Southampton

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Ray Hunt
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

With relegation comes the inevitable player raid.

The Premier League quality players in our squad are all expected to be playing top-tier football once again. We cannot and should not stand in the way.

Kyle Walker-Peters has seen out his contract and confirmed his departure. Aaron Ramsdale, Mateus Fernandes and Tyler Dibling will also garner heaps of interest - the latter reportedly for a big fee.

It is time for a full rebuild.

The new era under incoming manager Will Still may be a painful transition. It will get worse before it gets better.

There is lots of news on players moving on, but it has been quiet on the news regarding incomings.

With young German centre-half Joshua Quarshie already a done deal, I would like to see more business done early. We need to have the squad depth capable of dealing with Championship life.

After the season we have just endured, the fans deserve one of competitiveness. To be a match for every fixture and not outclassed.

I would hope to be in the play-off picture and give time for the new era and signings to settle. A glut of loanees are also returning, hoping to make their way into contention.

Can we keep Ross Stewart fit? Can Adam Armstrong return and find 20-plus goals again? Can we learn from our previous mistakes of poor recruitment?

Would it be the worst thing to stay in the Championship for a while?

Find more from Ray Hunt at the In that Number podcast, external

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton have signed defender Joshua Quarshie from Hoffenheim for a fee understood to be £3.5m.

The 20-year-old has signed a four-year deal and becomes the Saints' first signing of the summer under new manager Will Still.

Quarshie made his Bundesliga debut at 18 and gained the majority of his experience with Hoffenheim's second team, as well as on loan with Fortuna Dusseldorf and Greuther Furth, making 28 appearances in the German second tier.

Southampton's group technical director Johannes said the Germany Under-20 international is a "talented young player" and "natural fit" for Still's style, while Quarshie himself said the Saints felt like the "right club" for him.

German football expert Constantin Eckner told BBC Radio Solent: "Quarshie was one of the more promising talents in the Bundesliga 2. It was expected that he would move on somewhere and the link to Southampton probably comes through the new sporting directer Johannes Spors, who is German, and may have an eye on youth national team players.

"His height and athletic promises are there. He's still very young so he's still a work in progress, but he's technically pretty proficient.

"He's not just the type of player to play one steller pass after another, but he's pretty precise when it comes to build-up passes too.

"Now Southampton are playing in the Championship again, they will have a lot of matches where they will have a lot of possession, so they have to deal with how to set up their build-up plays, so he could also play a part there.

"Fans should expect someone who's still in development and who will still have to become a professional player at that level.

"With the schedule of the Championship you play so many games over a season. It's important to have a number of centre-backs with different skillsets. With Quarshie you have someone who is tall, athletic, two-footed and has a lot of upsides."

Listen to the full discussion on BBC Sounds 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...

A Premier League season can sometimes be a tale of two halves.

Some come flying out of the blocks, while others are more sluggish starters.

The busy Christmas period can be a turning point with the arrival of the January transfer window feeling like a fresh start.

So what might have happened if the league season only start on 1 January?

Well, Pep Guardiola's title-winning machines would have picked up their fifth Premier League trophy in a row.

Playing one game fewer than actual champions Liverpool - who secured the title with four games remaining - they would have finished one point clear of the Reds, not withstanding Arne Slot's side slowdown in form after sealing the title.

City always seem to come good after January, but this time it was not enough to outweigh the torrid time they had from late autumn.

The rest of the top six is not too dissimilar to the final placings, although in this case, Aston Villa would have secured Champions League football and Brighton a Europa League spot in the absence of Chelsea - whose form nose-dived at the very beginning of the year.

And while the new year is a new start for some, it is less so for others.

That was the case for many of those down the bottom of the league.

The relegated trio would still have been relegated and Manchester United and Tottenham would still have ended up in the bottom six. West Ham find themselves one place lower after Wolves picked up form under Vitor Pereira.

So what does this tell us? If you wan to achieve your Premier League ambitions, it is about making sure you are there for nine months and not just from January.

*Table data from Football365

We asked you to select your Southampton player of the season from the four candidates chosen by our fan contributor.

And with the poll now closed, we can reveal the winner is... Mateus Fernandes!

Here's what Ray Hunt at the In that Number podcast, external said about him:

There are many misses in the market in recent years, but Fernandes isn't one of them.

The 20 year-old has become an instant fan favourite with the locals for his eye-catching performances in the middle of the park.

Unfortunately, following relegation consequences, he will be one of the casualties - apparently attracting interest from Juventus.

See the final poll breakdown

Image source, Getty Images

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Bournemouth and Tottenham were the most physical teams in the Premier League this season when considering the distance they covered and the number of sprints performed.

The results might explain why they had a lot of injuries.

Newcastle and Brighton were not too far behind though, with Brighton actually covering the most ground in the league, with fewer sprints.

Chelsea and Liverpool's style of play saw them sprint a lot but not cover a lot of ground, while Manchester City and Arsenal were the opposite (ran a lot but didn't sprint a lot).

Nottingham Forest very much had their own style of play this season as they both ran and sprinted the least.

Manchester United are the leading contenders to sign 16-year-old Southampton defender Harley Emsden-James but face competition from Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal. (Mail, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Ray Hunt
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Season Rating: 1/10 - and that feels generous. It is really difficult to score anything higher. Considering we were on course to become the worst team in Premier League history, the standards were very low. We eventually surpassed that low record on 10th May with three games left. We knew it would be difficult, but even the most pessimistic of fans had never envisioned just how bad it could get.

Happy with your manager? Another difficult one to judge, because we have gone through three. All had their share of issues with team selection and/or style of play. We look forward to the tutelage of Will Still next season.

Unsung hero: Hero is a strong word for anyone at this club right now. The only two players that come near that title are Aaron Ramsdale and Mateus Fernandes. Those two are gaining all the plaudits from the fanbase. The unsung hero needs to go to the fans. The support has been incredible throughout the season still, and we continued to sell out the away allocation. It is not easy going to St Mary's with the conclusion pretty much set in stone. Still, we stay loyal.

Players you would most like to sign: The consequence of relegation means the inevitable loss of star players. The whole defence is about to be raided. Kyle Walker-Peters has confirmed his exit upon the end of his contract. Jan Bednarek, Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Yuki Sugawara are most likely following him. You can add superstar keeper Aaron Ramsdale to that mix also. It is very obvious we need to rebuild and bulk the entire backline and goalkeeping core. With a youthful defence left over, it is imperative we replace with experience. Michael Keane and Ben Mee are free agents this summer. Someone of that ilk will suit me.

Right now, my overriding emotion from the season is: For a long time now we have been wanting the suffering to end. Sadly, the overriding emotion right now is relief. There is also a huge sense of belief heading into the new season. This new era is long overdue.

Do you agree with Ray's answers? Pick one or two categories and send your views

Find more from Ray Hunt at the In that Number podcast, external

Image source, Getty Images

Here's my quick assessment of Southampton's Premier League season - and a return to my August predictions.

Ended the season: 20th

Pre-season prediction: 18th

A desperate, miserable season for Saints. They were doomed early on as Russell Martin's passing strategy proved unsuitable against higher-calibre pressing opponents, while Ivan Juric's appointment as his replacement was inexplicable.

Southampton's only achievement was getting enough points to ensure they were not the Premier League's worst-ever team. A loyal support deserves better. Perhaps the Championship can provide the chance of a reset under new manager Will Still.

What I said in August: "It may be a high-risk strategy in the Premier League, as Burnley discovered last season, but Russell Martin does not appear for turning."

Read my assessments of the other 19 teams here

Marc Webber
Final Score reporter at St Mary's Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

The first day in a new job is pretty similar wherever you go.

Compulsory e-learning on data protection, find the toilets... reinvigorate a football team ravaged by the intensity of Premier League football.

OK, new Southampton manager Will Still's inbox is perhaps a little more intense than others. But the fans I spoke to after his appointment seem confident.

"I like that we've appointed someone innovative. He seems to be quite tactically astute," said one fan in the Itchen Stand pre-game.

"One of the best things this club has done lately is to get him in before the start of the season."

He has been given the gift of time. But will he keep it?

"I hope our fans give him time. There's lots to do," said one supporter who felt the 'Russell Martin Out' campaign started too early.

"I would be happy to consolidate in the Championship for a season, then make a bigger push next season," said another.

That is probably at the more extreme end of a supportive fanbase. But, Still does seem to have time on his side to prove himself on the south coast.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on their Premier League season campaign.

Here are some of your comments:

Daz: They are a joke - a laughing stock! They have brought shame to the name Southampton! Absolutely the worst team in the history of the Saints! Glad the season is finally over. A complete new team is needed.

Mike: A troubled club overseen by an apparently disengaged and disinterested owner. Nothing short of a root-and-branch overhaul of the squad will turn around our fortunes and rid us of the losing mentality. I wish Will Still luck, but I have to say I will not be renewing my season ticket because I can't stand the prospect of watching this lot again at a huge expense.

Alan: So glad the season is over. Most depressing. And to lose so many goals very late in both the first and second halves suggests a psychologist should be added to the backroom staff.

Rob: Giving successive managers the same players and expecting Premier League quality from a squad that cannot deliver that is a damning indictment of the current owners. We do not have the players to stop people scoring against us or to create & score goals at Premiership levels. It doesn't matter who you put in charge if the squad just isn't good enough.

Michael: Well, first team to lose 30 games? Appalling season and I've seen 60 of them, hopefully things will improve? I'm excited about the appointment of Will Still. Here's hoping my 61st season will be better.

Grandoite: Thank goodness it is over. Down to business: a) Identify the true Premier League quality players in the existing squad and put them in their positions; b) Decide the best back-ups ups for the starting XI and put them on the bench; c) Sell those that don't cut the mustard; d) Work out how much money they have and what they need. Buy if possible; e) Utilise the loan system to fill any gaps either within the starters or backups; f) Aim for 22 players. Add a few more from the academy when required.