All three of last season’s promoted clubs suffered an immediate return to the second tier for only the second time in Premier League history.

Luton Town, Burnley and Sheffield United managed a combined total of only 66 points.

“The gap is getting bigger and bigger,” former Brighton and Crystal Palace striker Glenn Murray told BBC Sport.

Southampton, under boss Russell Martin, are returning to the Premier League despite finishing 10 points behind Leicester and nine behind Ipswich.

But Leicester boss Enzo Maresca continues to be linked with a move away while the Foxes were charged by the Premier League in March for alleged breaches of profit and sustainability rules.

Ipswich are also unsure if their manager Kieran McKenna will still be in charge at the start of next season as he is likely to reject any new deal offered by the Suffolk club amid interest from Chelsea and Brighton.

“I’m confident our manager will stay and with the right additions, we’ve got a fighting chance of staying up,” Saints fan Sam Farley said outside Wembley.

“Our manager likes possession-based football. It’s high risk, high reward.”

Recruitment will be key to Southampton’s chances of staying up.

The loan deal for impressive defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis now turns into a £20m permanent move from Manchester City as a result of their play-off win.

“Hopefully we can now turn Flynn Downes’ loan from West Ham into a permanent signing,” added Farley.

Supporters, however, are resigned to losing key forward Che Adams, whose contract expires at the end of June and who has been linked with Wolves.

“Finding a good replacement for Adams is important,” said Farley.