Dusic

I also don't think Fernandes and MO'R (and Carvalho who we bid for) seem of the same profile - look at the difference in goal output for a start which I assume is the biggest driver of interest in MOR - he is a difference maker in and around the box whereas Fernandes seems to play deeper from all the clips Ive seen this evening. Depth wise we aren't great in midfield and clearly Alcaraz will be on his way so seems like Fernandes will add competition for Smalbone and Aribo and also opportunity to add quality from the bench in a physically demanding league. Re O'Riley - listen to RM answer to Alfie House here, certainly didn't rule it out as of Thursday when he had a clear opportunity to (from 3.05): https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/video/press-conference-part-two-martin-on-newcastle-trip

I am ITK on this one so can answer for you. He is being sold and has no future at the club. I know that has come out of the blue but thats what I am hearing and that is why he wasn't on the bench.

RM seems confident we will get the additions needed and despite public defences etc he isn't stupid - he can see what we do well and what can be improved. Seems like we have a couple of sales lined up (eerily quiet on ABK though) and that will help.

From his interview he speaks very good English and comes across as very focused and confident. Everything read about him suggests he is a top prospect so could be a very clever loan deal with potential to benefit all three parties.

After these two additions, we obviously need a GK and attacking midfield option...anything else? Striker wise we would have 3 (4 incl Ross Stewart) - possibly enough? Out wide we could probably do with a right sided player which is why we have been linked with a few, thats probably the main one. Full back we seem to have a lot of options but a number of them with big question marks: KWP, Manning, Bree, also Wellington who is seemingly a Saints signing rather than Goztepe. If KWP goes then I would try to get shot of Bree (not PL level) and get in another RB. Quality still questionable but numbers wise we look fairly strong.

I think Archer could potentially be a decent addition - from the clips he reminds me of Craig Bellamy in that he he is very sharp over short distances and looks to be a composed finisher with both feet - and enough about him to create chances for himself. Also knows the level of the PL so won't need a year to adapt and had a good pre season with Villa so has some kind of form. Hasn't really been settled yet with various loan spells so good chance to find a home. Interesting that RM said power and athleticism was the biggest difference between PL and Champ - both these signings have those attributes. Also interesting how coy RM was about O'Riley when Alfie House asked about him in the embargoed section yesterday - certainly didnt sound totally dead.

RM made it very clear in that press conference that the amount of business we do will be dictated by outgoings. Seeing as he seems keen for KWP to stay despite only having a year left then thats ABK, Paul and Alcaraz. If ABK move falls through it will have a very unwanted impact - especially as CB is the one area we are stacked. Imagine he would go out on loan if the Hoffenheim move doesn't happen. I'm sure they are trying to renegotiate a loan with option at the moment!

Prices have just gone up so they have moved with the times. If they get 4 or 5 for around £30m and some do well in the PL they are instantly worth £50m - and its less risky to sign someone good for £30m than someone who might possibly be good for £15m. When you think next summer who we could sell for £30m+ its probably limited to THB if he had a brilliant season and possibly Sugawara, Dibling or SAA if they really shine. Would say thats about it. Whereas at Brighton they have a huge list without even including Rutter or Kadioglu: Ferguson, Mitoma, Joao Pedro, Verbruggen, Minteh, Wieffer, Enciso, Adringra, Gruda, Baleba, Barco etc Their model seems very sustainable for the next few years because they have acquired a really strong asset base - due to a combination of good scouting and also spending big to get already good players.

Rutter if it happens would be Brighton's 4th signing of €30m+ this summer plus the £15m or so signing of Osman who they have already loaned out to Feyenoord (imagine us signing someone for that kind of cash and not even using them this season!). Whilst we have spent £7m on Sugawara and BBD (edit - plus obvs Downes & THB) Brighton predicted by many to finish 10th to 12th - just shows what we are up against really and the importance of making big sales to be able to reinvest.

Bild reporter suggested heart issues - which if true is a.) not really something that should be in the public domain and b.) purely from a Saints perspective a disaster in terms of selling him on a favourable deal. Fingers crossed its a minor issue that can be resolved otherwise big consequences.

Also weird as he would only have a year left on his contract by next summer so unless he had an absolutely storming season his value will be even less and we will likely just get teams ask to loan him til his deal expires. At least we presumably still have the £12m we budgeted for him to use elsewhere!

Judging by this summer so far its hard to be overly bothered about players linked/offers rejected until fees are agreed and they are travelling for a medical. I think we have likely missed out on many of our preferred targets - as a fair few have been made public - either due to FFP constraints on fees or players having better options within the PL where we are scrapping with Ipswich right at the bottom of the food chain. All our completed transfers so far have been 'easy' in the sense that they were either free involving no selling club, for players with contracts running down or players largely unwanted at their current club, with Downes the only slight exception. This current group (Parsons, Bitcon, Mowbray) still have a bit to prove to show they can get things over the line when its not so straightforward.

He will leave, its just negotiation. Be amazed if he plays a minute for us before then.

Even on loan it seems quite unlikely as: a.) we won't cover his full wage and I'm sure someone else (e.g Forest) would happily do so b.) he will have a whole heap of European clubs to pick from if available on a loan deal favourable enough for us to even be an option Interesting to hear the Newcastle fan on TSP laughing at the idea Dubravka would be a good option for us - as I said when he was first mentioned he was awful for them last season to the point where fans were suggesting an Academy keeper should be brought in at one point. Keeper will be interesting as our whole situation (Baz, AMC new deal, likely relegation, tight budget) points towards a loan without any obligation being by far the best option. One thing for sure - any keeper we get has to be good with their feet given how we play.

Usual stuff overall but thought Jack Stephens came across very well: seems a good, grounded bloke and clearly cares.

Removing the promoted clubs, how many of our players would get in other teams? Probably KWP for most and potentially Downes for one or two. I don't think a good argument can really be made for many/any others. Flip it and look at how many Forest, Wolves, Brentford etc players would get in our team and its probably 8 or 9 of their starting XI. Really very hard to see us finishing ahead of any of those- and just as we will still strengthen, so will they - and in the case of Carvalho & Brentford its with a player we also wanted. Any indepdendent prediction that is not for us to be relegated would be frankly ludicrous based on pretty much every available method of analysing it.

Hopefully they can sort somehow but sounds like it would take drastic action at the end of the season. If we have a wet and cold winter it could look and play awfully come January.

Disagree that it plays well, pretty much every pass yesterday bobbled about and it makes some lose pace and then get intercepted. Obviously no fault of any individual but less than ideal for a team who seeks to play short passing, possession football. And it looks shit.

No wonder misinformation is such an issue in society - some people are so easily taken in by clear and utter dross. Mods should start issuing bans for people posting this shit (or posters stop posting out of embarassment for having no common sense).

Apologies for the long post and appreciate I may be in the minority here but I am of the view that Broja would be a good signing, and here is why: - He has shown that when fit and in good form he can really trouble the best defenders in the league. During the purple patch he had for us he really looked like a top striker. Remember he had great games versus West Ham and Man Utd, bith away, where their defenders couldnt live with him. Clearly a small sample but he showed a level that others strikers (Adams, Arma etc) just aren't capable of. - Around that time he looked like a £30m+ player and Chelsea then wanted him back and weren't keen on a sale (at least Saints and WH were very keen). He then got a bad injury but one that these days the vast majority of players recover very strongly from. - So the issue is, has his injury significantly changes the potential he showed? Obviously scouts and prosective buyers would have more data/medicals etc to truely determine that, but he hasnt really played enough for Chelsea (basketcase club with no patience) and Fulham to say that it has. He barely played for Fulham largely because Muniz suddenly went on a great run and made himself undropable (whilst probably tripling his value to Fulham). - Then there is the question of what other options we have at that price bracket. The answer is not many and pretty much anyone will be flawed in some way, either just not being PL quality, being injury prone or totally unproven. At least with Broja we know that at his best he has a high level where he could create and score out of not a lot - we don't have anyone like that. Anything in that position will be a punt and I think Broja still has the potential to be good now and develop further into a really good PL player. He is only 22 so even if he disnt do well but largely retain his value at £20m. He needs to find a home where he is wanted and trusted and can settle and find that level again. Would certainly rather spend £20m on him than another Onuachu type from a poor league. Of course a loan with option or obligation depending on apps would be ideal and realistic IMO.

A week to go before the first PL game, so a good time to review what we have done. 1. Have we improved our starting XI vs the team that finished 4th in the Championship: Lallana - no Taylor - slightly although not suited to wing back role Wood - no Edwards - no THB - no Downes - no Sugawara - no (will do well to equal KWP) BBD - probably Overall verdict: Minimal improvement vs last season and largely based on hoping BBD maintains form he showed across a very small sample size 2. Has squad depth improved? GK - no CB - yes Full back - minimally Midfield - no Wide - no (worse) Forward - no Overall - aside from CB, not really Summary - a hell of a lot to do otherwise nowhere near good enough to compete at this level

I know there is an element of frustrstion about the lack of clear improved quality in the starting XI, but one area where we have bossed this window is the wholesale and partner market. We have got Etonridge over the line, a brand we had been tracking for a long time and who chose us despite lots of competition which bodes well. https://wholesalemanager.co.uk/etonridge-confirmed-as-official-water-supplier-of-southampton-fc/ We have also signed a deal with Home Leisure Direct who were sought after a few years back and could be a shrewd deal although only a one year deal so hopefully we have an extend option incase they really cook: https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/news/article/home-leisure-direct-becomes-regional-partner The one that probably gets the most tongues wagging is the deal agreed with 2cl to officially sign as Venue Security Technology Supplier - from a quick browse on some other club forums there is a lot of jealousy about that deal, mostly because their digital radios are top notch - and a few clubs seem lacking in that area. https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/news/article/2cl-become-official-venue-security-technology-supplier Hopefully a few more to come in before the end of the window and look forward to hearing more about these at the Phil Parsons fireside chat with Adam Blackmore next week.

Sounds like we have missed out on Ollie Rathbone - having a medical at Wrexham.

I think come the last week of Aug anything above £10m surely? Sure he will be keen to link up with his best pal Solanke at Spurs if they get shot of Emerson Royal.

Surely something will happen with KWP soon as obviously a lot of interest in the background and imagine at this point, having already replaced him, the club will just want to move him on. Not overly far fetched that Brighton waiting to get O'Riley before giving us some cash for KWP that might possibly allow us to compete for him (though I think he is who RM refered to about moving on) - any suitor knows we are desperate and don't want to lose him for free next summer so we aren't in a strong position with him at all, and he is our most sellable asset. Will be interesting to hear the chat in Phil's EMEA Townhall on Monday...RM usually fairly open so imagine we will know a fair bit more after that.