The full list of teams that will be taking part in the Championship next season has now been confirmed, with the second tier playoff final concluding, and the final day of the Premier League season ending.
In an alternate reality, Southampton could well have been featuring in the Premier League next season, but they will have to make do with a points deduction to kick off the brand-new Championship campaign, instead.
West Ham United will be just one of many opponents the Saints will have to face, as they traverse their new reality post-Spygate.
Over recent years, several Southampton players have ditched St. Mary's for the Hammers, when times have got tough, with a worry that another star on the South Coast could find the prospect of the London Stadium tantalising, even as West Ham suture their wounds from relegation.
Players Southampton have lost to West Ham
Before delving deeper into the players Southampton have had to sacrifice to the Hammers, owing to relegation difficulties, it should be noted that the Saints did strike gold when taking Flynn Downes off the books of the East Londoners in 2023.
Having Downes in the heart of the midfield operation this season did make the loss of Mateus Fernandes to West Ham easier to stomach last summer, with the Irons able to tempt the Portuguese midfield machine to the London Stadium, after Southampton finished rock bottom of the Premier League pile.
With another relegation now on his CV, Fernandes must think he's cursed in some capacity, but it's very unlikely he will play against his former employers next season in the second tier, as the likes of Manchester United are allegedly circling for the ex-Sporting ace.
Kyle Walker-Peters could stay put, though, to face his former side, with the attack-minded defender a previous promotion winner with the Saints, before jumping ship to the Hammers last summer on a free transfer.
West Ham will be hoping they can get another bargain out of the South Coast club this summer, as Spygate continues to rumble on, with relegation not deterring them in their pursuit of this Southampton star, who once lined up alongside Walker-Peters in a resolute back four at St. Mary's.
This trend could continue this summer...
Taylor Harwood-Bellis' end to the season for Southampton has been marred by controversy.
Indeed, he had a spat with Luke Ayling on the pitch during the Saints' second leg win over Middlesbrough, and he looked rather foolish when celebrating Shea Charles' winner, when goading the Boro players with an imaginary pair of binoculars.
Still, West Ham would have seen enough over the full season to want to snap up the commanding centre-back, as they rebuild after relegation, with the Hammers holding a long-term interest in the one-time Manchester City youth product.
Chipping in with seven league goals when putting his lofty 6-foot-2 frame to good use, the 24-year-old would also collect 12 clean sheets and register an 86% pass accuracy average per match as a well-rounded defender.
It's no shock, therefore, that the Stockport-born colossus has a long queue of suitors interested in his services, with Premier League interest also present from David Moyes' Everton.
West Ham shouldn't be discredited in this race, however, with the Hammers winning themselves a standout signing if they were to snap up the number six.
He would cost around the £20m range, but it would show that West Ham mean business, with Southampton not in a position to be precious as to who they sell their best assets to, in their dire current situation.
Harwood-Bellis could add another promotion to his resume with the East London giants, too, after having one so cruelly denied this season.
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