To maintain their chances of automatic promotion, Southampton will play a crucial match against Ipswich Town on Tuesday night.

With their most recent loss against Hull City at home on January 17, Tonda Eckert’s team had won all 17 of their league games.

Since then, the Saints have moved up the Championship standings and are now only four points behind Kieran McKenna’s team in second place.

With one game remaining, a win would put the Hampshire squad one point behind; any other outcome would keep them in the play-offs.

The team will keep an eye on the impending summer transfer market despite the fierce competition for promotion.

If their league status isn’t established until the play-off final on May 23, Southampton will be making plans for both outcomes of their promotion campaign in order to stay ahead of their rivals.

Caspar Jander gives Southampton a boost

Caspar Jander is still a transfer option for Stuttgart this summer, according to the German publication Bild.

But before the Bundesliga team can afford the midfield player’s €25 (£21.6) million price tag, they must trade a crucial player.

After moving from Nurnberg to St. Mary’s last summer, the 23-year-old has established himself as a vital member of Eckert’s team.

Southampton is now solidly in the running for promotion thanks to the German’s two goals and one assist from 34 Championship games.

His future is up in the air, though, as Stuttgart is eager to have him return to Germany after just a year.

It is thought that the money needed to bring Jander to the club may come from the sale of Angelo Stiller.

The 25-year-old has been a standout player for Stuttgart and is drawing interest from big European teams like Manchester United and Juventus.

With Premier League football possibly imminent, Southampton’s own promotion struggle may help them retain Jander.

The Saints face a match against Middlesbrough and Millwall, who are in fourth and third place in the Championship standings, but they are now in fifth place.

Before this evening’s match at St. Mary’s, where a victory would put Eckert’s team ahead of Boro and the Lions, the margin to Ipswich is four points.

With the game scheduled to start at 7.45 p.m., it would also maintain their chances of finishing in the top two, putting them one point behind.

Caspar Jander’s future will depend on his promotion to the Premier League.
Regardless of what Stuttgart does to raise money, it will be considerably simpler to keep Jander if Southampton can be promoted to the Premier League.

Given the midfielder’s own outstanding play, Eckert’s team has a good chance of winning a spot in the first division given their present form.

But losing against Ipswich will send them to the play-offs, which are erratic and frequently deviate from the form book.

Jander’s departure from the Saints might begin with Stiller’s sale if Southampton fails to escape the Championship, which would be a devastating blow to the Hampshire team.