James Ward-Prowse said that he is "not thinking too far ahead" when questioned on his future in the immediate aftermath of Southampton's relegation from the Premier League.
Saturday's 2-0 home loss to Fulham confirmed relegation for the Saints, who are rooted to the bottom of the table ahead of their final two games of the season against Brighton & Hove Albion and Liverpool.
Ward-Prowse's future has been called into question in recent weeks, with Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United said to be keen to sign him during this summer's transfer window.
The 28-year-old has had a positive campaign on a personal note, scoring 10 goals and registering four assists in 43 appearances in all competitions, but he was not prepared to discuss a possible move away from St Mary's when questioned following the loss to Marco Silva's side.
"I'm not thinking too far ahead. We've just been relegated from the Premier League. I'm not looking beyond tomorrow," BBC Sport quotes the Englishman as saying.
"It's about sticking together and dealing with it in the right way. Over the last 10 years we have had that kind of consistency and that has wavered.
"It will be testing for everybody but these are the times that make you as a player and as a club, we have done it before and we will do it again."
Ward-Prowse also opened up on the club's relegation: "It's disappointing. It is a moment that has been coming. We knew we had put ourselves in a difficult position.
"When these things happen you go away individually and as a club and ask if you have done enough? I don't think we have. We talk about leaving things out there and ultimately that is why we are where we are now.
"Have decisions been right? Have we been good enough on the pitch? Have we done enough as a team to progress? I believe we should be performing at a better level than we have done and we have not done that on a consistent basis. The standards have slipped away and that is why we are where we are now.
"I have been here right through form eight-years-old, for all the ups and downs. I'm sure with the good people at the club it will be back in the Premier League in no time."
Ward-Prowse made his first-team debut for Southampton in 2011, and he has now represented the club on 407 occasions in all competitions, scoring 54 goals and registering 52 assists.
Manchester United have also recently been credited with an interest in the midfielder, while Liverpool are said to have scouted the Englishman during the 2022-23 campaign. body check tags ::
