Southampton: Saints U23s to join Celtic and Marseille at pre-season tournament
By Marc Walker
Southampton are to send their Under-23s side to participate in the South Shields tournament in July.
As announced by South Shields FC themselves, a youthful Southampton side will join Under-23s teams from Celtic and Marseille for the three day event. South Shields’ senior team make up the four team line-up.
The Saints are due to play two games at the tournament as they meet South Shields before moving onto a third placed play-off or final against one of the other sides dependent on whether they win or lose.
The Under-23s, coached by former Saints defender Radhi Jaidi, face a fair trip north for this. South Shields is close to Newcastle and would represent the equivalent of Southampton’s longest Premier League away trip.
This latest announcement comes after some high-profile pre-season plans for the club’s senior team. Mark Hughes’ men are to travel to China for friendlies against Schalke 04 and Jiangsu Suning before a tour of France closer to the start of the season.
Next: Cedric features as Portugal beat Algeria
We have some exciting news to share.
— South Shields FC (@SouthShieldsFC) June 8, 2018
Celtic, Olympique de Marseille and Southampton are coming to Mariners Park this summer to take part in the South Shields FC International Tournament.
Here are the full details on what is a huge coup for the club:https://t.co/GmVVdrrSOu
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This event is likely to give goo preparation but also a chance to impress for Saints’ young players. With Mark Hughes now installed as long-term manager, he may have more time to look closely at any future prospects that may add something to his squad ahead of 2018/19.
The club have struggled to involve academy products recently, and this has led to a number of them being linked with loan or permanent moves away. Each of Harrison Reed, Sam McQueen and Matt Targett could leave St Mary’s this summer.
Rumours of club owner Jisheng Gao investing in another European club to provide transfer links have also been strong. According to the Daily Echo, he is eyeing Switzerland or Austria for a partner club; much in the same style that Chelsea and Vitesse Arnhem work.
It only looks like regular first-team places for the Under-23s will get harder too this summer as Saints will be actively looking to add high-quality signings to their squad to avoid last season’s relegation scrap happening again.