Saints are planning trips to Austria and Holland as part of their pre-season preparations.

Ronald Koeman is due to lead his side to a training camp to Austria, which will include a mini-tournament featuring Red Bull Salzburg, Werder Bremen and Valencia, on Saturday, July 11, as well as potentially a more minor game in the build-up.

They are then expected to return home briefly before moving on to Holland, where they are planning friendlies against Groningen and Feyenoord, the former club of Koeman and star striker Graziano Pelle.

Any later friendlies will be on hold until Saints discover whether they have to play a Europa Legaue qualifier, the first leg of which would take place at the end of July.

Though the plans have not been finalised, Koeman confirmed the rough agenda for the summer.

He said: “Normally we are thinking about to go for one week to Red Bull Salzburg to do the tournament over there.

“We are working and it’s not still finished and signed to have one week in Holland maybe to play Groningen and Feyenoord. It’s OK that we play Feyenoord in pre-season.

“Then it depends yes or not European league because in July starts the third round of Europa League qualification.”

It is no great surprise that Saints will head to Holland for pre-season given their Dutch manager’s connections there, and with the idea of a trip to the USA having been ruled out due to the late end to the campaign, international matches into mid-June and the early start of next season.

It still gives Saints the chance to promote themselves in Holland, with many Dutch fans regularly travelling over to watch matches at St Mary’s.

“It’s incredible,” smiled Koeman.

“I had to sign for Flybe because it’s so busy with all these Dutch people.

“Because we and because Pelle, a lot of people are coming from Holland to watch the game in Southampton. It’s one hour by plane and it’s a nice weekend and they like it.”