Simpson in line for five year deal?

It looks like Danny Simpson could be the next player in line to receive a five year deal, if the Daily Mail is to be believed.

The ever so accurate Mail reports that Simpson has already sat down with the club and held preliminary talks over a new deal which will see him tied to the club until the age of 29 as well as being the beneficiary of a pay rise from the £10,000-a-week that the right-back is currently on.

Now I'm all for long deals and stability, if a player is good enough to warrant it. In my mind Danny Simpson doesn't fall into that category and is easily replaceable, so why try and tie him down for so long?

Don't get me wrong, I think Simpson is alright, but just alright. He's done well at times this season but then he has also had his fair share of shockers. The main problem is that he backs off attackers as if they are thrusting a knife at him, but at 24 he can still develop and will hopefully be able to knock that trait out of his game.

A five year deal to me would suggest that Simpson will be first choice for the foreseeable. Fair enough, he will probably do, but as the rest of the team is improved it will be his position that is highlighted as a weak spot and will be targeted accordingly.

Talk of an England call up midway through last season was premature in my book. As I said earlier, he is alright, but he is hardly an international class player now is he? In fact I have my doubts whether he'll ever be an international unless it's against someone like Khazerbaijistaniland in a meaningless friendly.

It sounds like I'm being harsh on the lad, but I don't mean to be. He has faults to his game and I'm sure he will admit that he has faults if asked. He isn't the answer for the long-term at right-back though, which makes me wonder why we are giving out a deal that will see him secured for his prime years.

What do you think? Would it be a good move securing Simpson? Or, with two years left on his current deal, is it kind of pointless giving him a new deal?

Your thoughts please :)