Dusic

This summer, with a quality season behind him we could probably quote £50m for Ings. Next summer, if he were to make it clear he didn't want to sign a new one and wasn't as high profile performance wise then it would probably drop to £15-20m if we were lucky given his age. Lets hope he signs a new deal fairly soon because it won't end well otherwise (and there are probably no adequate replacements that will be available for our £12m - £15m price range!) IMO he will either sign one by Oct/Nov or won't at all.

Semmens also on TSP was pretty adamant that we would still do something. He suggested our plan was to get Salisu and KWP done early and then see how the market developed later on. The thinking seemed to be that Covid will impact other leagues more than the PL and that prices will be reduced near to the end of the window as clubs face the financial realities. Ralph certainly seemed frustrated about it all when asked in the pre Palace presser, but he seemed generally annoyed as had just found out Armstrong was injured. Lets just hope that he gets what he wants - we haven't really given him a lot in the market so far, and generally he is working with the same squad we had when he arrived. Hope we get two more (centre mid and versatile attacking mid) but think it will just be the first. Then, lets hope its not another Danso, who was clearly way down the list of CBs we wanted. Would say a few mid table sides have recruited very well so far: Everton, Palace, Newcastle, Villa so its important to keep improving.

Only way to stop speculation is to get him signed to a new deal, otherwise we will have to sell next summer should the demand be there. Should think he would be opwn to it if we start the season well and show improvement. He will have an eye on the Euros so knows he needs to be playing regularly, and also scoring.

He is also on over £120k a week, so no chance of us signing him, even on loan I wouldnt have thought. https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/18717467.ralph-hasenhuttl-admits-saints-needed-bring-best-will-smallbone-crystal-palace/ From RH comments in the above it made me think about Kuzyaev. Sure we will see some links emerge this week about a few...

The issues with RLC: 1. He is always injured 2. We wouldn't be able to sign him permanently if he did well so its against the ethos of the club 3. He isnt a 'no6' 4. He is always injured

So the only recent links have been Choudhury (would surely cost too much yo be worth it) and the Russian lad (available on a free). Imagine we will see some strong linka shortly as we are in dire need of another midfielder - cannot be in a PL season with two CMs (three with Smallbone).

Makes sense, he obviously has no long term future at Saints.

Don't like Ralph moaning about the pre season, Arteta said they only had one session with all their players together so sure its been the same for most teams. As the club are so secretive we don't know how many minutes players had during pre season but a load looked off the pace. Romeu showed why Ralph always preferred PEH until it became clear he was leaving. Tidy on the ball but too slow today and was done after 70mins but we didnt have anyone to bring on. Not a disaster but a shame not to start well again, and Spurs then Burnley away is a tough couple to follow. We have a decent starting XI but as shown with the subs today, very little beyond that. Probably only at CB that there is any genuine competition for a place. Nothing from the two fullbacks and 10s who were very poor.

And the main thing: no money.

Also still not sign of Jeremi Rodriguez who supposedly signed this summer. Will be interesting to see the U18s lineup tomorrow and whether he is on that. Should keep this B Team thread for the season IMO as always good to follow progress.

Sounds like an absolute joker to be honest, so its probably true. To think an established PL side could get lumbered with the likes of Gao and this bloke. At least Gao seemingly recognises that he knows nothing about football and leaves others to run it (easily his best attribute). This guy sounds like one of those who thinks he gets it - the most dangerous kind of owner.

He is made of glass, which is a shame as he is quality. Not sure he is a '6' though. ------------------ Link to Russian midfielder Daler Kuzyaev, free agent after leaving Zenit: https://www.championat.com/football/news-4130831-sautgempton-izuchaet-vozmozhnost-podpisanija-kuzjaeva.html?utm_source=champtw&utm_medium=social If that ends up happening you would feel its low down the list of targets. Maybe a backup option.

Armstrong out injured. Wonder if that means Djenepo or Smallbone? (Or Boufal?).

Everyone knows Boufal has talent. But he doesn't use it to tangibly help the team enough, and isn't available enough. He will have the odd good cameo as a sub but over a season he doesn't have enough influence. Better for all that he leaves.

Ralph doesn't tend to make those type of subs anyway as he knows we are better going forward than sitting back. Two of his three subs are usually to take off Ings' partner and Armstrong to get fresh legs in the press. Romeu does tend to need subbing sometimes with 20mins to go as he occassionally struggles to keep up with the pace and just resorts to fouling. We will have an extra option there when the window shuts.

Yep - good first 13 or 14 and then they would struggle if they got injuries in certain positions. I wouldn't say Saints have a lot of competition for places and I think the same is true of Liverpool, certainly in defence and attack.

Team picks itself unless there are any injuries. In itself that is telling: we have a good starting XI with hopefully some momentum, but not a huge amount beyond that. Bench will be quite interesting.

Yeah, in the context of the interview he clearly meant cover as in the number of players rather than cover as in signing someone who is only good enough to be cover. He specifically mentioned that we would struggle in central midfield if we had a couple of injuries, which is corrext and obvious. I have total faith that they know what they are doing, even more so from that interview.

Great interview with Semmens. Good questions on a range of topics, and good answers. Kudos to him and Saints for allowing you that much time. Genuinely sounds like we have a plan and good people executing it.

If anyone hasn't listened to the excellent Martin Semmens interview on TSP then its quite clear we will sign a midfielder. Also stated RH would prefer to work with a smaller squad that he believes in and that suit the style, rather than have cover for the sake of it. I thought that married up nicely with the Boufal exit talk - he doesn't suit the style and nor does RH believe in him. From reading between the lines of a couple of things Semmens said I think Saints feel that the other European leagues are/will feel the pinch of the pandemic (yes MLT, there is one) and there might be some bargains to be had as the window draws to a close.

If we get £3.5m for Boufal then I would take it. We are obviously not going to offer him a new contract, he won't be a starter and we have cover in Djenepo and Smallbone. We will likely lose Carillo, Hoedt, Lemina for free so saving the wages and getting a little bit extra seems sensible, especially as he won't be going to a PL rival.

Will end up the same. All these players are on too much money for teams who would want them to be able to buy and pay the wages so loan til end of contract is the only option. At least with British players there is usually a market. For example even if Adams hadnt found form at the end of the season we could probably have got most of our money back from a top Champ team or promoted side.

Another loan, so will end up having Cedric, Clasie, Carillo, Hoedt, Lemina and Forster all likely leaving or having left on free transfers after being big money signings. All after being loaned out for multiple seasons with Saints still paying a solid chunk of their wages. Best part of £100m wasted and thats without mentioning Vestergaard. Wee Ross taken by Rangers and Les Reed working in a position of power at The FA. Madness.

Considering Covid and the sponsorship fiasco it seems a sensible summer from Saints. At the end of the season if you had asked which positions we need to strengthen pretty much everyone would have said RB (KWP or other) and CB. We have done that. All that has changed is the sale of PEH. If we dont sign another CM then its silly and asking for trouble. If we do, and don't lose anyone key, then its been a good window in the context of being a club without mega bucks.

I think he is a good, no nonsense defender who does the basics well, isn't really rash and is always available. Our first choice CB so Saints will certainly be keen to keep him longer term - which is why I think the lack of a new contract is more likely down to him than the club.