4 deals Southampton are looking to complete against Spygate backdrop | OneFootball

Southampton are plotting four fresh player deals despite the continuing fallout from Spygate

Southampton have continued to face fallout from their Spygate incident that saw them kicked out of the Championship play-offs and handed a four-point deduction ahead of next season.

The Saints were caught spying on a Middlesbrough training session ahead of their play-off semi-final first leg, and also admitted to committing the same offence against Oxford United and Ipswich Town during the regular season.

EFL rules prohibit filming or observing opposition training up to 72 hours before a game.

Southampton's expulsion from the play-offs saw them miss out on an opportunity to earn £200million by winning the Wembley Stadium final.

Boro were reinstated into the play-offs but lost 1-0 to Hull City at the national stadium, thanks to Oli McBurnie's late goal, which saw the Tigers clinch promotion to the Premier League.

Ross Stewart among four players Southampton want to keep amid Spygate backdrop

Striker Ross Stewart notched eight goals and two assists in 25 Championship appearances in 2025/26, and is among the players who Southampton are holding contract discussions with, as his current deal expires this summer.

The Saints are still responding to the Spygate saga, too, with owner Dragan Solak breaking his silence in an interview with BBC Sport in which he revealed he will not sack boss Tonda Eckert despite his involvement.

Eckert also addressed the matter on Tuesday, apologising to supporters.

BBC Sport revealed on Monday that the Southampton boss put junior staff members 'under extreme pressure' to carry out the spying missions.

However, Solak has stood by the German, who led the St Mary's Stadium club to a hugely impressive run of form during the second half of the campaign.

As well as qualifying for the Championship play-offs, the Saints also reached the FA Cup semi-finals, where they were beaten by eventual competition winners Manchester City.

The conversation surrounding Southampton in recent weeks has deservedly centred around their Spygate saga, though.

Meanwhile, the Southern Daily Echo have now revealed that Eckert's side are trying to retain James Bree and Stewart, whose contracts expire this summer.

The Saints are also going to pursue further deals for Cyle Larin and Daniel Peretz, who served the South Coast club well while on loan in the 2025/26 season.

Larin scored eight goals and one assist in 16 Championship appearances, having replaced fellow striker Adam Armstrong, who was sold to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Meanwhile, Daniel Peretz proved himself as a capable goalkeeper in the second tier, maintaining seven clean sheets in 20 league outings.

Southampton could struggle to retain key assets following Spygate

Even though the Saints have been deducted four points ahead of next season, their goal will be to clinch promotion to the Premier League, either automatically or via the play-offs.

However, tying down the likes of Peretz, Larin, Stewart, and Bree to new deals may be a difficult task for Southampton, amid the continued uncertainty following the spying saga.

As per The Guardian, Eckert could still face an FA ban following his club's spying charges, which is non-ideal, to say the least, for his squad.

According to German outlet Bild, Caspar Jander wants to leave Southampton after they missed out on promotion to the Premier League, and further exits could follow.