Saints to host Werder Bremer and Athletic BIlbao

Southampton have lined up two of Europe's biggest names for the first Markus Liebherr Memorial Cup.

The triangular tournament which takes places at St Mary's on Saturday July 23, will feature Werder Bremen of the German Bundesliga and Athletic Club Bilbao of the Spanish La Liga.

The format of the tournament will see a round robin where teams will play 45-minute games, with draws decided by a penalty shootout. It will give the Saints team a good pre-season test against two top clubs.

It will also allow Saints fans a first glimpse of their team in their new home strip. Southampton's former owner Liebherr died suddenly last year of a heart attack, leaving control of the club in the hands of Nicola Cortese.

"The framework of the Memorial Cup will serve as a great occasion to honour the memory of Markus. It has been designed as the perfect event for all three teams involved in regards to their preparation for the forthcoming season, and is a great day out for the fans in which they get to watch three top class teams in action," said Cortese.

"I am very pleased to have been able to attract clubs like Athletic Bilbao and Werder Bremen considering this type of event hasn't been attempted before, and I know that Markus would have been proud to see the standard that we have set in the inaugural cup competition in his honour."

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.

Next season's fixtures unveiled

Southampton's Championship campaign will kick-off on August 6 with a tricky home game against Leeds United.

The 46-game league season sees the return of two derby games against Portsmouth. The first takes place on December 17 at Fratton Park, with Pompey returning to St Mary's on April 7.

Saints are away on Boxing Day to Crystal Palace, but return home to face Bristol City on New Year's Eve.

Southampton face Coventry at home on the final day of the season on April 28. Click here for the full list.

First image of new Saints kit revealed

An image of the new Southampton kit was been leaked onto Twitter. The kit is a throwback to the 1970s and 1980s, worn by the likes of Kevin Keegan. Predominately red with a thick white stripe down the middle, the kit will be sponsored by AAP3 - a local IT company. The kit will once again be made by Umbro.

The full launch will take place on Wednesday 20th July 2011 with the kit going on sale in store from Thursday 21st July.

In other news, the Saints have been draws against Torquay in the first round of the Carling Cup at St Mary's.