Southampton’s goal season 2026/27 will be to achieve promotion back to the Premier League.

Tonda Eckert guided the Saints to the play-off final last season, but they were kicked out of the competition before facing Hull City at Wembley Stadium.

The Hampshire club was found guilty of violating the EFL’s regulations against spying on opposition training and will begin the season with a four-point deduction penalty.

This will put the club on the back foot, but their good finish to the previous season will give the team confidence that they can be competitive again over the coming year.

Southampton have secured the permanent acquisitions of Daniel Peretz and Cyle Larin this summer, following their initial loan spells.

The Championship club has also recruited George Long and Lewis Dobbin to its first-team roster, with further signings expected between now and the September 1 deadline.

Tonda Eckert makes a stunning Ross Stewart assertion.

Eckert has stated that he is still in contact with Southampton forward Ross Stewart, who left the club at the conclusion of the season when his contract expired.

The German coach suggests that the striker could return to St. Mary’s, citing the club’s need for reinforcements in that area.”I’m still in touch with Ross,” Eckert told the Daily Echo.It is possible [that he may return].

“We absolutely need a second striker. “I believe that is very clear.”We have Cyle, who is in better physical shape than when he came in in January, but the Championship is quite demanding.”There will undoubtedly be a second striker.

“Let’s see who it will be.”

Stewart, who joined Southampton from Sunderland in the summer transfer window of 2023, struggled with fitness concerns during most of his tenure there.

Over his first two seasons, the Scot appeared in only 15 league games for the club, scoring once.

However, his conditioning improved over the last 12 months, and he appeared 25 times in the Championship, helping the side finish fourth.

The 30-year-old scored eight goals and two assists before scoring in the play-off semi-finals against Middlesbrough.

However, since his contract with the Saints expired, he is now free to negotiate terms with any possible new club.

It remains to be seen whether a return to Southampton is possible, although he has yet to be associated with an option since it was announced that he will be released in June.

Southampton will return to league action on August 16 when they travel to Watford for the first game of the new season.

Ross Stewart’s return would be a reasonable decision for Southampton.

With Stewart’s absence, Southampton will undoubtedly want more depth up front, but simply bringing him back may be the best solution.

He shown last season that, as long as he stays fit, he can consistently deliver at this level, scoring eight goals in 25 Championship games.

Having a player of that calibre in the squad will be difficult to replace, and would almost definitely necessitate investing a transfer fee.

So finding a way to sign Stewart to a new contract could be a cost-effective method to add depth without investing too substantially in a position where the club would have higher priorities elsewhere.