News summary
Supporters have a date to circle. Southampton have put their allocation for the away trip to Lincoln City on sale, a first league meeting between the clubs in 65 years.
The Imps came up from League One in the summer. Saints head to Sincil Bank on the 5th September, early in a Championship campaign that starts four points down.
Before the league comes the cup. Southampton open away at Colchester United in the Carabao Cup on Saturday, with Eckert still waiting on the FA's Spygate ruling.
Assistant Ben Garner has kept the mood steady while that verdict hangs. He spoke this week about the club's German recruitment and Eckert's methods, in a wide-ranging interview that pointed to a settled camp.
Transfer news
The Shea Charles picture has swung towards London. Transfer reporter Florian Plettenberg says Fulham are in advanced talks with Southampton over a fee of about £26m, around €30m.
Leeds had led the chase for most of the summer. Fulham moving to the front is the clearest sign yet that a sale is close.
The midfielder rated 7.16 in the Championship last season, per his FotMob profile. Southampton still value him at the top of their range.
One alternative has drifted away. Jens Hjertø-Dahl, a Tromsø midfielder linked with Saints earlier in the window, looks set for Hull City for around £8.5m.
There is better news on Caspar Jander. New Germany boss Jürgen Klopp is keeping tabs on Jander, with Stuttgart among the Bundesliga admirers.
Southampton want to keep their man. His deal at St Mary's runs to 2028, and the club has no need to sell.
Up front, old faces could yet haunt Southampton. Ross Stewart left as a free agent in June, and Dom Ballard has thrived since his move to Leyton Orient.
Ballard was named League One Player of the Season at Orient. The striker has since issued a blunt warning the club would be unwise to ignore.
Another name doing the rounds is Swansea's Žan Vipotnik. The Slovenian caught the eye in the Championship, though a look at Saints' own options suggests Eckert may not need to spend there.
Saints Marching opinion
Fulham's move for Charles is the story of the day. Plettenberg's word of advanced talks over about £26m puts a sale closer than at any point this summer.
A what-if is brewing. With Hjertø-Dahl heading to Hull, the shelf of ready-made midfield alternatives is thinning just as Charles edges towards the exit, yet Southampton are right to make suitors sweat with the price near the top of their range.
A sale at the right price would be no disaster. Southampton could then back the group already in the building, where Damion Downs deserves a run after an excellent pre-season.
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