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Nick Mashiter
Football reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesAlex Oxlade-Chamberlain is returning to England after two years in Turkey
Birmingham remain interested in former England international Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain after his departure from Besiktas.
The 32-year-old is available on a free transfer after leaving the Black Eagles following two years in Turkey.
Oxlade-Chamberlain is also understood to have Premier League interest while a sentimental return to Southampton - where he started his career - cannot be ruled out but strong interest remains from St Andrew's.
Ambitious Blues, promoted after winning League One with an EFL record of 111 points last season, are determined to challenge for promotion to the Premier League this term and are considering bringing Oxlade-Chamberlain in.
The ex-Arsenal and Liverpool midfielder, who won the Champions League in 2019 and Premier League with the Reds in 2020, is eager to return to England to be with his young family.
Wages are not expected to be an issue with Oxlade-Chamberlain believed to be realistic and aware not to price himself out of any move, while Besiktas said they had agreed to pay him compensation of 1.75m euros (£1.5m) under the terms of his termination.
The midfielder, capped 35 times by England, made 50 appearances for Besiktas after leaving Anfield in 2023, scoring five goals, and won the Turkish Cup in 2024.
He enjoyed a good relationship with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - who was sacked by the club on Thursday - with the former Manchester United boss previously praising his professionalism and experience.
He made 18 appearances, scoring once, in the second half of last season as Besiktas finished fourth to qualify for the Europa League.
But they were knocked out of the competition by Shakhtar and failed to reach the league stage of the Europa Conference League after losing in the play-offs to Lausanne on Thursday, which cost Solskjaer his job.
Southampton are working on a deal with German side Heidenheim for 26-year-old Brazilian midfielder Leo Scienza. (Fabrizio Romano, external)
Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Friday's gossip column here.
Watford and Southampton have both picked up four points from their opening three Championship matches ahead of their meeting at Vicarage Road on Saturday (15:00 BST).
Paulo Pezzolano's Hornets come into this one unbeaten in their past two Championship games, drawing 1-1 with Swansea City last weekend.
Saints saw their unbeaten start ended by a 2-1 home defeat to Stoke last Saturday, though Will Still's side picked up an impressive 3-0 win away to Norwich City in the EFL Cup on Tuesday.
Watford have won just two of their past 17 league games against Southampton (D7 L8), keeping just two clean sheets across that time.
Southampton are unbeaten across their past nine away league games against Watford (W4 D5), this after a return of just one win across their prior 16 such clashes with the Hornets (D6 L9).
Watford have won just two of their past 12 league games (D3 L7), though both of those victories have come at Vicarage Road, including their last fixture on home soil against QPR.
Southampton have won just two of their past 25 away league games (D5 L18), failing to score in two of their last three on the road.
Southampton have averaged the largest share of possession so far in the 2025-26 Championship (64.0%), however the Saints have faced more shots via fast breaks than any other team so far this season (6), half of which came against Stoke last time out.
Image source, Getty ImagesSouthampton defender Welington is set to miss 'months' of the season due to an ankle injury.
Saints boss Will Still is braced to be without the full-back for a significant period after he was withdrawn in the first half of their 2-1 Championship defeat to Stoke City.
"Wely's not great, he'll be out for a couple of months," Still said. "His ankle's not great.
"If there's an opportunity to [sign cover] I'm sure we will, but that goes for every position.
"Our squad is big enough and good enough to sort things out."
Welington joined Saints from Sao Paulo in January and has made 14 first-team appearances.
He has started all three of Southampton's league matches this season against Wrexham, Ipswich Town and the Potters.
Southampton have agreed a deal to sign Nurnberg's German midfielder Caspar Jander, 22. (Sky Sports), external
Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Thursday's gossip column here.
Southampton and Republic of Ireland midfielder Will Smallbone, 25, is the subject of a £7.5m bid from Wrexham. (Alan Nixon - via subscription, external)
Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Monday's gossip column here.
Image source, Rex FeaturesWelington was forced off in the first half against Stoke City
Will Still has confirmed defender Welington suffered a badly twisted ankle in Southampton's 2-1 home defeat against Stoke City.
Left wing-back Welington picked up the injury in the first half and after lengthy treatment was taken down the tunnel on a stretcher and replaced by Ryan Manning.
"Yes, it's not great," Southampton manager Will Still said when asked for a post-match update on the player.
"He's twisted it badly, it's his ankle and he's already had issues with that so it doesn't look hyper positive."
Welington's injury was an additional setback for Still on top of the result, his first defeat as Southampton manager.
"It's a frustrating one," he said. "We've gifted them two goals again.
"We need to stop playing that sort of short pass inside, because it's the ideal moment for the opposition to press and we've done it three times.
"We didn't get punished in the first half for doing it. Probably [they are habits the players have got into] but we just need to unlearn that.
"They [Stoke] have been incredibly efficient and we've probably lacked a bit of that cutting edge and efficiency in front of goal in both boxes probably."
Saints are away to Watford next Saturday.
