, who we have been lucky to enjoy for as long as he has remained at St Mary's.

We all remain with hope that Walker-Peters sensationally pens to extend his stay, but nobody would begrudge him for opting not to do so. 

Hopefully, we have the chance to speak to him before the end of May, to relay a message of thanks from us and the fans, if nothing else.

In the meantime, Saints have four Premier League matches left to play, with perhaps the biggest of those coming at Leicester City on Saturday.