Dusic

Sounds like Bmth are in for Dragowski, the Fiorentina keeper we were strangely linked with. Certainly cheaper than Butland!

Will be interesting to see who is in the group for the Austria trip. Will the Intls join? Which young players will go? Will the likes of Hoedt, Carrillo, Clasie and Cedric travel? First indications of the Manager's thinking I reckon. Can't see he will waste time on anyone he doesn't think will have a role to play in the season.

I agree with most of this. There have been a handful of games, Palace away under Pellegrino, Bournemouth at home under Hughes where has absolutely bossed the game and looked an £80m midfielder. He clearly has the talent and physical attributes to be a really good player. But if he did it often then he would be starting for Juve now. IMO under a decent Manager he could be more consistent so I hope he gets a chance to show it, but once players start talking about leaving its usually better to let them go. I would prefer he went abroad though as feel otherwise he will come back to haunt us and quadruple his value after a good season.

From the horses mouth: https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2019/mario-lemina-i-dont-rule-out-leaving-southampton/ I think if we get a good offer (£20m +) then fair enough. If not, I still think he can be a key player.

Funnily enough I considered that but Thommo is under 6' which is obviously short for a centre half so didn't feel he could really compete against Powell on that basis who is 6'3. I've got a draft of a Valery vs Thomas speculative long range screamer scenario thread, but will let it mature for a couple of years.

Probably the first time in the summer so far that there are no really strong rumours. Surely will see some CBs linked soon seeing as we have openly said thats the next position that will be targetted.

Scenario: Its the 92nd minute at a sparsely populated St Marys and we are 2-1 up against Forest Green Rovers in the FA Cup (third round). Forest Green (playing in their vegan kit made from bamboo) pump a long ball forward in search of an equaliser. Ex Spenymoor Town striker Junior Mondal is the likely target Who would you rather was challenging for the ball in a Saints shirt (Under Armour with LD Sports logo peeling off), Darren Powell or Neal Trotman? Personally, I would go for Powelly all day long but I know Trotman has support on here.

Why? He won't play and then will leave for free next summer when his contract ends. We should be trying to get whatever we can and move on.

Yeah was impressed with him whilst watching Djenepo.

Bougal only has two years on his contract, which has about 0.17% chance of being extended. I think now is exactly the time to sell, even if for a knockdown fee. Im sure when it comes to it we would accept £8m or so, as come next summer he will be worth less.

Most of our (few) best performances under Pellegrino and Hughes coincided with Lemina being quality. He has the raw attributes to be a great player and now we have a good Manager it would be a shame to not be able to see what he could make of Lemina.

Good player, good age, good experience, signing from a PL rival. Its mental but its also the going rate. See AWB, Maguire etc.

Ayoze Perez is a cracking signing for Leicester. They are building a really good squad, probably a better starting XI than Arsenal IMO.

Anyone know how we are doing on the homegrown front now Targett has gone?

Retaining your best players is as important as signing new ones. A few of ours have contracts that are slowly running down. Historically, with Clyne and Wanyama we have been backed into a corner when a good, valuable player gets to a year to run and have tended to look to sell when they have two years left What do we think of the chances of the below signing new deals this summer: Most Pressing: Redmond - 2 years to go Hojbjerg - 2 years to go Bednarek - 3 years but on a low wage so deserves a new deal to reflect his progress There have so far been no rumours about Hojbjerg or Redmond leaving, so makes me think we probably can persuade them to sign an extension. If we don't then we will be forced to sell next summer at a knock down price. Bednarek should be a no brainer for all parties. Long has a year to go, I would leave hid and let him leave on a free next summer as he is still useful for now and has little transfer value.

Think some of the European leagues finished after the PL hence additional time for Cedric, Carillo, Hoedt possibly. Shame that Djenepo will barely get a pre season, so doubt he will be more than a sub option for the first month or so of the season.

Four year contract apparently, same as Djenepo. Wonder if we have been burned with too many failures on the 5 year deals so have intentionally shortened them by a year? Makes sense if they do well to look to extend within a year. On the other hand maybe its at the request of the player, for whom it gives more options once a couple of years have passed.

He is just an absolute, clear fake. If you want to waste your time reading what he says then thats up to you but people posting it on here should get a ban.

Makes sense and will be far easier to sell the likes of Gallagher, Targett, Reed, Hesketh, McQueen (none of whom are PL quality) than Carillo, Hoedt, Forster etc who we will have to loan out. These guys will fund the moves we want to make. Just put a decent sell on clause in (or even a buyback).

I actually feel we need the opposite. Vestergaard and Bednarek are 'clear it' type CBs. Bednarek especially is very good at it. We need someone who is more composed and better on the ball to play alongside them. Our ability to pass out well from the back ended when VVD left and there were a few goals we conceded from giving the ball away cheaply in our defensive third. I would be looking for composure, mobility and ability on the ball over the qualities you describe. (Obviously its nigh on impossible to find a defender with a mix of everything - basically that is VVD - what a player!)

Lemina one of the few who we could make a profit on, I'm sure. Would be happy if he stayed but equally he wasnt available for most of the RH reign so far and is at the most sellable stage of his contract, which he is likely to want to extend. Shame we didnt have Lemina during the RK era where we were a good side. All the others make sense. If we raise some cash then surely the priorities are: CB - with mobility and good on the ball RB - ability to play both sides preferred Central Mid - depending on sales and if RH has identified a good option. Would be a bonus signing. Mooy not the answer, we need a more defensive option.

From what I've seen of him in the ACON so far its almost ompossible to judge him because: 1. The standard of the games he has played in has been dreadful, probably league one or two 2. Mali are dreadful at getting him the ball in good areas, partly because the pitches look shocking and its so hot 3. He gets fouled as soon as he gets on the ball (probably the best inidcation that he is a threat)

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/17736433.southampton-hope-for-competition-in-the-race-to-sign-charlie-austin/ Doesn't sound overly close as per the bottom of this article. Seems as if we are waiting for Adams to push for the move.

Sounds like a goer if they offer a little more. https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/17737230.southampton-expecting-a-formal-offer-from-aston-villa-for-matt-targett/ IMO makes total sense. Keeping a player who is better than the one you are selling and giving a pathway to a promising player who needs opportunities at some stage. Targett has had plenty.

Its their local media so not too bad a source. @mjmarr_star: Believe #avfc are poised to firm up their interest in Southampton left-back Matt Targett with a formal bid. More @ExpressandStar shortly. Surely anything above £10m is worth taking for a player whose good PL matches could probably be counted on a severed hand.