Guardian writers’ predicted position: 20th (NB: this is not necessarily Will Unwin’s prediction but the average of our writers’ tips)
Last season: 4th, Championship
Prospects
Alphabetical order means Southampton start the season in 17th and it would be an achievement if they end the campaign in the same position come May. It is a youthful squad at Russell Martin’s disposal but he made a clear plan to bring in elder statesmen over the summer who know what the Premier League is about.
Adam Lallana returned a decade after leaving for Liverpool to bring his knowhow even though everyone knows he will not always be on the pitch. Lallana was a player-coach at Brighton under Roberto De Zerbi, someone Martin admires greatly, so will understand what is demanded by the Scot and will bring new ideas that could outfox opponents.
The club have been active in the transfer market, strengthening in pretty much every area to give them the best chance of coping with the step up. Ben Brereton Díaz is back in England after time with Villarreal but he was able to show his worth in the Premier League in a loan spell with Sheffield United where he scored six times in 14 games despite their dismal relegation.
Young defenders Ronnie Edwards and Nathan Wood have been acquired for their potential and will get their first taste of Premier League football. Martin managed Wood at Swansea and was eager to reunite with the centre-back but knows how difficult a learning curve it will be for the England Under-21 international.
The loss of Che Adams and Stuart Armstrong leaves them needing to find goals. Brereton Díaz could be critical alongside last season’s top-scorer, Adam Armstrong. The Saints love to play attacking football and it worked perfectly for them in the second tier but they may need to be more restrained in the Premier League. Martin has not managed at this level and pragmatism could be key in the fight for survival but he is unlikely to move too far from his ideals.
The manager
Russell Martin prepared for his first season as a Premier League manager by collecting an honorary degree from Brighton University in recognition of the work he has done to improve lives in his home city. He arrived at St Mary’s a year ago and immediately met his target of taking the club back up by defeating Leeds at Wembley in the playoff final. The former Scotland international built the foundations for his growing reputation at MK Dons before moving on to Swansea, where he worked with modest means but had an incredible impact. A lot of players left Southampton last summer and Martin had to perform a quick rebuild, focused on youth, to bring a dynamic style to the Saints. It took time for the team to gel but a 22-game unbeaten run between September and February proved their merits.
Off-field picture
Southampton’s technical director, Jason Wilcox, departed in April for Manchester United to throw a spanner in the works but everything seems to be working smoothly without a direct replacement. A new contract for Martin has kept the good feelings flowing with the only blot being an £87m pre-tax loss in the year to June 2023, but their return to the Premier League will bolster finances.
Breakout star
After back-to-back promotions to the Premier League with Burnley and Southampton Taylor Harwood-Bellis finally gets his chance in the top flight after completing a permanent move from Manchester City. He has gained plenty of experience in his 22 years and is seen by his teammates as mature beyond his age and a fine reader of the game. Being brought up at the Etihad was a fine grounding for the centre-back who is very comfortable in possession and keen to pass forward. Southampton have made a habit of signing City academy products, with Harwood-Bellis well acquainted with Gavin Bazunu, Sam Edozie, Shea Charles and Juan Larios. It is a youthful squad with some older heads meaning Harwood-Bellis, who is young but with plenty of games under his belt, could be crucial.
The A-lister
Flynn Downes is another who shone on loan and is back for more. The central midfielder is critical to Southampton’s style, driving things forward from the centre of the park. Burnley lost a number of key loanees making their transition from Championship to the Premier League far more difficult but Southampton put a lot of effort into keeping hold of those who helped bring them up, knowing that continuity is incredibly important. His previous top-flight experience came in a season at West Ham but he never got a run in the side after his move from Swansea in 2022. He made 20 league appearances and won a Europa League Conference medal but never became a regular in the top flight, leaving him with a point prove on his return: he has the capabilities to do so and more.
What they did this summer
Stoke’s finest export and keen angler, Ben Brereton Díaz, prepared for his move from Villarreal in underwhelming style by representing Chile at the Copa América, where the team managed to score a whopping zero goals in three matches. On the upside, Brereton Díaz did get engaged to his partner, Kimberley Abbott, while on holiday in Dubai after writing ‘MARRY ME’ in roses on the bed. Love was clearly in the air at St Mary’s as Will Smallbone decided promotion to the Premier League was not enough for him to contend with. He proposed to his girlfriend, Sofia Lapore, who has a first-class degree in political science and international relations, while on holiday in Los Angeles. Now to plan the stags.
