Chez

he's been training for weeks? I didn't know that. How long does it take a CB to learn the `system'?

you are right, but not sure how it can work here though - assuming that wage is for real. He would have to play like the best player in the league for anyone to buy him and pay him that kind of wage.

has he been ill? I don't see any other reason why he wouldn't have got back to full fitness by now.

we desperately need a player that can kill counter attacks like Morgan used to do. We need better protection for our average centre backs. I'm hoping he can do that, which will allow us to be a little more adventurous going forward. It will be up to others to create more. We don't have enough creatively in the squad IMO. We score a lot of goals based on hard running from the liks of Armstrong, winning the ball back cheaply and Ings shooting quickly thereafter. When we have the ball a lot, we need a bit more craft and skill.

if we had a player good enough to fill the no 10 position, maybe that would offer more options. Only having one system and formation makes us easy to work out and plan for.

whole thing favours the top 6. They can buy the bet players from abroad, with the international caps and high wages. They can also afford the best (over priced) English players. The likes of us are left with either the `not so great' English players, or foreign players that have yet to grab the eye of international managers. I don't see any reason why a players wage should be part of the criteria. If we can get a player for low fee and low wage, but we think he is good enough, then that's our good fortune. The idea of `paying more than is required' so as to meet the criteria is utter madness.

Sagare stats suggest he gets the ball back and like Hoj did, gives it straight back to the opposition. Diallo keeps it. Whats xA on that wagon wheel?

very good point. Got to consider the full cost of a player.

I take it the £10m thing is just for players that don't have international caps. You'd never sign a free contract otherwise.

could be that we can afford the more expensive Diallo because it's less front loaded than than the Sangare deal?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54381448 sounds like it is pretty close

I guess it depends on what you think of Redmond and Dejenpo (and to a lessor degree Vokes).

thought signing injured players was our speciality? 😉 No reason he won't be fit by January.

cant see anything on the website except the old interview about wanting 3 platers in. They report the fee as £12m too, but guess they just got that from the French reports rather than their own sources. https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11700/12087775/ibrahima-diallo-southampton-agree-12m-deal-for-stade-brestois-midfielder

I guess its just as well my HCDAJFU was not on our radar, as Leeds' deal for Cuisance fell apart https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54387920 but we should keep a close eye on him, as might be a smart move in January. Great left foot and a Tadic-like eye for a pass.

I know it's bobins in todays transfer market, but with the financial difficulties right now, that fee feels a tad steep. I guess the Prem have to pay a premium.

the tracked for years thing always sounds a stretch to me. I have no doubt a lot of the players we are linked to in the press (aided no doubt by agents who will find out what scouts fro what clubs come to games) are indeed players we have watched, but just how big is our European scouting network?

Absolutely. I thought McTominay was extremely highly rated at Manure and only injury kept him out of the first 11 last season? I'd of thought Chelsea would be looking for transfer fee for RLC not a loan.

I thought I read comments posted on here from someone at Saints, the manager even, that basically said he ain't ready for Prem football yet - doesn't have the legs or the defensive facets required.

not directly from UK. If he was coming from some places in the EU he'd just have to take a test. Only if he came from Romania, Brazil...would he need to isolate for 14 days.

Palace played him off the striker, so not sure he is going to play next to JWP, unless there is someone behind them? I'd of thought RLC career at Chelsea was done. I am guessing everyone wants him as a cheap loan, but Chelsea want someone to step up with a transfer payment - hence no movement as yet.

we haven't tried to sign all the players we have been linked with.

how do Le Telegramme get that information? Agent fed story IMO.

We didn't sign players early to boost season ticket sales. We signed players to fill voids and have not filled the last void (CM) because we were gazzumped by Juve and then who nows after that. Can't blame club for who we are linked to.

he doesn't look like the dominating (do everything) central midfielder we are after to me. Good, but not good enough perhaps?