Chez

For all we know, we may have moved on already. We have obviously enquired about Rudoni, so certainly aren't putting all our eggs into one basket when it comes to the attacking midfielder. I wonder where WBA are financially. They sold Heggam, who I thought would be good for us, so that will have generated much needed funds, but they may still need to sell another to balance the books. The fact Fellows has not been bought by a PL club is a slight concern. Are we buying a guy that can't make the step up should we get promoted. Should we worry about that right now?

Plenty of moaning on here about us buying inexperienced nippers/potential, squad players or mediocre/shit, and then more moaning about our failure to offload the deadwood...yet if we target quality players, that end up at bigger clubs, we are unrealistic, time-wasting etc.

there was one for Onuachu. Our scouting must have missed it.

We have talked on here for a few years about building a side capable of staying up on promotion, and how the 2011 side was built on outstanding young talent like Lallana and Morgan. It wont happen, but a season of those two causing championship teams problems (followed by promotion, of course) could help us create that similar foundation to build on next season. I'm getting way ahead of myself here aren't I? Your post Sue just allowed me to dream for two minutes of a better (saints) world.

One year left on his contract. Brentford demanding £60m. Newcastle desperate for a striker, Brentford desperate to keep theirs. Talk about supply and demand dictating pricing.

They sold Vlachodimas to Newcastle last year, for about £20m, not this year. it was part of the Anderson sale that sorted out both Newcastle and Forest's PSR issues. They don't have the sane issues this year with the Elanga and Danilo sales.

Midsummers's night cream? [borrowed from the interweb]

I'd expect any loans to happen in the last week of the window, once permanent transfers are pretty much in place and clubs know what they have to work with. I'd be surprised if we signed a winger (or two) until there were some departures. That's out of our control. Not overly concerned. It's pretty standard pace/activity. It's a long season. The 4 points from 2 games means we have not lost too much ground.

Europe's statistically best manager

His value probably won't go up over the next two years, but the price offered between now and the window closing might. I see Everton returning with a larger bid.

He wins some headers. He attempts to win headers. I worry who will do that when it's Stephens and THB.

I am fully aware of what's the real world. But if the highest bid is way below the clubs (not my) valuation, why should they sell?

Never thought you were.

If the add ons are £25m in hard cash and a 20% sell on fee, then we might be interested.

Chelsea spent more than that on Lavia after 26 starts for us.

Armstrong is starting ahead of Archer and Sugawara gets in our squad ahead if Bree.

Shudder. Jus took a look at his wiki page and he's cored 19 goals in 61 league games for Copenhagen since he departed. Remove his period at Saints and he's scored 99 goals in 300 league games.

Really? Seems strange for us to be bidding for a player that has no intention of leaving.

Not sure anyone can blame him for waiting until the 11th hour to sign for a championship club. We're not exactly the most desirable destination. Second flight football and quite a lot of foreign signings that have not worked out terribly well. I don't think it's clear either who is stalling, him or his club. One thing is clear though, he does want a move to a European side. He has been very open about that.

Rudoni is presumably the plan B.

We've bought Downs to do this job. He may not work out, but we aren't getting anther striker in this window.

May I suggest you pop along to the Burnley forum. They can probably give you some tips about freeing hostages.

Not surprising. Some are disappointed he hasn't signed a new contract, some think he is pushing for the move and even though many understand this is just football business, it's hard to think lik that when you have travelled to support the side. I absolutely love watching him in a Saints shirt. He's a rare talent.

IMO he worked his socks off, unselfishly for the side. He was a pain in the arse for them and won possession back a couple of times. He gave his all and I don't have any complaints about his performance today.

didn't Gakpo score a hat full of goals while we were on the verge of agreeing a fee?