Saint Albert

Rumours in the press were that City wanted a buy back clause for him. Can't see Saints agreeing to that.

Barkley only has 1 year left. He can go on a free anywhere next summer. He can go on a free to Europe in the January window. £50 million is a ridiculous price for someone as inconsistent as him. That being said, I have a feeling that we are in for a ridiculous transfer window.

This is one of the reasons that transfer fees and wages are going to go through the roof this summer. Buyers have more money than ever, and sellers are less desperate for the money and in more of a position to either say no or demand ridiculous fees. Makes me hope that Saints keep their powder dry for a bit if they must sell, just to see what happens in the market.

According to the Independent Pellegrino's on Palace's list but is resolving personal issues in Argentina and may not be ready for a quick return to management. Dyche is interested in the Palace job: http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/crystal-palace-new-manager-sean-dyche-wants-to-take-over-a7767901.html

If Frank de Boer or Ranieri are serious options, then that is very worrying.

I've made a similar point before. It has to be an issue for recruitment.

The Liverpool Echo reporting that their team is still hopeful getting VVD despite all the other reports re City and Chelsea, with Liverpool willing to compete with the amounts offered by the other teams, and Klopp is apparently some kind of player magnet: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/virgil-van-dijk-still-liverpools-13123614

Getting sacked by Valencia certainly did not help Koeman's profile.

He's definitely a Manitoban but he made his name in Europe coaching the Swiss men's hockey team, which is presumably where he made contact with Kat. He coached my Oilers for a year as well.

It does seem a bit ripe for the team that just paid a record £34 million plus for a goalkeeper, to complain that other clubs are driving up prices.

"Sky sources" have informed them that City are worried that Chelsea and Liverpool are driving up VVD's transfer fee: http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11679/10900569/man-city-fear-chelsea-and-liverpool-will-drive-price-up-for-virgil-van-dijk

Alex Crook reporting in the Sun that the asking price for VVD is £70 Mil: https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/3698350/southampton-slap-huge-70m-price-tag-on-manchester-city-and-chelsea-target-virgil-van-dijk/

We tend to laugh at teams like West Ham an Everton when they waste time in the summer pursuing unrealistic targets.

The Times article has sent the Red and White Kop into a bit of a tailspin. To me it sounds like the agent drumming up business for his client, with its emphasis on wages offered to VVD by the various clubs. If Stones was worth 47.5 million last year, it seems to me that 60 million for VVD this summer is the least Saints should be seeking.

Blimey that's a hell of an allegation.

VVD has the look of a player who will move elsewhere if not this summer, then next. I don't particularly hate Liverpool for constantly coming in for our players but it has happened so often, it's getting a little embarrassing and all the stupid jokes on social media about it are tiresome. In VVD's case, if they don't get him, someone else will. Just from trolling other forums, Liverpool fans seem more desperate to get him than others. When they nabbed Lambert it really irritated me because they had no real need for him and he wasted away the season on the bench.

Lucas Perez's agent is spouting off in the media about how unhappy Perez is on the bench at Arsenal. I wonder if it's worth taking a stab at him.

When I woke up this morning, the first thing I told myself was that this site needs another kit thread. And here it is.

Forster? Mainly because he seems to be thickly constructed.

So he's off to Chelsea. No, he's going to Liverpool because Klopp has attracted him. Forget that it's United. This is a very well-named thread.

Would de Boer be an upgrade on Puel? He barely lasted 3 months at Inter.

Sporting Witness speculating that the 29 y.o. German striker is on both Saints and Everton's shopping list: http://sportwitness.co.uk/everton-southampton-keen-29-year-old-german-striker-clubs-lists/

If we sign Ruben Semedo, the Liverpool fans will go into full on incontinence mode. To them, it will be a clear sign they're getting VVD, a bit like last year with Redmond's arrival being seen as a clear sign they'd end up with Mane.

The Daily Mail is reporting that while the fee is agreed, the player is hesitating to agree to personal terms, because he is concerned about a lack of first team opportunities.

I was planning on pouring scorn on Tuchel as a possibility for a club of our size. Now I will just express polite scepticism.