Dusic

Can't really think of another player who lots of fans have seemingly been so sure they know the personality of without probably having ever met him. Always seems like a good professional to me, always put a shift in and seemed like he cared. Came back from being the boo boy target to winning player of the season, so that in itself shows a bit of character. Also had big moments in some big games: LC semi goal, Everton away goal (Tom Davies game), Bmth cup QF etc. At his best, the assist for Ings goal away at Spurs in the game we somehow lost 3-2. Good luck to him and its a decent platform ahead of being a free agent next year.

Even after a handful of games it seems pretty obvious the big clubs will come after him next summer. Excellent player, excellent signing and really this interest just shows the approach works - it gives these players the platform to announce themselves at PL level. At the time we were all suprosed and shocked Ralph put Livramento straight in but it looks a genius move now as it showed others that the same would be possible for them. I wonder if perhaps it was partly a decision made for that reason, as well as because he is so good. No wonder other talents want to move here, and Lavia's early impact and hype should only increase that further. Next step I guess is to try and get these lads a little younger before we need to spend £10m on them, but I think Brexit has made that very difficult for the foreign players at least and the British talents probably want to be playing PL2 top division so hopefully we can get promoted back to that.

End of the day, no PL side is going to be overly concerned about facing a team with a front 3 containing Armstrong and Elyounoussi. Neither looks likely to score or create much, which is a problem in that position. I still think we need to play two strikers to compensate for a lack of individual quality in the front positions.

Will be interesting to see what he is like as has been linked with PL teams consistently for two years but nobody has really moved decisively for him. Must be something in his game that clubs were unsure of, as on the face of it he seems a decent package of experience for a 25yo and fairly rounded attributes.

Imagine he will sign the scholarship Saints initially offered which will include a guarenteed pro deal when he turns 17 in March. He is a huge talent, so whatever the circumstances its a massive win for the club. A lot of big talents in forward areas (Ballard, Doyle, Edwards and Dibling especially), will be interesting to see how we handle them all and which players really break through into the first team squad. As an aside, we signed Samuel Amo-Ameyaw from Spurs but havent announced anything re the left back Jayden Meghoma - wonder if that hasnt happened for some reason?

Shame to lose him but he should only miss 5, maybe 6 league games due to the Intl break. Good opportunity for Lloyd James perhaps.

Good, in depth article in The Athletic about the last few days. Summary: if he had gone anywhere on Thursday it would have been to Leeds, who offered a higher fee and personal terms. Ultimately Van Gaal talked him out of a move. My opinion: highly unlikely we will revisit this one.

No, doesn't appear as though we are. Assume we had put all our eggs in the Gakpo basket and don't think its worth rushing something now. Obviously hard to know whether Edozie is seen as first team ready but if not I do feel we lack a bit of quality in the final third, and would be in trouble if Adams is unavailable. That said, there isnt that long til January and we now have a stronger squad so should be able to focus soley on that area of the pitch - plus we know there is cash to spend.

Leeds seemingly have a Gakpo backup plan.

There is no chance of us signing Gakpo now, either during thebrest of today or in a future window (seemingly it was his choice to remain there and wait for a bigger club to move for him). The only player of a similar profile who is probably available and ready to move inside one day would be Ismaila Sarr - but we have seemingly had no interest before so expect we won't get an attacker and will reassess in Jan which does leave us vunerable and failing to achieve a major objective from this window. With Bednarek and Stephens going we absolutely need another CB, likely on loan - otherwise will surely block one of those exits. Assume Redmond will come back into the squad, which will make us stronger IMO than without him, especially if no new attacker.

Agreeing a fee is good, but the fact that haven't decided to actually sell him and that he is playing for them right now is a good indication that this is far from done...especially as their inbound window shuts tonight. Doesn't sound like the player is overly pushing otherwise he would have said he wasn't right to play like they all seem to these days. Also have to consider that both sides are spinning the situation to their own fans - PSV that they are standing to their valuation and Saints that if we don't get him we couldn't have done more. IMO if it was that close he wouldn't be playing for them. There was NO agreement on Gakpo with #saintsfc just before the game. Otherwise he wouldn't be on the field right now. PSV will not jeopardize 40 million euros.

If, and obviously still a big if, we were to sign Gakpo then would imagine we couldnt afford to drop another £15m on Garner anyway. Maitland Niles loan would then be very appealing as could replace Romeu and provide fullback cover without paying out another big fee. Personally I think Stephens will go and Bednarek will stay. No point loaning Jan out and weakening our own backup CB area just to strengthen a rivals, whereas with Stephens we can essentially say that ABK has replaced him.

Sounds like there is a deal to bd done for Gakpo if we up our offer a little. They have a game tonight so teamsheet will be interesting. But can we do that if we also need to bring in a midfielder (Garner will definitely move somewhere) and full back potentially? Could be looking at a net spend approaching £100m this summer. Or would we think if we get Gakpo that we could get by til Tino is back just with Perraud, Djenepo and KWP? Risky move. Also...anyone else find it odd that seemingly of TV, radio or the written press nobody asked Ralph about potential transfers after the game yesterday? Assume they are instructed not to by the club as its such an obvious question otherwise.

Seeing as we clearly do have some big (for us) cash to spend, it will be interesting if we don't get Gakpo whether we have a backup or just keep the money rather than potentially waste it? Feels like we really need a creative injection in the team, so personally hope they have something else lined up if not Gakpo - does instinctively feel like there is too much of a difference in valuation to overcome in two days. Slightly suprised we have left it this late to sign an attacker but equally a week ago when he thought he was signing for Utd he would have had zero interest in us. Also, if we don't get ANM then surely we need a full back and we haven't really been linked with any.

Getting into the territory where moves that may have happened now don't because the selling team can very legitimately say they had no time to get a replacement. Gakpo training with PSV today.

Rik Elfrink article: https://www.ed.nl/psv/deze-clubs-uit-engeland-jagen-nog-op-gakpo-psv-rondt-laatste-loodjes-op-de-transfermarkt-af~a5a75202/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialsharing_web Says 3 PL clubs want Gakpo, who will probably leave before end of window. Can't read it to see who the other two are. Surely no way we will go towards £40m for a player. Even if we were to sell him in a year or two we would only make a decent profit if he turned out to be extremely good. Hope we have a backup option ready to go...

Brereton Diaz would be a bit underwhelming and I don't think the type of player we need. We need a bit of x factor, someone who can create chances for themselves like Broja did. Any signings from abroad would need to be almost done by EOD Tuesday you would imagine to have enough time for a medical, which certainly wouldnt be rushed if we are to spend a significant amount.

And the bid we made could well have been days ago in which time we have moved on. Shows we do have some cash for a permanent move though. Ralph's answer after the game on Sat seemed to suggest something was very close, so probably a different player. Also, the Dutch media are usually all over big transfers for players from their top sides.

Ornstein saying we have had an offer for Gakpo turned down... Presumeably you don't get to that stage if the player has no interest in joining potentially. Not a striker but good creative player - one to watch... Ornstein also says Everton primed for Garner.

I think it depends on outgoings. The minimum at this stage is an attacking player (which Ralph seemed to suggest is close) and someone who can play at full back (presumably Maitland Niles). Should we lose either Bednarek or Stephens I imagine we won't replace them (fair enough if Stephens goes but less so if its Bednarek). But if both go then we 100% would need to add a CB. For this reason, I suspect we will only let one go and probably Stephens as there is zero point in loaning Bednarek to a rival and weakening our CB depth. Villa linked with Craig Dawson this morning. If Romeu goes then perhaps thats where Garner interest comes in. But would we really get AMN and Garner? Personally I don't think so. Whilst Garner has a higher ceiling, AMN probably cheaper and more versatile so can see the appeal. Might there be a scenario where we lose Diallo too and then get both? Probably unlikely this late. Redmond and Walcott havent made many squads but if both go then we are light in numbers in those positions, especially if we go back to 4-2-2-2 as I dont see Adam Armstrong as a midfield player. As we seem unlikely to make any major sales (clearly it was expected in the last few weeks that Adams would generate a decent fee), I wouldn't be suprised if all the incomings are loans, AMN and a forward of some kind.

Sounded from TV like there is some sort of disease in the grass which I am sure is a nightmare to resolve, but the pitch looked (and played) awful yesterday and Im sure is much worse close up. Wonder how long it will take to sort out?

Agree. He seemed to be pretty sure of something. Guess whatever it is will come out pretty soon.

Not sure why we would loan Bednarek out to a theoretical rival. He is better in a back four than Lyanco and Stephens so all it achieves is moving them a place up the order. Imagine Salisu gets a 3 month injury and we have to pick Lyanco or Stephens every week...scary! If we do loan him then hopefully we can also ditch Stephens and bring someone else in...otherwise see no benefit for us whatsoever.

Aribo is a midfielder and Mara a raw striker touted as a replacement for Shane Long. We lost Broja in May (plus Long, Tella and potentially Redmond) so have essentially had the whole summer to recruit a striker and the manager himself has said its a top priority. Arguably we shouldnt still be looking now, we should have sorted it already. This season its a particularly competitive bottom half so we absolutely need to do something. Mara is raw, Armstrong not good enough and Adams inconsistent. If we don't sign a starting attacker then IMO Ralph has every right to feel let down. Most decent sized deals will be known about by Monday so tick tock..

Anyone else preparing for the club planted story of how we don't see value in the market for strikers and are pleased with Adams return to form and willing to go to January with our current options rather than waste out money on someone we aren't sure of?