Dusic

Having a great season. The changes Crocker made, including bringing in the in-game/individual skill coaching setup are obviously having an impact and Carl Martin probably took a lot from being involved with the first team. But ultimately I think there are just better players in that group than we have had for a while.

Once Crook had finally taken himself off mute (its always him) in the presser yesterday he asled about Broja and Hasenhuttl's response appeared to me to hint that a second loan was maybe more likely than a permanent move. Perhaps that does really represent out best chance of keeping him a bit longer as no way Chelsea would loan him to more of a perceived direct rival like West Ham or Arsenal and as RH said Chelsea must be impressed with how he has developed on loan so if they go down that path again there is really no reason for him to go anywhere else, certainly not if he stays in the PL. Hypothetically if you were Saints and could sign up him up right now to a 2nd season on loan would you take it, or risk going to the open market in the summer?

Sorry, by pointless I was refering to the final year of the contract. Any player that has a value and is seen as a way to make profit won't be allowed to enter his final year, so it may as well be knocked off the duration when considering the real amount of time we could get from the player. A four year contract gives two full years before value starts to decline. In Salisu's case his first year was a non event. A five year deal gives three years before value drops. I think this is even more valid because we tend to sign players who take a while to get used to PL level, Adams, Diallo, Salisu, Perraud, Lyanco etc.

I know a player cannot be forced to, but given his adaptation/personal circumstances took so long to resolve we essentially signed him on a 2 year contract as the final year is pointless. Obviously burned by mistakes of the past like Clasie, Forster, Hoedt etc but 5 year contracts or 4yrs with an option for a 5th put the club in such a stronger position. To be a 'good' selling club we need to be selling a player like Salisu for £50m and that will only happen this summer if he doesnt sign an extension. Pointless buying him for £10m, developing him and giving him the PL platform and then being forced to sell for £15m because his contract is running down. If we get back to selling these guys for more then perhaps we can start buying at £25m rather than £15m.

We won't get an outrageous amount in 2023 because he will only have 12 months left on his contract. We will probably get some offers this summer so will be interesting to see how the club reacts - contract extension with buyout would suit everyone. If any PL teams are keen it may as well be Newcastle because they will probably pay the most. Re Simeu/Armitage I don't think it really works that directly. When signing those types there is clearly a hope that they might make it in the PL but there is a long way to go before it amounts to anything. The heralded signings and subsequent stories of Jankewitz & Ramello Mitchell attest to that.

Just as important as signings, and obviously not restricted by the transfer window, are contracts. The following will have two years left and we should be looking to preserve their value with an extension to avoid a cheap sale: Adams - solid & robust PL striker Diallo - need to find a way of giving him more game time Salisu - expect we will get offers this summer and if he won't extend then its optimal sale time value wise We would also have Romeu and Redmond with just a year left. KWP, whilst having 3 years left has probably earned a new deal. Wonder how much Tino is on and whether we may also give him a pay rise, or whether its just accepted that he won't be here long so no real point.

I reckon Chelsea will at least look at Broja in pre season, which would put us in a difficult position as how long do we wait whilst other targets go elsewhere? Otherwise, as stated by others its pretty clear GK and no10 are the key areas to improve. Imagine Djenepo and Moi will go as no chance we give either an extension. Harry Lewis must be crapping himself that he might actually have to go and play football.

Don't get the love for Johnstone and personally not convinced he is much better than McCarthy or Forster, if at all. As I've said before, I am fairly certain that once Forster goes he will be replaced by a younger keeper to compete with McCarthy, not someone who will instantly be the no1. No chance McCarthy's new contract is less money than he was on before so imagine he is one of the higher paid players in our squad. Seems pointless spending 3 years moaning how our 2nd choice keeper is our highest paid player, finally get rid of him and then still end up with a 2nd choice keeper who is one of the highest earners. If we want to sign a genuine no1 this summer then we should be letting Forster and McCarthy go - which seemingly is not what is happening.

Would be good if Newcastle sign the Reims striker as surely no need for them to go after Broja in the summer. Djenepo loan very plausible. Think he started quite a few games at the start of the season, missed big chances vs Newcastle especially and I think Ralph has lost patience with him. Believe in the summer he has one year left on his contract so imagine we will look to recoup anythingnwe can rather than offer an extension.

Looking back in hindsight then Anjorin seems to fit the bill most out of any players we have been linked with. If, as seems, our interest in him is genuine then can only assume Chelses want to see how he does in the Championship before deciding they are happy to sell him permanently. Bit wary of Everton now they have Lampard as he knows these kind of players better than anyone and their squad needs some younger additions. --------- As an aside LOL at MLG for virtually copying my post onto Twitter. Most of his content on there comes from other people's stuff here. Shameless that lad.

I doubt even one person in Southampton knows what Harry Hickford looks like, let alone numerous 😆 With Spurs likely to get shot of Gil and N'Dombele I wonder if they may keep Alli now. Sounds like a quiet window for us despite Ralph seeming confident of a signing or two earlier in Jan, although there isnt an obvious need for anything that can't wait til summer.

I saw him play for Lewes on Tuesday and he is obviously decent at that level, tall, quite quick and nice left foot but he didn't stand out as someone who would ever be PL class, and he is at an age where most young PL players break through (19) and is currently playing below National League South. I wonder if he was right footed whether Spurs or Brighton would even look twice at him. Brighton and Lewes have a good relationship so sure if they are interested he will train with them and they can have a closer look.

Wonder if Brighton might go for him on loan. Barber is pally with Levy, they pose no real threat to Spurs hopes of top 4 and their style might suit him well. Everton only have one loan available and supposedly are after VdB.

How long before a story pops up linking Frank Lampard's Everton with a move for Broja? Not long, I am sure. Shame their fans kicked off about Pereira.

Easy to see the teams that are in panic mode. Fact is we don't need to make any signings, so if its better to wait til the summer then may as well wait. I think the only possible now would be a no brainer type like Alli that may present itself. Otherwise we have few injuries and a pretty strong squad depth wise considering over half the season is done. I reckon the summer will be quite interesting. Surely will sell one player to generate cash (JWP if top 6 call or Salisu if no new contract) but could end up signing a few as we are a much more attractive proposition than a year ago, with a stable manager. Also a few big contracts ending, plus last chance to recoup money for Djenepo and Elyounoussi which the club will surely look to take.

Isn't the point whole point that if Alli was confident and in-form that we would have no chance of signing him? The fact is he needs a move to try to regain his best form where he scored more PL goals in one season than Armstrong, Tella, Walcott, Elyounoussi and Djenepo have ever scored combined for us. As for application, he thrived under Pochettino in a team that outrun almost everyone else and was known for being excellent off the ball. If it were affordable and he was happy to make the move on a temporary basis then its about as much of a no brainer as you will get. I think he will go elsewhere but Saints would actually be a great fit for him to try and kickstart his career again.

https://www.hampshirelive.news/sport/football/transfer-news/southampton-transfer-chelsea-armando-broja-6557071 The content here seems very plausible. Aside from someone like Armitage, I wonder whether we will fill up our second loan with a too good to turn down opportunity like Alli or Minamino? Djenepo and Walcott are both massively out of favour and like Djenepo, Moi has 18mths on his contract so I'm sure we will try to sell Moi and Moussa for anything we can get in the summer, especially if Anjorin is a target for then.

Anjorin was born and raised in Poole and also had a brief spell at Saints as a kid. Sounds from all the reports like summer is more likely, as we can't loan him this window. Probably one of the ones Ralph referred to when he said the takeover would give us the chance to move a bit earlier on some of our targets.

Ultimately it suits Spurs the most if he goes somewhere and does really well, because they will be looking to sell him in the summer. For that reason, surely better for them that he went to Saints or Brighton (Barber link would make them favourites I reckon), in a settled team with little outside attention or pressure rather than Everton where you have no idea whats going on, or Newcastle where they will be bedding in lots of new players and have intense media attention. If he is on 100k a week I dont see why that would be overly problematic. I'm sure Van der Beek would be on that at Utd and its not seemingly a problem for Palace. No10 is our weakest area and even if just for the remainder of this season if there is a slight chance to get a player of Alli's ability then its a no brainer. He thrived under Poch's pressing style and I think would suit how we play perfectly.

https://www.teamtalk.com/leeds-united/exclusive-armando-broja-race-everton-wolves We had better get used to this. Any non top 6 club not looking at him would be stupid.

If Saints could sign him permanently now then we obviously would. So we obviously can't. Sounds like Chelsea have said to wait til the summer for any decisions to be made - which from their side is clearly sensible. Unfortunate for us buy there will be loads of teams interested in him so we have to hope he really does like it at Saints and is sensible enough to realise that playing every week in a vibrant if flawed team is much better than being in and out of the team at Chelsea, West Ham etc. This will rumble on...

Rather than being encouraged by Chelsea, it would suggest Broja is keen enough for us to make a bid, which if true would be promising. From Chelsea point of view surely they will want to let his loan finish and then decide.

Would be an excellent loan and could be just what he needs to get his career back on track. No string attached, just come and play and from Saints perspective we get half a season of a quality player who we would have no chance of signing permanently. Best pals with KWP too. That said, we see those links every window, the one with about a week to go that ends with a caveat about us being unlikely to afford the wages. Was the same with Loftus Cheek.

When I've seen him at Evesham Utd this season he has reminded me of a young Marco Almeida: Moves like a gazelle. Can turn on a sixpence and reads danger rather than schoolbooks. No suprise Dragan has loosened the purse strings for this one, an exciting prospect who will be enhanced by Dave Horseman and the playbook.

Reality is that we will only keep players like Salisu for longer than we have players in the past if we can get him to sign a second contract, unlike the likes of Clyne, Wanyama, Hojbjerg, Ings, Vestergaard etc who declined and then put us in a position where we have to sell. JWP aside, it must be years since a sought after player signed a contract extension.