Southampton are in the EFL Championship after suffering relegation from the Premier League. Naturally, the Saints will be one of the favourites for promotion,
but can they bounce back to the Premier League at the first time of asking?
Who Will Join the Saints in the Championship?
Southampton’s fate was sealed weeks ago, but the final two relegation spots will be decided on the final day of the 2022-23 Premier League season. Looking at the
latest
Premier League relegation odds, Leeds United are priced at 1/33, while Leicester City are available at 1/7.
Also, for those looking for
football betting tips, Everton face Bournemouth on the last day so they are expected to stay up.
Southampton struggled all season and looked destined for relegation early on. Their fate was confirmed after a disappointing 2-0 home loss to Fulham in mid-May.
The defeat to the Cottagers was their fifth consecutive Premier League reverse. In fact, after beating Leicester 1-0 at St Mary’s in early March, Southampton went on to draw three and lose seven before the Fulham reverse.
Southampton Ready to Rebuild
The 2022-23 campaign was a turbulent one for the Saints. Ralph Hasenhuttl lasted until November, while Nathan Jones spent just three months in charge. Ruben Selles took over in February but failed to change Southampton’s fortunes.
A lot of chopping and changing will be done at St Mary’s over the summer months after
the relegation setback. First things first,
they must bring in a new manager. Several names have been linked with the job, including Swansea City boss Russell Martin.
Plenty of players will leave before the start of the 2023-24 Championship campaign. James Ward-Prowse has been an excellent servant to the football club over the years,
but the 28-year-old is likely to leave for a Premier League side.
West Ham United are said to be keen on the midfielder.
Mohamed Elyounoussi and Willy Caballero are at the end of their contracts and will leave at the end of this season. 34-year-old Theo Walcott is also set to move on.
Teams relegated from the Premier League are all desperate to bounce back and secure an instant return to the top flight.
Southampton won promotion way back in 2012 and the 2022-23 was their 11th consecutive season in the top tier.
Southampton are now looking to
build a squad capable of getting back to the Premier League. A new manager will come in and have his own philosophies, and the
Saints will no doubt be one of the title favourites before a ball is kicked.
However, there are a whole host of big clubs in the Championship with the same ambition. The likes of Middlesbrough, West Bromwich Albion, Watford and Norwich City
will be hoping to be there or thereabouts in the title race. The other two teams relegated from the Premier League will also be in the mix.
England’s second tier is regarded as one of the toughest and most open divisions in the world. Southampton have their work cut out, but the club are capable of challenging at the right end of the table next term.
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Southampton season