Chez

I worry about that. There is no guarantee at all we get him back here, which is a nightmare as he has been so important to the way we play. I guess other players can do the same thing, but it would be good to avoid another `learning curve'.

Feels like a Stephens type signing (maybe his replacement in due course. I think we loaned Stephens to a few league 1 sides then brought him into the first team fold several years after signing him. Maybe we do that again?

Likewise. But realistically he's going nowhere until the manager has spoken to him, taken a look in training, maybe even played in a friendly or two and perhaps even replaced with a signing. It looks like they are bringing in Guilherme, who is touted as a real talent, but I think he plays further forward. I wonder whether Soucek will be less favoured by the new manager. Hoefully not less favoured than Downes.

Downes, Stu and Rothwell have obviously departed. How much genuine faith RM has in Charles (I'd loan him out personally) and Alvarez to perform in the Prem next season is to be seen. That midfield area is crucial. Having several irons in the fire makes a lot of sense.

If the TransferRoom is great, why are we telling our competitors about it? Or is every club already using it?

Left footed, comfortable on the ball. He looks taller than 1.85m (as per transfermkt). Hell of a jump from the National League, but perhaps we have some sort of progression plan - loan etc.

Our wage budget will be in the bottom third, but I am not sure wages will be the issue. It's going to be hard to get players that have offers from other Prem sides as Saints are less certain than most to stay in the Prem. That's a problem. We don't really want to sign players no one else rates. Everyone knows everyone these days, so how do we attract the kind of player we need? Gambling a little on Championship talents perhaps? Getting more talent from South America?

no.

we were often poor when he didn't play or was subbed. When he was playing badly and was taken off, invariably we got worse. That was not always down to his replacement, but it certainly indicated a lack of depth. Armstrong was far better playing right wing. He showed that was his best position when giving Newcastle problems in the league cup semi final, but sadly out manager at the time was clueless and couldn't see it. I've never been a huge fan of Che, but he does have the odd game when he bosses CBs (Bournemouth away in the Prem is a perfect example). I hope we are not considering paying him £100k a week. If its that kind of money, I'd like us to take a gamble on someone else.

I'm actually not sure what attributes the central striker in RMs team needs to have. Is it mostly holding the ball up and being able to lay it off and then get in the box for tap ins? Sometimes Che holds the ball up quite well. Other times his touch is woeful. Sometimes his link up passing is OK, other times it is terrible. Sometimes he gets into the box, other times he's nowhere to be seen. When he gets a chance close to goal, sometimes he's ready and takes it, but on other occasions he's leaden footed and doesn't. He's very `hit and miss'. Some would say 'far too often'.

Money usually talks, but if there was a number 1 job available in the Prem (i.e. Saints), that might sway his thinking. If he can earn more as a number 3 at Chelsea than as a number 1 with us, then that would be an interesting choice. Unless you know him personally, it's hard to say how he feels about not playing, even if the money is good. The club will want him to sign a new deal more than the fans do. I think the `problem' the club has is RM will be reluctant to guarantee him first choice when Baz returns to fitness. If he can see that happening, he may as well earn more to be a number 2 elsewhere. What a turnaround though. For two years he was pretty much ignored, but now he seems wanted.

Very strange move. I struggled to get my head around it at the time. If Wolves really wanted him, why didn't they buy him there and then? Sounds like they had no interest in spending actual money on him, all be it maybe FFP was an issue. However, it's not exactly showing much desire to sign him or faith in him - they could easily have loaned him for the season, with an obligation to pay us £15m in July 2024 should they stay up, or suchlike.

As fans we just think £15m, £20m even £30m is automatically there to buy a new striker should the previous one leaves. I am not sure huge sums will be available unless we can actually sell (not loan) Onuachu and Alvarez. And, like you say, even if we do spend that money, what guarantee is there that he even scores 8-10 goals as Che has done? I can certainly understand why the club is reluctant to just wave the likes of Che and McCarthy off into the sunset, no matter how underwhelmed many fans are with those two players. If Che departs and we manage to loan in Brereton (with no doubt a fee to be paid), have we upgraded? Possibly. I think it's safe to say (I think Dragon as said it himself) the club will have a different transfer policy in the Prem this time around. We are looking for a few more experienced guys to surround the promising youngsters. Lallana, Fraser, Che, McCarthy to go with THB, Downes and perhaps one or two others.

If I had a choice of selling Sulemena or Onuachu for €10m this summer, then I'd be removing the front seats from the Honda Civic right now.

I think it would be fair to say that most Saints fans would be amazed if we didn't sign Fraser.

Obviously we haven't given up, but I get what you mean. I guess we do have some financial restraints and also there are limitations on who we can attract. Do you feel the same about the potential new deal for Adams?

Has the Pedro Lopez retired yet? I think he plays right back when not committing horrific crimes.

Can you possibly share them? Always like to read these gossip type transfer stories, whether they are accurate or not.

Can someone remind me what happened with Wolves last summer? Did we pull the plug on the deal? I got the feeling they (Wolves) didn't really push the boat out to get him, but I might be mistaken. I saw a story the other day that they big about £15m, but I thought they only ever tried to loan him.

I don't see McCarthy signing a contract to be backup. I think he may want to be first choice next season and some guarantee that if he performs well, he won't be automatically ousted by Baz when he is fit. Perhaps the club will go that route. I appreciate that won't be what fans want to hear, but it seems more realistic to me.

we might not have to sell, but that doesn't mean we have any leeway ourselves to buy prior to June 30th. I wonder if the THB signing will go through next Friday when the window opens, so it's in this years FFP or will it go through on July 1st so it's in next years.

You might not count it, but everyone connected to the finances at the club, the bank manager and FFP certainly will.

and from a numbers point of view, Rothwell needs replacing too. That would be a massive upgrade. I don't fully agree he slowed play down. I am mindful of the Grimsby cup game where he was on the bench. Our play through midfield was glacier-like slow until he came on from the last half an hour, completely took control of the game and increased out tempo tremendously. Obviously we didn't secure a result, but it just showed the difference in quality he brought to the table. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying he is a world beater, and a lot of passes are square (that's pretty normal for a deep lying CM), but when we step up a division. the Downes, Smallbone, Aribo trio - that seems to be our current best three - will be under much more pressure...and lets see how they cope, and how easily they find it to pass the ball forward through the lines. JWP ain't coming back this summer, but it's interesting to see that some fans have higher expectations of calibre of players we might bring in.

We need players that are technically great and he is certainly that. His wages would probably be a problem. I thought he played a lot for West Ham, so it seems strange the new manager would not consider him an option. That web story may be a load of bollocks.

Is James Ward Prowse really going to be available?