Why Saints need not worry about Chamberlain

Having one of your hottest prospects pinched by a top club is not the ideal start to a new season. However, Saints need not worry about the loss of Alex Chamberlain as their Championship season gets into full swing.

Chamberlain did not feature in Southampton's impressive 3-1 win over Leeds at the weekend. With a minimum of £12 million paid for the teenager, Southampton will think they have got a fantastic deal for a player who has played just one season in League One - and only a handful of goals to show for it.

Steve de Ridder looks like a natural replacement for Chamberlain. WIth experience of playing in the top Dutch Eredivisie, the Belguian winger is quick, scores goals and is a great crosser of the ball. Guly do Prado looked a little off the pace against Leeds on the wing, but de Ridder looked extremely comfortable against Torquay last night.

With a solid central midfield, de Ridder could be the missing piece for Southampton as Jason Puncheon looks set to make his inevitable departure from St Mary's. If some of the £12 million paid to Southampton for Chamberlain is used to bring in new faces, Nigel Atkins can build a solid squad to compete in the Championship.

There are still 45 games to play in the tough league season, so it is important not to get carried away. However, for the first time in a long while - Southampton appear to have some belief and a team spirit, which will be key in the tougher times this season.

Saints sign winger De Ridder

Southampton have signed Belgian winger Steve De Ridder from Dutch side De Graafschap for an undisclosed fee.

The 24-year-old can play on either flank and could be a fitting replacement, should Alex Chamberlain leave St Mary's. Although Chamberlain featured during the Markus Liebherr Memorial Cup, the youngster made public his wish to leave the club. Chamberlain was fined two weeks wages for his comments, but this has only added to speculation he is to leave the club.

De Ridder scored 12 times for De Graafschap and bagged 22 goals during a loan spell at Belgian second tier side Hamme. He is quick, skillful and a great crosser of the ball.

The new signing said: "I have got a great first impression about this Club, I have already been treated so well since I arrived and it has given me a lot of confidence. I hope to pay that back on the field.

"As soon as I arrived here I was convinced that this was the right move, this is a big adventure for me and I am looking forward to it. The Chairman showed me a video all about the Club and I was sold straight away.

"I played with Jan-Paul Saeijs in Holland and he told me that when he was here it was the best time of his life, so I am curious about what is in store for me."

Check out some of De Ridder's fantastic goals below.

Why Chamberlain isn't ready for the Premiership

Alex Chamberlain has insisted he is ready to step up to the Premier League this season.

The 17-year-old impressed for Southampton in League One last season, helping his side gain automatic promotion to the Championship. However, very few players have successfully made the step up from the third tier to the Premier League.

Speaking to The Sun, Chamberlain said: "I've heard Arsenal are in for me and to join a top-four club is what I hope for.

"When the bus comes along, you have to jump on it and make the most of your opportunities. It's not every day you get a chance like that. I believe in my own ability and that I have what it takes to play in the Premier League.

"I've been at Southampton since I was seven and enjoyed every minute of it. They've brought me up in a really good way. The fans and the manager have been great and the club have made me what I am today.

"But I feel it's time for the next step. The way I see it, the Premier League is where I aspire to play. You aren't at the top of the game until you get there.

"I could spend a year in the Championship and, though this might sound negative, I could get injured and that opportunity might be lost. The next year another young star could come through and the opening might not come around again."

In 2010, Sol Campbell moved from Notts County to Arsenal. Although past his best, the former England and Tottenham star looked off the pace - only making 11 appearances on his return to the Gunners.

Liverpool snapped up highly-rated Jonjo Shelvey from Charlton. Since his arrival at Anfield a year ago the youngster has only featured 15 times for the Reds. Shelvey is still young, but Chamberlain has insisted he is ready to play Premier League football.

However, even Theo Walcott and Gareth Bale found it hard to break into top teams, and they had proven themselves in the Championship.

Chamberlain is a fantastic prospect for any top Premier League club. However, it seems an almighty risk to sign the 17-year-old based on ten goals in League One. The youngster will play for a big team, but he surely isn't ready to make the leap just yet.

Both Gareth Bale and Theo Walcott stood out in the Championship, earning them big moves to Tottenham and Arsenal respectively. If Chamberlain can prove himself this season, there is no reason why he will not feature in a Premier League squad in the following season.

However, if Chamberlain was to make the big move this summer, he would be lucky to find himself on the bench at Arsenal. The Gunners have several youngsters who fancy breaking into the first team. If Chamberlain can stand out in the Championship, he will stand head and shoulders above Arsenal's many talented youngsters.

New striker to sign before weekend tournament

Saints boss Nigel Atkins has hinted a new striker could line up for his side at this weekend's Markus Liebherr Memorial Cup.

Jack Cork was Southampton's first capture of the summer, signing earlier this month from Chelsea. Speculation has been mounting about Saints bringing in a striker, but nothing has been made public.

Speaking of the weekend's tournament, Atkins told Sky Sports: "The lads are going to be performing and, you never know, there might be one or two new players in addition to our fantastic football club by then.

"There's a lot of speculation about and we've been working very hard behind the scenes."

Many different players have been linked with a move to St Mary's, including Southampton schoolboy Lukas Jutkiewicz from Coventry and highly-rated Bristol City scorer Nicky Maynard.

The pressure is now on for Atkins to sign someone. With youngster Alex Chamberlain asking for a Premier League move, the Southampton management have done well not to draw attention to the 17-year-old's wish to play in the top tier this season.

With many of the top teams having already splashed a fair amount of money over the summer, the only big club in need of bolstering their midfield appears to be Arsenal. The pressure is on Arsene Wenger to spend as the Gunners brace themselves for losing some of their top stars.

Even without Chamberlain, Southampton could potentially have a good season in the Championship. However, another striker is key to any success. Rickie Lambert would benefit from a regular striking partner, and we may see him arrive this week.

Southampton host Werder Bremen and Athletic Bilbao at St Mary's this Saturday.

FC Biel-Bienne 3-3 Southampton

Saints' first pre-season tour got off to an eventful start with Alex Chamberlain grabbing his side a late equaliser.

The first game on Southampton's Swiss tour saw the visitors get off to the perfect start. Lee Holmes' pinpoint cross found David Connolly to head Saints ahead after six minutes. In a carbon copy of the opening goal, Holmes again found Connolly to double the away side's lead.

Saints looked comfortable, however, the home side woke up and piled the pressure on their opponents. Marco Mathys' low deflected drive wrong-footed Bartosz Bialkowski midway through the first half.

Adam Lallana and Connolly stood out in the first half as Southampton held a 2-1 lead at the break. Saints changed their entire team at the break. Kaua Safari took advantage of a sluggish start to the second half from Saints, slotting home after a good through ball to tie up the scores.

The inexperience of Saints in the second half allowed Biel to dominate, and they took the lead with less than ten minutes remaining. Southampton failed to clear their lines from a corner and Safari was on hand to grab his second goal of the game to make it 3-2.

Southampton didn't give up, however, and it was Alex Chamberlain who had the last say. Moments after going behind, the youngster hit a perfect shot past the Biel goalkeeper. The game ended level with Saints given a good first test on their pre-season tour.

New signing Jack Cork did not feature for Saints, as did Kelvin Davis and Lee Barnard. Southampton face FC St Gallen on Saturday.

Lambert extends contract, Chamberlain to stay

Saints striker Rickie Lambert has extended his contact at St Mary's, keeping him at the club until 2014.

The former Blackpool trainee has been in hot form since his move from Bristol Rovers in 2009. As Nigel Adkins looks to improve his scoring options, it seems clear Adkins is looking for a partner for Lambert.

Lambert has even indicated he would like to see out the remainder of his career at St Mary's.

Chamberlain to stay at St Mary's?

In other good news for Soutampton, Adkins revealled no bids have been received for teenage star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The 17-year-old has been linked wit a big-money move to Premier League clubs, most notably Arsenal. However, so far no-one has tried to pry the teenager away from St Mary's.

New signings to be made

Saints ave been linked with bringing ex-Liverpool defender John Arne Riise back to English football. The Roma player may not figure in manager Luis Enrique's plans for next season as the big spending club look to challenge for the Serie A title. Soutampton have also been linked with a host of different strikers.

If Chamberlain does remain at Southampton, it will surely only be a matter of time before he moves on. The youngster would probably stay if Saints gain promotion to the Premier League, which is extremely unlikely in their first season back in the Championship.

Gareth Bale, Andrew Surman and Theo Walcott all left Southampton in order to secure Premier League football. Bale and Walcott are now thriving despite possibly leaving Saints a bit too early. After an unsuccessful stint at Wolves, Surman helped Norwich gain Premier League promotion last season.

Saints step up quest for striker

Saints boss Nigel Adkins is stepping up his quest for a striker as the club braces itself for the loss of young winger Alex Chamberlain.

Southampton have declared their interest in Bristol City forward Nicky Maynard. However, it won't be easy to lure the 24-year-old away from Ashton Gate. Leicester City, who beat Saints in the race to sign Neil Danns had a bid for Maynard rejected.

Also on Nigel Adkins' shopping list is Billy Sharp. The Doncaster scorer, who played under Adkins at Scunthorpe scored 16 goals last season despite missing large chunks through injury. Although the Yorkshire side are struggling financially, it may take a bid of up to £3 million to tempt Sharp to leave for the south coast. Coventry striker Lukas Jutkiewicz has also been linked with a move to his home-town club, but again will require a substantial fee.

Saints could do with some fire-power. Last season Rickie Lambert couldn't build on a remarkable 2009-10 season in which he bagged 37 goals in all competitions. Last year he managed 21 goals, but he will find it a lot tougher in the Championship.

David Connolly has extended his contract at St Mary's until the end of next season, but with Lee Barnard possibly facing a court case for assault, Lambert could do with a partner.

With winger Alex Chamberlain set to leave Southampton for Arsenal in the next few days, Nigel Adkins may have some money to spend with a big fee likely to be paid to Saints.