Tonda Eckert reveals potential Ross Stewart twist at Southampton | OneFootball

Tonda Eckert has discussed the possibility of re-signing Ross Stewart

Southampton’s ambition for 2026/27 will be to win promotion back to the Premier League.

Tonda Eckert led the Saints to the play-off final last season, but the club were expelled from the competition before they could actually face Hull City at Wembley Stadium.

The Hampshire outfit were found guilty of breaching the EFL’s rules against spying on opposition training, and will also start this campaign with a four-point deduction penalty.

This will put the club on the backfoot, but their strong end to the last campaign will give the team confidence that they can be in the mix again over the next 12 months.

Southampton have confirmed the permanent signings of Daniel Peretz and Cyle Larin so far this summer following the pair’s initial loan stints.

The Championship side have also added George Long and Lewis Dobbin to the first team squad, with further business likely to occur between now and the 1 September deadline.

Tonda Eckert makes surprising Ross Stewart claim

Action images

Eckert has confirmed that he is still in contact with forward Ross Stewart, who departed Southampton at the end of the season with the expiration of his contract.

The German coach has opened the door to the striker potentially returning to St. Mary’s, claiming that the club are in need of reinforcements in that area of the squad.

"I'm still in touch with Ross," said Eckert, via the Daily Echo.

"It's possible [that he could return].

“We definitely need a second striker. I think that is very clear.

"We have Cyle, who is in a better physical condition than when he came in in January, but we also know that the Championship is very demanding.

"There will definitely be a second striker.

“Let's see who that will be."

Stewart struggled with fitness issues for most of his time with Southampton, having signed from Sunderland in the 2023 summer transfer window.

The Scot played just 15 times for the club in the league across his first two campaigns, scoring only once.

However, his fitness improved over the last 12 months, which led to him featuring 25 times in the Championship to help the team earn a fourth place finish.

The 30-year-old contributed eight goals and two assists, and then scored in the play-off semi-final victory over Middlesbrough.

But he is now without a club following the expiry of his contract with the Saints, meaning he is free to discuss terms with any prospective new team.

It remains to be seen whether a return to Southampton could return to fruition, but he has yet to be linked to an alternative since it was confirmed that he was being released in June.

Southampton will return to league action on 16 August with a trip to face Watford in the opening game of the new season.

Action Images

Ross Stewart return would be a sensible move for Southampton

It’s clear that Southampton will need some additional depth up front with Stewart’s absence, but simply bringing him back might be the most sensible option.

He showed last season that, as long as he can stay fit, he can still produce at this level on a regular level, scoring eight goals from 25 games in the Championship.

Having a player with that kind of quality in the squad will be tricky to replace, and will almost certainly require spending a transfer fee.

So finding a way to sign a new deal with Stewart may be a cost-effective way to provide depth without having to invest too heavily in a position when the club will have stronger priorities elsewhere.