Southampton

Southampton boss Will Still speaks to BBC South Today's Lewis Coombes after being named Saints boss.

Will Still has spoken to the BBC for the first time since joining Southampton as their new manager.

He discussed his style of play, the current squad and why he has taken the job.

Click above to listen or subscribe here to the Southampton FC page on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Rex Features

A new date has been confirmed for the first south-coast derby of next season between Southampton and Portsmouth.

St Mary's will host the first meeting between the two teams, on Sunday 14 September - the match was initially scheduled for the Saturday.

The second league game, which will be held at Pompey's Fratton Park, is currently set for the end of January.

Saints were relegated from the Premier League last season, while Pompey finished 16th in the Championship.

This will be the first meeting between the sides since 2019, when Southampton won at Fratton Park in the League Cup, and the first league match since 2012.

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton defender Juan Larios has joined Spanish second division side Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa on loan for the upcoming season.

The 21-year-old joined Saints from Manchester City in 2022 and has struggled with injuries since his arrival.

Larios has only played six times for the first team, with his last senior appearance a one-minute cameo in the Carabao Cup second round last season against Cardiff City.

The full-back has played for the Saints under-21s 16 times, assisting on one occasion.

Birmingham City are in talks to bring Japan forward Kyogo Furuhashi back to the UK from Ligue 1 side Rennes. The 30-year-old cost the French club £10m when he joined from Celtic in January. (Birmingham Live), external

Birmingham have also reportedly joined the chase for SC Braga right-back Joe Mendes but face competition from Championship rivals Sheffield United and Southampton for the Swede's signature. (Expressen), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Wednesday's gossip column here.

Coventry City, Norwich City and Southampton have all made contact with representatives of Belgian forward Adriano Bertaccini, 24. He plays for top-flight side Sint-Truiden in his homeland. (Coventry Telegraph), external

Want more transfer gossip from the EFL? Take a look at Thursday's gossip column here.

Forward Josh Windass, 31, is rumoured to be one of the multiple players keen on a departure from Sheffield Wednesday following issues with wage payments. (Give Me Sport), external

The Owls could also lose out on teenager Sutura Kakay despite offering the 17-year-old a new contract amid interest from Southampton. (The Star), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Wednesday's gossip column here.

"He's still an up-and-comer with little experience but has developed into an interesting striker."

"He's more of a project rather than a finished product."

German football journalist Constantin Eckner gives the lowdown on 20-year-old American international forward Damion Downs, who has been heavily linked with a move to Southampton this summer.

Listen to the full interview and more on BBC Sounds.

Southampton and England defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis, 23, is the subject of a reported £20m bid from Portuguese side FC Porto. (The72), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Monday's gossip column here.

Southampton have agreed terms for striker Paul Onuachu, 31, to join Trabzonspor, ending his two-and-a-half year stay at St Mary's. (Sky Sports, external)

Atalanta have also agreed an £18.3m (€21.5m) deal with the Saints for Kamaldeen Sulemana. (Sky Sports, external)

Want more EFL transfer rumours? Check out Friday's full gossip column

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Adam Lallana's fine footwork has already cemented him as a Saints legend, but former team-mate Rickie Lambert says Lallana's leadership off the pitch was just as important to their success.

Lallana announced his retirement on Wednesday but will remain with the Saints in a coaching position under new boss Will Still.

"When anyone asks me who's the best player I've played with, I played with this lad probably the most," Lambert told BBC Radio Solent.

"It was just a pleasure to play with him, to be honest. He's such a great lad off the pitch, real good character, and then on the pitch, a real leader.

"As a character to have around the dressing room, just as influential as on the pitch."

Lallana helped Southampton to two successive promotions to see them reach the Premier League, scoring 60 times in his 283 appearances for the side.

But as for what the 37-year-old can do now he's in the backroom, Lambert believes it'll be to bring back what made Southampton so successful in their back-to-back promotion run.

"If you lose your identity of your history, your team, you're in trouble," Lambert added.

"What Southampton had going up the leagues was a core of players who believed in the Southampton way and that kind of got lost.

"Now Adam is one of the main coaches and he's going to make it clear if you are joining this club, you are joining because you love it. He'll make sure that each player is giving it 100%."

Listen on the full interview and more on BBC Sounds.

The EFL fixture list is out and we know you are bursting to know what you've got to look forward to - or dread - from your team this upcoming season.

Here are some key dates to put in your diary:

• 8 August - v Wrexham (H)

• 16 August - v Ipswich (A)

• 13 September - v Portsmouth (H)

• 26 December - v Oxford United (A)

• 1 January 2026 - v Millwall (H)

• 24 January - v Portsmouth (A)

• 2 May - v Preston (A)

See Southampton's full fixture list here.

Birmingham have joined the likes of Hull, Preston, Swansea and Southampton in the hunt for Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O'Brien, 26. (Alan Nixon, external - requires subscription)

After Kyle Walker-Peters' departure, Southampton have stepped up their interest in Scotland right-back Max Johnston who currently plays for Sturm Graz. (Pete O'Rourke, external)

Want more EFL transfer rumours? Check out Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Your club will soon discover their schedule for the upcoming EFL season. As soon as Thursday, in fact.

Want to know who your side will face on opening day? The EFL fixtures will be announced at 12:00 BST - but that's not all.

The day will be rounded off by the first round of Carabao Cup being drawn at 16:30 BST.

So check back on 26 June to see who your team faces first, last and everything in between.

Adam Blackmore
BBC Radio Solent sports editor

Image source, Getty Images

What can I say about Adam?

Having worked with him at the start of his career for eight years and at the very end of his playing career, I know one thing for sure - he worked hard to make the most of every bit of ability he had and I think he's the most laser-focussed, determined player I know.

His languid, silky playing style belied how seriously he took himself, his career and the game.

We expect his sort of drive from big vocal captain-style centre-halves, but not necessarily from a winger who skips past players and looks will o' the wisp.

That inbuilt drive and determination to do well may have come from being slight as a youngster and having to take a few whacks, it may have come from dealing with and overcoming a heart condition and ulcerative colitis. But whatever the cocktail was, boy did it work.

He was good as a youngster breaking into Southampton's first-team and everyone knew he had talent.

But he really started to shine after the club's worst period in 2009 when they went into administration, and he, as much as any player, was responsible on the pitch for Saints' renaissance and back-to-back promotions that returned them to the Premier League in 2012.

But he really hit a new level after the arrival of Mauricio Pochettino.

The Argentinian gave him confidence, belief, and, through tougher physical training, an extra two yards of pace.

Adam used that to terrific effect, for two years Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Jay Rodriguez were a terrific trio up front for Saints, and scored 61 Premier League goals between them.

And of course those performances led to international recognition (for all of them) and the attention of big clubs.

Liverpool eventually took Lallana to Anfield for £25m in 2014 as the Saints player exodus happened.

It was no surprise to any of us that he dealt with the big move with ease, and even less of a surprise that Jurgen Klopp would go on to praise him for his attitude and ability, with Lallana loving the intense style of play Klopp demanded.

After six years at Anfield, a Premier League medal, a Champions League medal and the accolade of being England player of the year in 2016, he then took on a senior leadership role in the Brighton dressing room and worked alongside the likes of Danny Welbeck, Lewis Dunk, and James Milner to set the dressing room culture for Brighton's ensuing success.

Adam will be gutted his career was affected by niggling injuries in the past few years, and he'll have hated ending his playing career with Southampton's woeful last season.

But he now has a chance to grow and flourish as a coach at Saints and if he puts as much thought, knowledge and determination into coaching as he did as a player, I think we all know he's going to turn out pretty good.

Middlesbrough are interested in signing Aston Villa defender Kaine Kesler-Hayden, 22, but will face competition from fellow Championship sides Southampton and Coventry City. (Birmingham World, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Tuesday's gossip column here.