News summary
Southampton have their women's schedule for the new campaign. The club confirmed an opening trip to Durham in the Barclays Women's Super League 2, one of the longer runs on day one.
Simon Parker's side host Ipswich at the Silverlake Stadium on the 13th September for their first home game. They finish at home to relegated Leicester next May.
The men are back out tomorrow. Saints close their German trip against SC Preußen Münster on the 1st August. The club has set out how to watch on Saints Play for five pounds.
Münster dropped into the 3. Liga last season, so this is a winnable send-off before the league starts. Eckert will want a sharp finish after Wednesday's 2-1 loss at Paderborn ended the pre-season winning run.
There is still no word from the FA. Eckert answered three Spygate charges earlier in the week, and Southampton continue to back their head coach while the sanction is worked out.
Transfer news
The Shea Charles tug of war rumbles on. Leeds are ready to walk away unless Southampton soften their £30m demand, with Football Insider reporting the Whites prepared to pull out.
Crystal Palace are the fresh danger. Reporting has the Eagles well placed to hijack the move, and Charles has made clear he fancies a Premier League shot.
The midfielder rated 7.16 in the Championship last season on his FotMob profile. Leeds have already had bids of around £20m and £23m knocked back. Fulham's earlier approach fell short too.
Italy still holds the striker answer. Southampton stay in talks with Como for Iván Azón, a forward Saints Marching framed as not the name fans wanted.
Azón is valued near £4.3m on Transfermarkt, though the fee under discussion sits closer to £8.5m. He scored five times on loan at Ipswich last term, per his FotMob page.
Saints Marching opinion
The Charles question remains the story of the day. After weeks of Southampton holding at £30m, Leeds are threatening to walk, and Palace are circling, so a sale could tip either way before the weekend.
Losing him in a promotion year would hurt. Saints Marching has argued Leeds are trying to call a bluff that the club has every reason to hold.
There is a plan behind the anchor role. Cam Bragg forced his way into the rotation last season, and Flynn Downes stays to anchor the middle, so an academy man would not be thrown in cold. There's also Caspar Jander to include in the mix.
Palace change the sums. A side in the Europa League can meet the asking price without haggling, so if anyone lands on £30m the decision becomes simple.
A fee near £30m would also fund the striker the squad still lacks. Get that reinvestment right and a Charles sale need not weaken the promotion push at all.
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