Southampton skipper Jose Fonte is feeling optimistic ahead of the start of the upcoming campaign.

Saints will play the first leg of their third round Europa League qualifier against Dutch club Vitesse on Thursday before starting their Premier League campaign against Newcastle on 8th August.

According to Fonte, there is an air of optimism at St Mary's after the Saints managed to hold onto most of their key players this summer.

"First, we didn't let as many players leave as last season which is very important," Fonte said. "We lost quality players but the replacements were the same quality. "We are in a good place, everybody knows each other. The new guys showed already they have a lot of quality so I am really relaxed on that aspect."