Dusic

Good to bring in a British player. Seems a smart move for a low fee. Looks like a profile of player that we don't have. Still require a lot more activity both in and out though. Certainly been a disappointing window so far, had expected more change.

Our striker options are certainly bottom 6 material. Really expected an overhaul in that area this summer but don't think the Club have the urgency/ambition to do what is needee sadly.

No way City would let Gunn go permanently so would be a loan and no way they would send him somewhere to sit on the bench. Odd one really.

All the same teams watch and are interested in the same players. Tough job to persuade anyone to join us ahead of Leicester, Everton or WHam though. Elyounoussi would be a great signing but a few days ago Leicester were strongly linked: http://www.espn.in/football/soccer-transfers/story/3536780/leicester-city-plan-summer-move-for-basels-mohamed-elyounoussi-sources

McQueen is quite favoured on here, but is he actually better than Targett as a LB?

Cheap, available, average. Sounds like a Saints deal.

Agree personally. Targett lacks that yard of pace that Shaw and Bertrand have. Decent player but gets ripped by quick wide players at PL level. Those kind of numbers just shows you need to spend £30m for a proven player these days.

Key word - "hope" In a situation where they must get things done rather than hope it. See January 2017 & 18.

FAO Mosin - have a lie down. FAO those who are sayings its ok if we replace him well - look at the Schneiderlin, Wanyama, Mane, Pelle, Fonte and VVD replacements. I have zero faith in Ross and Les to replace what Tadic brings, within our budget. That is more of a concern than the actual act of selling our only good attacker.

Would cost double that to replace what he brings and assuming Boufal goes to when we need a couple of wide players before even considering strikers, CB or RB. We have 7 or 8 attacking players but he is easily the best and our most reliable creator. Also one of the main experienced pros in the squad, and is a leader of which we have few. Can imagine the rest of the squad being gutted about this as well. This window, even in the early stages, has a January 2018 feeling about it.

Like it or not, the Wires are having a good window. Fair play.

This is interesting on Haidara: https://janrihaplateau.wordpress.com/2017/11/05/amadou-haidara-destined-for-the-top/ But he isn't similar to Maddison at all so assume we still want a player of that profile i.e a no10. Haidara seems like a Lemina or JWP competitor. As an aside, I wonder if, after the articles from Wilson and Wallace bigging up our plans for January after selling VVD, the club have decided to be a lot more low key. There have been no articles of that type, nothing in the Echo, nor via Blackmore which is probably better, despite the crave for information. Where Reed and Willo are concerned, actions need to speak louder than words.

Saints go to China at the end of June, looking increasingly likely with no additions to a squad that was nearly relegated. There is a massive advantage to have players settled for the start of the season and it adds competition for those who were poor last season but with no real fight for their place. Also gives Hughes fewer options, he has to plan for a 5-3-2 simply because the CBs arent good enough and need protecting. Plus, surely we aren't going to start the season with Long and Austin as the main strikers again?

Not sure Gibson is all that really.

Good: Bad: https://southamptonfc.com/news/2017-06-23/announcement-mauricio-pellegrino-new-southampton-first-team-manager Ugly: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/12/28/southampton-keen-daniel-sturridge-ready-make-audacious-move/

I would love that but think after this WC he wille be in the £35m+ bracket which rules us out. We need to get these sorts of players before their breakout moments. Re Wilshere: are we are good enough team to miss the chance of signing Jack Wilshere on a free transfer if he was interested? Ideal Steven Davis replacement in many ways.

RB competition should be a priority, especially as there is some doubt over Cedric's future and he may not be able to play the first couple of games even if he stays, should Portugal get quite far in the WC. Cedric had a poor season but lacked any kind of serious competition. In fact, so did RB. Full back cover the weakest area of the squad.

ICYMI - we are in the PL, not L1.

Can only assume he always preferred Leicester but they hadn't had a bid accepted so we thought we could be an option for him if they weren't willing to match our fee. Otherwise if we knew he would pick them then why bid? Bit of a blow. A side like Leicester were miles better than us last season and already have 2 (3) good signings sorted whilst we have none. Tick tock Wee Ross.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/james-maddison-set-hold-leicester-12729318 Lots of factors at play, including that he is from the Midlands. A few Saints players signed for us and turned down Hughes (Redmond and Cedric for certain) but not sure it counts for much. They are likely to be stronger than us over the next couple of years as will spend more. But we have a better record for delivering players to CL clubs, which is probably where he is ultimately aiming. Reports say Leicester favourites but if there was no chance of swaying him then why bid?

At the end of the day, bids are bit of a red herring, the player will choose. Leicester have already made two decent signings and are midlands based which likely gives them an advantage. But Saints have a good record (albeit not of late) of boosting careers of high potential players. Will be interesting to see how it plays out, but I will be suprised if he picks us over them.

Good player, reminds me of Lallana a little bit, clever in tight spaces, with just enough of a burst to escape a player. Genuine no10. Hopefully a more reputable source adds to this, otherwise it reads a little like its flushing out interest from other teams. Skybet still have Leicester as favourites for what its worth. I'm not convinced its as clear cut as the article suggests.

Easiest way to solve it is to not name an official launch date (seeing as you cannot buy the kit yet anyway) and just communicate it once its able to be communicated. Most clubs released news of theirs before the end of last season or in late May, some clubs wore new kits for the last game of the season. Financially it would be better to launch then as its a bigger sales window for summer holidays etc. Anyway, summer is for signings, holidays and cricket, not ****y kit launches.

Operationally, this launch has been a total **** up! But its only a kit so one of the least concerning **** ups of the last two years!

@SkyKaveh: West Ham back in talks to sign Javier Pastore from PSG. Talks at an advanced stage. List of players the Wires have been strongly linked to is pretty strong. Clearly they won't get all of them but one of Mawson/Diop and Pastore/Anderson plus Fabianski and in addition to Fredericks would represent some very solid business in the face of their usual shambolic transfer windows. Sullivan must have been marginalised. Fakianski Mawson Diop Anderson Pastore Maddison