Southampton news: Ward-Prowse talks, Schlotterbeck medical, Millwall test

News summary

Tuesday's 4-1 cup exit to West Ham was the first time Tonda Eckert has seen his team ship four since Middlesbrough beat them at the Riverside. Interestingly, Nathan Wood and Leo Scienza started both games.

Daniel Peretz produced one of his worst displays in the cup defeat on Tuesday. Millwall come next.

They have won both league games without conceding. Eckert wants St Mary's to be a "fortress" this season, so the mood needs lifting fast.

Josh Coburn and Tairyk Arconte have four goals between them for the visitors.

Southampton haven't beaten them at home since 2011, though Stoke were also thought of as a bogey side until last weekend.

Saints are 24th only because four points were docked before a ball was kicked. Cyle Larin has three goals already.

Transfer business must be concluded by 11pm on Tuesday, though Saints are at Birmingham that same evening. Any late arrival could be signed while the squad is on the road.

Transfer news

Crystal Palace agreed €30m euros plus add-ons with Club Brugge for Joel Ordonez, whom Aston Villa turned to once Southampton said no to Harwood-Bellis's offer. Villa are now asking West Ham about Jean-Clair Todibo.

Nothing has changed on Southampton's side since they rejected £18m from Villa. Harwood-Bellis has missed two squads but is still training at Staplewood, and "let's see how the next few days go; maybe we have something to announce" was as far as Eckert would go after the cup defeat.

James Ward-Prowse was left out of West Ham's squad for that tie, and Southampton are now looking into the conditions needed to bring him back. Sky Sports say Saints are hopeful of an agreement before the deadline.

West Ham rarely make a deal easy.

Keven Schlotterbeck is having his medical after Augsburg agreed to release their captain. Sky Germany put the fee at €4.5m euros including add-ons, a little above the £3m figure reported locally.

Josh Quarshie has not played a minute this season and will probably go out on loan once Schlotterbeck is signed. Where he ends up is still anybody's guess.

Saints Marching opinion

Southampton banked up to £30m for Shea Charles this month and have not signed a midfielder since. Ward-Prowse would be the ideal replacement in the short term.

Eckert needs a midfielder for Tuesday at Birmingham, not for 2029. Cam Bragg would also learn more from six months next to him than from another loan.

Villa going cold on T H-B changes the sums, though, because Southampton were counting on that fee to fund whatever comes next.

Eckert hinted at an announcement. Whether that turns out to be a sale or a signing, five days is not long to sort out every piece of business still outstanding.

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