Southampton’s preparations for the 2026/27 Championship season have been rather unprecedented, and Tonda Eckert’s first full term in charge at St Mary’s remains to be seen.

Saints are now only weeks away from their second consecutive season in the division following their relegation from the Premier League at the end of the 2024/25 season, and their start to the season, in particular, is sure to be intriguing.

Indeed, Eckert was appointed interim head coach on the South Coast in November, following Will Still’s previous run of only two wins in 13 competitive matches, before becoming permanent head coach one month later, with his contract running until the end of the new season.

The 33-year-old had earned lots of praise for the manner he initially transformed Southampton as they soared up the Championship table from January onwards, with only one defeat from then until the conclusion of the season coming in the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City.

However, their overall season came to an end with the well-documented Spygate controversy, which resulted in the team being booted from the play-offs and punished four points for the 2026/27 season.

The FA is currently conducting its own enquiry into the situation, and a few days ago, the governing body was apparently in talks with Eckert, who had previously gotten support from Saints owner Dragan Solak.

However, the Saints squad has returned for pre-season training, and official film from the club shows a previously sacked duo.

Aaron Ramsdale and Ben Brereton-Diaz appear in Southampton FC’s pre-season training footage.

Naturally, considering the quality of the group that remains at St Mary’s despite the ongoing instability surrounding the club, there has been a lot of transfer speculation about important players.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Leo Scienza, and Shea Charles have been in the spotlight more than most on that front, with the latter being connected with a return to the Premier League via a move to Leeds United.

However, in the 20-second video released on Saints’ official X account, a slew of first-team players were seen meeting club workers, including Aaron Ramsdale and Ben Brereton-Diaz.

https://x.com/SouthamptonFC/status/2074154794382442586?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2074154794382442586%7Ctwgr%5E74d6091f7182196351b719824407091f26e32daa%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ffootballleagueworld.co.uk%2Fsouthampton-fc-footage-previously-axed-pair-return%2F

Neither player was involved in the Saints’ disputed play-off run last season, as they were on loan at Newcastle United and Derby County, respectively.

When Southampton returned to the Premier League under Russell Martin two summers ago, the partnership cost around £32 million, but they have only made 47 appearances for the club in all competitions to far.

Ramsdale could have stayed with Eddie Howe’s side beyond the end of last season thanks to an option-to-buy clause, but the Magpies did not exercise it after an underwhelming top-flight campaign, whereas Brereton-Diaz returns after scoring eight goals in 41 appearances for the Rams in all competitions as John Eustace’s side finished eighth in the Championship, narrowly missing out on the play-offs.

Southampton have important decisions to make on Aaron Ramsdale and Ben Brereton-Diaz.

What the future holds for Ramsdale and Brereton-Diaz is sure to be a major topic of discussion, especially given their respective ages of 28 and 27.

Even after the permanent signing of Daniel Peretz from Bayern Munich, the Saints appear to be planning a goalkeeper reshuffle, with Gavin Bazunu on loan with Stoke City in the second half of last season due to an injury, and George Long signing on a permanent basis from Norwich City.

It would therefore come as no surprise to see Ramsdale sold permanently amid ties to Premier League and European clubs, even if Saints face a difficulty in recouping the £25 million paid to Arsenal.

The Chilean forward’s future with his current employers may be determined by action in the attacking departments, with Ross Stewart recently released and the aforementioned Scienza and Cameron Archer connected with moves away.