Dusic

Obviously great to hold out for good fees but also comes a point where we need to sell and be able to reinvest. The players RM said have indicated want to move here and are being patient won't stay that way forever. Hopefully there is some movement out soon, Salisu move should be done shortly and still no DCC training and the Lyon move seemingly being discussed.

Russell Martin couldn't have been clearer in his messaging (listen to his talksport interview this morning) about what will happen but I still think some of our fans will be suprised when it does. This is my opinion on likeliness of players to move before Sept: Lavia: 99% - will go to Liverpool shortly Salisu: 95% - hope he passes his medical ABK: 90% - not heard of over pre season so unless he has a bad injury assume he will be going Livramento: 80% - as soon as Newcastle came in strong its extremely likley something gets done. We can replace him and still pocket a load of cash. DCC, Lyanco, Onuachu: 80% - we would virtually give these guys away assuming someone will take their wages. None are in the plans as proven over pre season JWP: 70% - proven PL player who 15 of the PL teams could afford. Someone will buy him and not sure Saints will price him out of a move given his service and seemingly great attitude this summer KWP: 70% - again a proven PL player, relatively cheap and positionally versatile, would be amazed if he is still here. Adams: 70% - same as with KWP plus only a year left Perraud: 70% - Manning brought in as first choice so writing on the wall. Best chance to sell with 2 years left on contract. Tella: 60% - would be good to keep but if Burnley rate him that highly then likely they will eventually make a fair offer Kamaldeen: 50% - hard to tell as havent heard much about him. Wouldnt be suprised either way and with him the idea of a year loan somewhere is also a possibility Stu Armstrong: 50% - not fussed if he goes as he can't get fit and cannot be relied upon Djenepo: 50% - doesnt seem like Martin rates him, almost whats the point of keeping him, especially if Tella and/or Kamaldeen stay. Alcaraz: 40% - seems content to stay and has been a key man in pre season but if concrete interest came then can't rule anything out McCarthy: 40% - would be good to get his wages off the books and sign a no2 keeper so can actually pressure Bazunu and is comfortable on the ball but don't see many suitors given wage/recent level Aribo: 30% - still think he might work out, suited to the style and does have goals in him which we generally lack. Assuming the rest pretty likely to stay. Obviously not all of those listed will go but a large chunk will IMO. Going to be a busy month with probably at least 5 more incomings too (CB, Central Mid and Forward areas pretty bare).

Seems now almost certain Livramento will go, and would personally be amazed if KWP is still here too in September. On that basis, Aarons would be a decent replacment that fits our ethos and has previously been very highly rated. Despite being young he is also very experienced at this level. At least it seems clear that Bree is only seen as backup.

I don't think bidding wars really happen these days as the bids are made to clubs usually once the player has already decided where to go, as in the case of Lavia. If we are looking at getting £10-£15m for Adams who has a year left then I think the similar would be appropriate for Piroe.

Left footed but good finisher with his right foot also. Lots of goals from around the edge of the area. When I have seen him play (just a few times) he strikes me as just being a good technical player rather than having any particularly standout physical attributes. Certainly not a traditional no9, possibly a little similar in style (obviously not quality) to Robin van Persie. If we do want him then you would think the Martin link would be a significant factor given his best goal returns have come under RM. Unless of course there is top level interest. One thing for sure, zero chance Swansea will allow him to run his contract down and leave for free next summer.

Everything is basically pending the transfer window. The good thing is that Martin has shown in a short time he can coach the team to play in a very specific way. He will basically need to do this again from early Sept when we know what the team will be.

"Saints Mike" having a nightmare yesterday, slagging people off for reading up on Zach Awe, getting really worked up about it and then pretending he didn't care. He seems to get triggered by similar stuff to Paul Chuckle from this parish.

Martin said in one of his first interviews that it would be character first and was keen to point out that Manning is a good, aggressive (NJ shudder) character, whilst Charles comes across as very focused and he wouldnt have got PL mins for City if he was a wally, and nor been fast-tracked into a team like NI which is based on character as much as ability. Reality is though we need to be selling players and Martin has said all along that some who play the first game or two won't be here in Sept. Its entirely possible we start with KWP, Tino, JWP, Tella and Adams next week (could add Alcaraz to that list) and then none are here in September. Its not ideal but it is what it is and we are probably more likely to win with KWP and/or Tino starting than James Bree. End of the window will surely be mental and its hard to really make a judgement until September because nobody knows who will still be here until then.

We are all expecting/hoping to sell at least ABK, Salisu, Lyanco and DCC. We will need to sign new CBs. Not all of them will be starting XI every week type signings. Wilcox knows the pool of good academy players better than most so if he thinks he will add to the squad then I'm sure he will. Low risk signing and exactly the kind that, alongside some more established types, we should be looking to make.

Hard to judge these type of roles over a short period, also because we don't know the specifics. In many cases we seemingly identified very good players (Gakpo, Ramos, Hojlund, Colwill etc) but obviously didnt sign any of them. Now I highly doubt that it was Shields handling negotiations with other clubs on the specifics, always came across that he was more a talent ID guy and arguably you can do that well and it falls down in the negotiation side. I would imagine given his background Shields also had a role in the signings of Sam Amo and Jayden Meghoma. Those could prove very valuable at low cost in the medium term. Even now there has been very little mention of Darren Mowbray (Shield's replacement). I don't think Martin has even refered to him, instead putting the responsibility on Wilcox. So very hard to really apportion blame to individuals in any kind of educated way IMO as we don't really know who did what. It seems a bit clearer now.

Second part of the article very good too. Wilcox was a key appointment and I thonk a good one. He has credibility and the transparency is also appreciated. The club need to bring supporters with them, not treat us as mugs and explaining clearly what they are doing is simple but really helps build bridges.

Good if Lavia gets done soon, hopefully movement on others too to give RM clarity. Re Sulemana, wonder if his is a situation where a loan would be the best option, if he is determined to leave this summer? He still has 4 years left and a good season in France would increase his value. If we sold him now we would probably get less than we paid which seems pointless, especially as he is clearly a player of high potential and with some in demand characteristics. There is also the factor that if we sell all the players with PL quality/potential and still go up we would have a huge recruitment need next summer to be competitive at PL level. A loan could protect the asset and give future options.

Thats what happens when you get relegated and some players have interest from the PL. There is a foodchain and we have fallen down it.

As ever, if Tella wants to go (which I am sure he does) then every player has a price. He has 2 years left on his contract and I am sure wouldn't currently sign an extension. His stock is high after last season, he has never performed well at PL level so his value is currently at its highest. Like with all offers, its the start of a negotiation. If they stump up our value then he will go and I expect he probably will.

Personally far from convinced that Bree is a starting XI quality player for us in this system. Assuming KWP and Livramento go, I think we should be bringing in someone better than Bree. His only particularly successful time has been in a Nathan Jones Luton team playing a total different style to what we now play, and I havent seen anything to really make me think he is anything other than pretty average.

Some proper weirdos out there, especially the anonymous ones.

I thought it was a good game at decent intensity where the difficulties Martin faces were clear. Centre back is a bit shambolic - we need an addition who can play the style but badly need rid of probably three minimum (ABK, Salisu, Lyanco). I guess Lyanco only played because Bednarek is injured but Charles and Lyanco will never start as a CB pairing so nothing really gained. At full back KWP and Livramento are so far ahead of Bree, who is basically a mannequin (another poor signing) yet he doesnt know if either or both will be able to play the first game let alone much after that. Midfield we are short in the #8 position assuming JWP goes. Clear that Alcaraz is better the further forward he plays. Then up front he has basically one viable option that will be here after the window in Adam Armstrong and I'm still far from convinced he can play up front on his own and be effective. Can see an obvious style and lots of good things but we really need to start getting rid of some players and enabling RM some certainty and a chance to add in key areas, particularly at centre back which is surely set for big churn in the next month. Oh, and giving Djenepo a 3yr extension was a terrible decision.

I wouldn't read much into any values stated by journos, particularly on opening bids. I mean Arsenal didn't go straight in at £105m for Rice did they? Figures are fed by agents and clubs and clearly in the case of JWP and Lavia they aren't being fed by Saints. We all know that these players will be leaving, the club have known for ages and so have prospective buyers. From what we know of Ankersen and especially this summer, there is no chance we will sell these guys for way under what we think they are worth. Everything now is just negotiation and then at the end when it done the buying club journos will hail the great deal their club did and ours will say we stuck to our value and got a great deal. Not worth getting into a flap about. The best thing for Saints is to get a fair price and get it done so we can move on and get in our own targets. All IMHO of course, Morph

Opening bid so obviously just a starting point but expect it will happen. He is too good to waste a (tournament) year in the Championship and everyone glosses over the financials too from his perspective. We have been relegated, we will need to sell some players and particularly our highest earners so sooner it happens the better (assuming a good offer ends up being made).

Annoying to have Lyanco and Salisu deals collapse when both were seemingly decent for us. Imagine we have CB targets but can't really justify signing any when we have 6 senior ones on the books and no real signing of getting rid of any. Hopefully our targets continue to be patient...

He's been injured. Big blow for him and seeing as he played the final game of the season and hasn't featured at all in pre season you have to assume he did it over the summer. If he misses all of pre season I wonder if a loan til Jan might be best for everyone to get him regular starts which he is still unlikely to get for us IMO.

He only just turned 17 so only now can sign pro. He likely agreed one as part of his scholarship move but most of the others only signed two years until 2025 (which is pretty normal). I think ideally we would want a little more security than that for him given he looks very much like being a first team squad member this season.

Meghoma pro deal confirmed, Sam Amo's should be shortly. Hope its more than a 2 year deal as he won't go unnoticed for long, especially with a bit of end product. Great piece of recruitment to nab him from Spurs.

Our old friend Nixon saying we are leading rhe race for Ross Stewart. Not seen much of him before but certainly looks to have something about him and a very good goal record for Sunderland, albeit currently recovering from injury. One to watch perhaps, or maybe just Nixon helping him earn a new deal at Sunderland.

Downes doesn't want to leave West Ham this summer according to Football Insider, who MLG always said was very reliable. Assuming we play often with the deep #6 and 2 x #8s I think only Charles will be suited to the #6 role as Smallbone too lightweight. RM said there are some positions we have depth in and some we don't and once Lavia and JWP go, there is clearly a need for someone else who can do the #6 role and then probably a #8 type too. Likely all four of our CMs from last season will be gone by Sept.