No new striker - but Saints sign Celtic defender

The transfer deadline passed with the Premier League top teams splashing the cash. However, at St Mary's, only one player arrived - Jos Hooiveld.

Southampton were linked with several potential strike partners for Rickie Lambert including Jermaine Beckford and Jay Rodriguez, but no deal could be struck.

Nigel Atkins said before deadline day that he would not be forced into panic buying, and perhaps the good form of David Connolly prevented Atkins from spending.

Hooiveld is an experienced physical centre-half, an ideal partner for Jose Fonte. The Dutchman has struggled to tie down a place in the Celtic first team, and spent time on loan at FC Copenhagen last season. The 28-year-old has signed on loan until January and is a welcome addition to a stretched defence. Saints fans should not worry about the lack of transfer activity. Jack Cork was a fantastic buy, and Atkins has held onto Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Jose Fonte and got a very good deal for Alex Chamberlain.

Although Saints currently sit second in the Championship table, they must not get carried away. Although promotion is the ultimate aim, survival is a must. With the team they have built, Hooiveld should be a great addition.

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.

Saints sign Chelsea youngster Cork

Southampton have made their first signing of the summer by snapping up young Chelsea midfielder Jack Cork.

The 22-year-old featured for Burnley on loan last season, and spent time on loan at St Mary's in 2008. A youngster with vast experience of the Championship, he gives Saints boss Nigel Atkins a solid central midfield with Adam Lallana, Morgan Schneiderlin and Guly do Prado set to also feature next season.

Competition for places will be hot at Southampton, and it can only be a positive note for the club. Saints are known for a slick passing style of play, and more strength in depth could be key to any success next season.

Atkins' search for new players will not end with Cork. Still on the shopping list is another striker and an experienced defender. The unlikely capture of John Arne Riise looks even more unlikely following Martin Jol confirming the ex-Liverpool player is to undergo a medical at Fulham.

Hot on the radar appears to be Coventry striker, and former Southampton schoolboy Lukas Jutkiewicz. According to Skysports the youngster could be on his way to St Mary's. However, Saints fans may have to wait for news of new additions to the squad. Atkins' side jet off to Switzerland for a pre-season tour next week.

With a couple more additions, Southampton could do very well in the Championship next season. With questions still remaining over the future of Alex Chamberlain, stability will be vital in a very tough division.

While no-one can expect Southampton to gain automatic promotion to the Premier League, things are once again looking bright for Southampton after years of turmoil.

See what Southampton's new signing Jack Cork can do with highlights of his Premier League debut.

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.

Gobern set to leave club

Young midfielder Oscar Gobern is set to leave St Mary's after turning down a new contact.

The 20-year-old left-sided player is believed to be on the verge of signing for Huddersfield - who Saints pipped to Championship promotion last season. The youngster has proven useful for Southampton, but has never managed to break into the first team.

Gobern is clearly seeking first team football, and a move to Huddersfield may solve this. The Saints would be owed a fee by the Yorkshire team, as Gobern is home-grown and under 24 years of age. The fee would be determined by an FA tribunal.

The midfielder made 21 starts for Saints, getting on the scoresheet in Southampton's FA Cup win against Cheltenham in 2010.

Saints trying last-minute bid for Forte

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain looks set to stay at St Mary's - for now.

With focus on Liverpool's dramatic transfer dealings, Southampton may add to their squad for the remainder of the season. After tying up Brazilian star Guilherme do Prado last week, it appears Scunthorpe winger Jonathan Forte may be moving to Southampton.

Forte is familiar with ex-Scunthorpe boss and current Saints manager Nigel Adkins, and is not seen as a replacement for Alex Chamberlain.

A statement on the Scunthorpe United website said: "Iron manager Ian Baraclough has confirmed that forward Jonathan Forte is in Southampton discussing a potential move to the League one side."