Ivan Katalinic's 'tache

Would quite like us to go for Ryan Manning an Irish left back at QPR. Looks like a decent player with scope to improve and he would be a more immediate cover/challenger for Ryan Bertrand. West Ham were readying a £5m bid a few days ago, so not exorbitantly priced, as well.

Back to Yedlin again?

The Athletic's Newcastle correspondent saying a move for Yedlin has been downplayed:

Being reported Everton are loaning out Bernard to Roma as well. Looks like they're trying to cut down the wage bill a bit but I thought Bernard was in and around the first team for them?

Once Ralph has beefed him up with a red meat diet, like he did with Prowsey, he'll be like the Hulk on acid on the right wing, I reckon...

Thank goodness he doesn't have to pass a "technical" or we'd never be rid of him... 😄

Welcome Ibrahima! Hopefully, you'll be the answer to our midfield prayers and, if you were to be the new Kante/Vieira as I've read in different places, that would be just lovely.

This clearly doesn't fit our usual profile and ordinarily I'd be thinking, no, not for us however... if this is the loan of an experienced Premier League player with an affinity for the club that tides us over as cover for a season at a point when we might be taken over and, hopefully, exposed to an increase in transfer funds in future seasons, then it could be ok. If it's Boufal out and Walcott in then I feel we would be trading up in terms of potential productivity for a season given Boufal hasn't worked out on a consistent basis and, let's be honest, Armstrong and Redmond are Ralph's starters in the attacking midfield department right now unless we spend a lot of money to replace them. Welcome home Theo, if it happens, and seemingly I've talked myself into being ok with this... 😀

4-1 Villa now. Watkins with 3. Incredible day.

I assume he's here in Southampton, having/had his medical and contract talks and we're just waiting for the weather to clear up a bit so the photos look nice?

Sky have caught up now...

Sounds promising. Fingers crossed. Maybe the link to Grujic was a bit of kidology to make Brest think we starting to look at alternatives? In other news, Brighton have a new striker a little under the radar - Andi Zeqiri from Lausanne. Never heard of him so no idea if he's any good!

Sessegnon wanted by Hoffenheim and we're not even mentioned: I wonder if we're focused on another Premier League loan target now? RLC maybe?

From the Sky Sports Transfer Centre, Wesley may have caught up with the medicals guy at last...

I'm not doubting that lad's ability - I'm more concerned about the amount of time we're leaving ourselves to get deals done again...

Very keen? Desperate, I'd have thought...

I assume Ralph will have a pre-game press conference on Friday? If so I guess we'll be able to gauge how close we are to any new signings by his mood whether he's asked directly or not!

I've heard Wesley is currently wandering around Lazio's training facility looking for the chap that does the medicals but once again he's lost his man...

Presume this might make getting Ntcham more of a problem, if we're still interested?

No idea if this is true but I thought I'd up the meltdown a little if I could:

Maybe our loan target is a Ruben Loftus-Cheeky loan?

Laydeez and gents, I give you...

Unless he just means one centre mid not the total number of players we will get in? #ClutchingAtStraws

Apparently the feedback from the FA regarding a work permit for Salisu was: "look guys, we know you're shit at the back so you can sign Salisu." When we went back for Sangare too they said: "oh no, sorry chaps, you can't sign a central midfielder who doesn't meet the criteria. Exhibit A, a quote from a Mr Leslie Arnold Reed, a former employee of yours": " I believe as a group we probably have a choice from the best pool of midfield options in the Premier League."

What about the link we had to Jovane Cabral a few days ago.? A winger rather than a CM but I guess nothing in it (or nothing until Boufal moves on)? Just a week to go in the transfer window and whilst we might like to dress it up as an opportunity to try to grab a few players we might not normally have the chance to sign, it does still feel like we're once again fiddling whilst Rome burns. If we do want up to 3 in before Monday's window closes, we are going to have show a bit more urgency...