Southampton eye striker signing as Eckert reflects on Spygate | OneFootball

Southampton bosses have admitted they are targeting a striker signing and reflected on the controversial Spygate at their annual fans’ forum.

After being removed from the Championship play-off final last season, the Saints have their sights set on achieving promotion this campaign. Southampton have managed to keep hold of most of their key players, whilst adding four new recruits.

Nevertheless, more deals are in the works and sporting director Johannes Spors admitted that they are prioritising a striker signing.

Spors said: “You want me to announce something? What I can announce, basically, is that we’re really looking to this position. This is for sure.

“We will do something on the striker position.”

He continued: “I don’t think we have a specific position where we are having a big lack. We know the squad is a little big.

“The striker position is really obvious and then I think it’s to react on the market.

“So if we do sell a player, we need a new replacement. But also, we are always in the market for opportunities. Sometimes something comes on the table that you did not see coming a week earlier.

“So it’s more that you’re on the market and then to really react when replacing players.”

Manager Tonda Eckert added: “I think it’s a priority for us to bring a striker in. Just because you never know what happens throughout the season.”

Southampton will start the Championship on -4 points, following the spying scandal that saw them ejected from the play-off final last season. Eckert admitted he was grateful not to be sacked in the aftermath.

“I think that with a situation like we were in at the end of our season,” reflected Eckert. “The ownership has every right to take consequences.

“I think at that point, it would have been right for me to accept it if the consequence was to go in a different direction.

“That means a lot to me that the owner didn’t get swayed by the public opinion but had a look at what actually happened and then has taken his decision. I’m really grateful for that.”