News summary
The new season is almost here. First up is a trip to Watford on Sunday.
Southampton start on minus four points after the Spygate case. Eckert is still waiting on his FA sanction.
Tonight brings the Carabao Cup second-round draw. Saints are in it after Saturday's comfortable 2-0 win at Colchester.
The fitness news is improving. Finn Azaz keeps building back up at Staplewood after a short runout at Colchester, and Caspar Jander is getting closer to a return.
Transfer news
Southampton have agreed to sell Shea Charles to Fulham for up to £30m. The £26m fee rises by £4m with add-ons, and Saints have kept a sell-on clause.
Charles will sign a five-year deal at Craven Cottage once he passes a medical. He replaces Sasa Lukic, who left for Ipswich last week.
Fulham saw off Leeds, whose two bids were both knocked back. Manchester United and Crystal Palace had shown interest earlier in the window too.
Even so, his preference for Fulham had never wavered. Charles seems to have wanted West London all along.
With Ross Stewart gone on a free, Cyle Larin is the only recognised number nine.
Southampton are in talks for a striker. Como's Ivan Azon is a target, though not the name some supporters want.
QPR's Richard Kone offers a cheaper route. The Charles money gives Spors the funds to get a deal done.
Carabao Cup second-round draw
Saints will want a home tie. The early rounds stay regionalised, so they sit in the southern half with the round-one winners and some of the Premier League clubs now entering.
A lower-league home draw would be kind. An away trip to a Premier League side like Fulham, Brighton or West Ham would be the harder route.
The spicier option is a Spygate reunion. Oxford United and Ipswich Town both sit in the southern half, so either could face Saints again if they came through round one.
Middlesbrough are the third club Eckert's staff filmed. They sit in the northern half, so that reunion could not come before round three.
The ties are due in the week beginning the 25th August. A kind draw would let Eckert rest weary legs and blood a youngster or two as the league grind begins in earnest.
Saints Marching opinion
Southampton paid far less when they signed Charles from Manchester City. Selling him now for up to £30m is good business.
Losing a first-team midfielder still stings, but one reading of the sale argues Saints need not panic. Cam Bragg broke into the midfield brilliantly last season.
Spend the fee well and this looks smart. Waste it and the promotion push gets tougher.
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