Southampton

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

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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.

Being a life-long Saints fan, singer Craig David was Born To Do It.

The hit-maker is heading back to his hometown of Southampton on tour in the summer and has been hitting the Rewind button as he tells BBC Radio Solent's Rick Jackson about his all-time favourite Saints players.

So if you're asking, can you Fill Me In, pop over to BBC Sounds to hear which of the greats make his top-five list.

Any guesses as to who is Walking Away with the number one spot?

Turkish club Trabzonspor have agreed a fee in the region of £6.8m (€8m) with Southampton for striker Paul Onuachu, 31, and negotiations over personal terms are ongoing. (Fabrizio Romano), external

The Saints have rejected a £10m (€12m) bid for winger Kamaldeen Sulemana, 23, from Italian Serie A side Atalanta, who are managed by former Southampton boss Ivan Juric. (Sky Sports), external

Southampton and Sheffield United face stiff competition from Leeds, Wolves and four German Bundesliga clubs to sign French striker Willem Geubbels, 23, from Swiss Super League side St Gallen after he netted 14 goals in 31 games last season. (L'Equipe - in French), external

Read Friday's full gossip column for more EFL transfer rumours

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Adam Blackmore
BBC Radio Solent sports editor

Image source, Adam Blackmore on X

After waiting three and a half years to have a proper sit down with Saints' owner, and now chairman, Dragan Solak, it was a relief and a pleasure to spend time with him.

I haven't met many billionaires (!) and so it was great that he was warm, affable and courteous. But he was also sharp and switched on, and there was a calm confidence that I'm guessing comes from being successful.

I can't imagine him suffering fools for long. But for the purposes of my interview he was all-in and had things to say.

Having taken on a more hands-on role during the disastrous season that's just unfolded for Saints, I can tell he is fully engaged in the club and putting things right.

I think Saints fans should be warmed by many things he said, especially ending speculation about his ownership and his belief that the club will get things right.

Sport Republic have made a number of mistakes during their first three and a half years in charge but many of those decisions were made while Solak was a "silent" owner.

Now he is very much at the helm and I think that can only benefit the club.

Click here to listen to the full interview with Southampton owner Dragan Solak.

Image source, Rex Features

Southampton chairman Dragan Solak believes former boss Russell Martin would have had a longer spell in charge if VAR had not cost them points during last season's Premier League campaign.

Martin was sacked in December following a 5-0 defeat by Tottenham Hotspur, leaving them with just one win in their return to the top flight and a league-low of 11 goals.

Solak told BBC Radio Solent it wasn't all Martin's fault and decisions that didn't go his way from the VAR hub had affected them.

"I really believe he was absolutely, fundamentally behind his idea of football and that is not easy in an environment like the Premier League that is so competitive," Solak said.

"But to give him credit we were quite unlucky, I don't even know how to characterise some of the VAR decisions that we had - but in my opinion VAR took eight points off Russell's team.

"If he had those eight points more in December I think he would probably manage the team through the whole season.

"I'm not saying we would stay in the league but we would have [had] a much more competitive run and Russell would definitely still be leading the team."

Listen to the full interview and more on BBC Sounds.

Southampton winger Kamaldeen Sulemana could be reunited with former Saints boss Ivan Juric at Atalanta with the Italian Serie A side interested in signing the 23-year-old Ghana international this summer. (Di Marzio via Daily Echo), external

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

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Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

For obvious reasons, Premier League clubs are wary about promoting the arrival of highly rated youngsters from another academy.

It is why there was nothing from Manchester United last year confirming striker Chido Obi had joined from Arsenal.

But there was a lot of external noise around Obi and, rather unexpectedly, he ended last season as part of Ruben Amorim's first-team squad.

Now United have recruited another promising youngster in 16-year-old England youth international Harley Emsden-James from Southampton.

Emsden-James has attracted a lot of attention due to his performances at Southampton, where there is a handy link for United through technical director Jason Wilcox.

United are trying to target younger players in the hope they can eventually become first-team stars, which would reduce the number of senior players they have to buy.

There are no guarantees, clearly, but Emsden-James is a name to keep an eye on once the Premier League Under-18 season gets started.

Image source, Getty Images

A number of EFL players have been selected in England's Under-21 squad for the European Championships in Slovakia this month.

Birmingham City's Jay Stansfield, who scored 19 goals in 37 League One games to help the Blues win the title and promotion to the second tier, is included.

Stansfield played three times during qualifying but this will be his first appearance at a tournament.

Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney, who netted five league goals and made three assists, is also named in Lee Carsley's 23-man squad, along with Samuel Iling-Junior, who spent time on loan at Boro and Bologna from Aston Villa during the 2024-25 season.

Two players are included from relegated Premier League clubs - Ipswich Town winger Omari Hutchinson and Southampton defender Ronnie Edwards - with the latter spending the second half of the campaign on loan at QPR.

Young Stoke City goalkeeper Tommy Simkin, who made 40 appearances on loan at Walsall in League Two and kept 14 clean sheets, has been picked.

Fellow goalkeepers Teddy Sharman-Lowe, who helped Doncaster Rovers win promotion to League One while on loan from Chelsea, and James Beadle, who spent the season at Sheffield Wednesday on loan from Brighton, will also be on the plane.

The U21 Euros will take place across eight host cities in Slovakia from 11-28 June with the Three Lions looking to retain the title they won in 2023.

England are in a group with Czech Republic, Slovenia and Germany and the top two will progress to the quarter-final.

You can see the full England U21 squad for the Euros here.

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

As the dust settles on the 2024-25 Premier League season, we have been taking a look at some of the alternative ways the the table could have finished...

Passing in football has become an obsession.

The tiki-taka style of Barcelona has now become the basis of managerial philosophies across the leagues and lands of Europe and beyond.

The problem is, few teams have the ability to execute it at the level required to make it effective.

Pep Guardiola took it to another level when he was in charge of the La Liga giants and it has served his Manchester City side well since he took charge in 2016 having won 18 trophies in the following nine years.

And, if the Premier League season had come down to how well teams pass the ball, unsurprisingly the eight-time champions would have been celebrating a ninth title.

With nearly 90% accuracy, they rarely put a foot - or pass - wrong.

And yet, in reality, it did not translate to success on the pitch this year.

Whether it was teams finally finding the chinks in the passing-machine armour or the side's misplaced passes proving more costly than in previous seasons without key players, City could not take advantage of their dominance with the ball.

And for one of the most acute examples of ability with the ball not translating to on-the-pitch success, we only have to look at Southampton.

The Saints at one point looked set to break Derby County's record for the least amount of points in a Premier League campaign, and yet they were less than 1% behind actual league champions Liverpool when it came to passing accuracy.

While fans could have some appreciation for watching nice football, they might have appreciated some scrappy displays that resulted in hard-fought results and possible safety more.

In contrast, Crystal Palace had the least accurate passing of any team in the league.

And yet, Oliver Glasner's side ultimately finished 12th - just three points off a top-half finish - and won the FA Cup final against the club with the best passing ability of them all.

They are not the only team to have had successful seasons in their own right while being in the bottom six for passing accuracy.

Nottingham Forest were 19th in this table metric, but in reality were fighting for Champions League places.

Bournemouth and Brentford also battled for possible European spots into the final weeks of the season, and even Everton finished the campaign comfortably away from relegation that at one point they looked set to be in a battle to escape.

So what does this tell us? When it comes to winning football matches, passing the ball well is not the be-all and end-all.

*Table data from Opta

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

As the dust settles on the 2024-25 Premier League season, we have been taking a look at some of the alternative ways the the table could have finished...

It is the table no-one wants to be top of.

While some fans will feel pretty comfortable when their team goes in front, for others, it is just the start of what could prove to be an emotional rollercoaster.

The fans who had to suffer the disappointment of wondering 'what might have been' most were those of Tottenham.

If the Premier League season had come down to which side lost the most points from winning positions then Spurs would have been top of the pile.

There were 22 occasions in which Ange Postecoglou's team were in front, but they went on to win only half of those, with four ending in draws and seven in defeat.

While 'Ange-ball' provides entertainment, as shown in the Europa League final, if the Spurs boss had adapted on a few more occasions, they might have found themselves celebrating a more successful league campaign than one that left them a place above the relegation zone.

For Fulham fans, it was hard to know whether they were coming or going.

While they were one of the 'comeback kings' having picked up 21 points from losing positions, they also dropped 28 points from winning ones.

Rather than consistent inconsistency, boss Marco Silva will be hoping for less of a rollercoaster next campaign if they want to achieve their European dream.

There were not a lot occasions in which relegated Southampton and Ipswich were in front, but when they were, they struggled to see them through. The 28 and 27 points lost respectively could have been the difference-makers in the fight to stay up.

At the other end of the scale, Newcastle supporters could often sit comfortably in the knowledge that when they went in front, they were unlikely to see any other result at the end.

In fact, of the 23 games in which they were in a winning position, they drew twice and lost just once - a confidence they will hope to take into the Champions League next season too.

Much was said of Chelsea's questionable defensive abilities and the maturity of such a young side. But despite this, they too were a team regularly able to see out a game they were leading - winning 20 of the 26 such occasions.

Two perhaps more surprising additions at this end of the table are relegated Leicester City and a Manchester United side who set unwanted club records for the season.

While there were not many occasions when the two sides were in a leading position - 10 for Leicester and 16 for United - between them they lost just three times and dropped only 10 and 11 points restrictively.

Some solace for supporters in otherwise underwhelming campaigns.

*Table data from Football365

Aaron Ramsdale has held talks about a move to West Ham from Southampton, who are hoping to get £20m for the goalkeeper following relegation from the Premier League. (Talksport), external

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