Dusic

Chelsea signed him aged 14 from Bristol City's Academy where the Lead Development Coach at the time was David Horseman. From a quick look at Bristol City forum it appears they may have a closer link than just that...one poster hints that Horseman is/was Maddox's step-son. https://www.otib.co.uk/index.php?/topic/155198-chelsea-to-sign-14-year-old-bristol-city-teenager-jacob-maddox/#comment-1806738 He will certainly know all about him (as will Matt Crocker). Low risk, potentially a reward at some stage as he is obviously talented.

Agree about complacency but if we match WH results in the next two games and then lose to them I think they are still 4 points behind us. Hopefully the next 5 will yield the 7 or 8 points to get us safe.

I am assuming that the backup for Bednarek and Stephens is Vestergaard and then Danso. Which it is. You can question the quality of the backup, but this season Yoshida was as poor as the other two so it makes little difference, especially as Ralph saw Vestergaard ahead of Yoshida anyway.

Don't get the reaction on here to Yoshida leaving. We only need 4 CBs, not 5. Yoshida has played 5mins in the PL since October, during the busiest time of the season. He was absolutely woeful vs Leicester, one of the worst individual performances I have ever seen in a Saints shirt. His contract is up at the end of the season and clearly isn't going to be extended. We will not need to rotate before the end of the season and he is 4th choice CB. All it means is now Danso is 4th choice CB for the 14 league games we have left.

If we are sticking with the 4-2-2-2 then I would say we need a squad consisting of: 3 x GK 2 x RB 2 x LB 4 x CB 4 x CM 4 x AM 4 x CF Its clear from that where the key areas to focus are: LB - need one RB - need a permanent signing in the summer. CB as we have six but only two are really good enough. Not impossible that none of Yoshida, Vestergaard, Hoedt or Danso will be at the club next season so hopefully four out and two in here. CM - only have three and there are question marks on whether at least two will still be here next season, whilst I would not at all be suprised if we received bids for JWP as well as Hojbjerg, who will like be sold. Therefore signings wise I would say we need a left back, right back, two centre backs and potentially up to 3 central midfielders depending on sales. A lot to do.

Do you don't understand Saints, clearly.

This will end up as another Clyne/Wanyama situation where soon Ralph will be asked every week if we are any closer on agreeing a new contract. A contract will never be agreed of course because the player doesn't want to agree one (could you blame him?). Sale will happen for a very good fee for the buyer due to said contract situation.

No chance he leaves by the end of tomorrow but surely a big chance of him leaving in the summer as he is clearly looking to run his contract down which pretty much forces a sale this summer. Also shows the value of not letting the contracts of key players run under two years, as the club loses any small position of strength it held by that point. Just adds to an already big job in the summer as could lose 2 or 3 key 1st team players as well as needing to ship out the dross thats out on loan and add in the areas we are weak. Hope Ralph has the enthusiasm for it.

No option is just baffling really. Lets hope he does well but not that well I guess!

Good financials for a player OOC in a few months. Also means proper chance to evaluate KWP, which makes it even more bizarre not to have a purchase option in his deal.

Got to wonder why nobody in Europe has really gone for Maehle despite him bring known about for 2 years and Genk being a club thats always willing to sell. Can only assume that scouts see things in his game that fans don't get in 5min YT videos? He has also yet to make a senior appearance for Denmark FWIW, their current RB is a 30yo Brentford player. Re KWP - strange we seemingly couldn't agree an option, which is a bit of a red flag for hoping to sign him permanently if he does well.

Would hope KWP comes in for a (tough) debut! Keep JWP where he is best.

And to be honest, we don'y currently need anyone else. That said, this coming summer really needs to be the window of change that has been at least 4 windows in the making!

https://www.footballinsider247.com/walker-peters-agrees-move-to-southampton-from-tottenham/ Suggests a loan with no option/obligation as the two clubs couldn't agree on the fee. That would be a shame.

Quite suprised by the negative reaction to this. After the singings of Carillo, Hoedt, Vestergaard etc I am quite pleased that Ralph has the chance to evaluate a player at close quarters before spending on them. As for KWP not making it at Spurs, even to break through there is tough enough, and we know Mourinho likes big, physical players so hardly a suprise he isn't a fan. If he signs its a no lose for Saints really, ahead of what needs to be a big summer of outs and ins.

From what RH said, will be interesting to see what kind of option is included. IMO a decent signing, especially if its 'try before you buy'. He can also play LB quite well, so good cover there.

Summer interest in Jeremie Frimpong, RB at Celtic (signed from City summer 2019). Source: Ornstein, The Athletic

If we keep Stephens and Bednarek (his contract needs renewing) plus Danso then we can ideally lose the wages of Hoedt, Vestergaard and Yoshida which should allow us to bring in a good CB to compete to be a first choice.

If we are to sign Danso for a low fee then I'm not against that. Ralph may well see him as a player with good core attributes who can be coached on. Can easily be a 4th CB next season and if we continue to play a back four then we only need 4 CBs in the squad rather than the 5 we have now (6 with Hoedt).

If we don't sign anyone then that would be two of three transfer windows where Ralph hasn't been able to freshen the squad. Three players in three windows, which isn't the way to back what is clearly a good Manager.

We don't need 5 strikers. Re Maehle, the fact nobody else is going for him either is perhaps telling?

https://www.footballinsider247.com/southampton-favourites-to-sign-walker-peters-from-tottenham/ Favourites for perm signing of KWP according to this. Leeds moving on from Adams by lining up JK Augustin.

Have they stopped tweeting/advertising when the away tickets are going on sale?

Well its going to come to a head soon if he won't sign a new contract. Will be sold in the summer IMO. Too valuable potentially to let his contract go beyond 12 months to go. Also, re the fees. They are high, but its the same when we want to sign someone. Decent Championship players are at least £20m these days - so Hojbjerg is probably rightly valued at £35m or so and JWP would be over £50m I think. Also shows the importance of extending contracts for key players before they reach two years to run.

Lets hope Saints are sensible in these talks. Great opportunity to get a decent fee for a player I assumed we would end up loaning out in the summer at a huge loss. With relatively few games to go, I think we could sell without getting a replacement in until the summer if needed.