Bargate take St Mary's stand rights as Saints rebuff Benfica and plan busy week | OneFootball

According to Sainstmarching.com, Bargate Homes have become the first official stand partner at St Mary's, with the Chapel end now carrying the builder's name alongside its own.

Chief revenue officer Greg Baker linked the deal to the ground's 25th birthday and to three seasons of Bargate funding for community work. Bargate remain the club's official new homes partner, with branding across the stand and the Chapel Fan Zone.

Early reaction was broadly neutral, largely because the original stand name remains in the title.

Over eight days Saints have three home matches, Stoke on Saturday then West Ham in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night. For a side on minus four points, it is as kind a run as the schedule offers.

Benfica have agreed around €20m with Parma for Australian centre-back Alessandro Circati, close to what they offered Southampton for Taylor Harwood-Bellis, a bid the club rejected without hesitation over the weekend. Southampton have not moved off €35m, roughly £30m, and anything near £17m would represent a loss on a £20m signing, so their position has not shifted.

Celtic and Dinamo Zagreb want Gavin Bazunu.

Nicholas Oyekunle played 68 minutes in Tuesday's EFL Trophy tie with Wimbledon. At 19, his first Orient goal can wait.

Source: Sainstmarching.com

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