Southampton

"The amount of new managers coming into the league this year, I have never seen anything like it".

Aaron Paul and Jobi McAnuff are joined by special guests Tommy Smith and Alex Bruce to preview the 2025-26 Championship season.

They discuss a range of topics including assessing chances of sides coming down from the Premier League, who the contenders might be for the top six and take a deep dive of each of the sides promoted from League One.

Listen to the full episode of 72+ and more on BBC Sounds.

There may not have been a Hollywood ending to Southampton's season in the Premier League, but there's a Hollywood beginning to their life back in the Championship.

Wrexham head to St Mary's for the opening game of the season (12:30 BST) - the first the Red Dragons will play in the second tier of English football in more than 43 years.

Their extraordinary rise through the divisions, courtesy of back-to-back-to-back promotions under Phil Parkinson, with the much-publicised backing of actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, has Wrexham fans dreaming of yet another push for promotion.

Saints fans are just looking to get back to winning ways after a season in which they lost 30 of their 38 Premier League fixtures, winning only two and accruing 12 points.

New boss Will Still said the club want to 'turn the page' on last season, and what better way to start than in a match sure to capture the attention of millions around the globe.

• This is the first meeting in any competition between Southampton and Wrexham since the 1979-80 League Cup second round, when Saints won 5-0 at home and 3-0 away in a two-legged tie.

• The last league encounter between Southampton and Wrexham was in April 1960 in the third tier, with the Welsh side winning 2-1 through goals from Ron Harbertson and Bernard Evans.

• Southampton have won one of their past 11 opening fixtures of a league campaign (W1, D4, L6), though that sole victory came during their only Championship fixture in that time – a 2-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday in August 2023.

• Wrexham are unbeaten across their past 10 league games (W7, D3), conceding multiple goals in just one of those matches. The Welsh side last had a longer unbeaten stint in the EFL between March and August 2003 (18 games).

• Wrexham will play their first second-tier game in 43 years and 86 days when they face Southampton. It is the longest gap between matches in England's second tier since Doncaster Rovers returned in 2008 (50 years and 105 days).

Southampton have failed in an approach for Coventry's 24-year-old midfielder Jack Rudoni, but might come back with another offer. (The Sun, external)

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

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Sport senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel says those close to Southampton believe Tyler Dibling's time as a Saints player could be coming to an end.

On Wednesday, it was revealed the 19-year-old had been withdrawn from full-contact training by the Championship side.

Speaking on the Football Daily podcast, Mokbel stated that while some people closer to the Everton camp feel the deal has stalled, others suspect that there are still "legs" to it.

"The information varies depending on who you speak to," he said. "If you speak to people closer to Everton, they will tell you that the deal has reached an impasse and Southampton are asking for far too much.

"If you speak to those closer to the South Coast, there is a realisation there that maybe Tyler Dibling's time is coming to an end."

Listen to more about Saints and Dibling on BBC Sounds' Football Daily podcast.

BBC Radio Solent is giving Southampton supporters the chance to ask their questions to those in charge at St Mary's.

Head coach Will Still, technical director Johannes Spors and chief executive Phil Parsons will join host Adam Blackmore from 6pm on Thursday 6 August.

You can listen on FM, DAB and on BBC Sounds.

Southampton kick off the new Championship season at home to Wrexham on Saturday (12:30 BST).

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton's Japan youth international striker Rento Takaoka has joined French side Valenciennes on a season-long loan.

The 18-year-old moves to the French third-tier having yet to make a first team, appearance for Saints.

He moved to the south coast in March after turning 18, having impressed at the 2023 Under-17 World Cup.

He is the fifth player to leave St Mary's on loan this summer.

Image source, Getty Images

Yankuba Minteh found the net twice but Brighton conceded a two-goal lead to draw with Southampton in their latest pre-season friendly.

Earlier on Saturday, the Seagulls played the Saints in a 60-minute match behind closed doors, earning a 1-0 win.

But the full encounter saw Minteh score either side of the break, only for Jay Robinson and an Adam Armstrong penalty to pull Saints back to parity.

Brighton have now won four and drawn one of their summer fixtures, beating Coventry and UD Las Palmas 2-0, Stoke 3-1 and Wycombe Wanderers 6-1.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Everton's bid for Southampton winger Tyler Dibling is perhaps part of an admission that it will be difficult to sign Malick Fofana from Lyon.

Fofana has not completely ruled out a move to the Toffees but after reports that talks were at an "advanced" stage, there is a clear reluctance from the Belgium international to move to Merseyside.

European powerhouses like Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool have expressed an interest, which has led to the 20-year-old to sit tight and stall on any move to Everton.

Image source, BBC Sport

Southampton have set a new asking price for winger Tyler Dibling after rejecting an initial offer from Everton. (EFL Analysis), external

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

New Southampton signing Damion Downs says his decision to move to the Saints was a "no-brainer".

The US striker joined the Championship side from German side FC Koln earlier this month and is "ready" to help the club reach the top flight once again.

"Their ambition is to get to the Premier League and stay in the Premier League and that's something I want to do as well," Downs told BBC Radio Solent.

"I think English football is the most attractive you can play so it was a no-brainer for me."

Listen to the full interview with Damion Downs and more on BBC Sounds.