Ivan Katalinic's 'tache

Sheffield United have signed Man Utd goalie Dean Henderson on loan again and Ben Osborn from Nottingham Forest. Prepping for a Championship return already???

William Saliba has completed his move to Arsenal and back St Etienne again (on loan). Spouted out a nice piece of nonsense to get the Arsenal fans onside and so they remember they even signed him, this time next year:

I think it goes to show how poor the 3 relegated sides were in the Premier League last season that there's been very little interest in any of their players even from lower table sides like us. Ryan Sessegnon is the stand out player from any of the 3 teams (and he's been long linked with Spurs) but after him there's only been some partial interest in Aleksandar Mitrovic (who has signed a new 5 year deal with Fulham anyway) and Philip Billing, who Bompey seem to be keen on.

Maybe there's nothing for them to say right now and may not be until we shift some more of the dead wood?

Arsenal confirm the loan signing of Dani Ceballos from Real Madrid and Jordan Ayew has moved permanently to Palace from Swansea after his loan last season.

Wonderful name, marvellous in fact. No idea if he's any good at football.

Chance for him to play in Europe again, I guess. He may see that as a step up and they're a decent side but Arsenal or Man Utd they ain't.

And Pedro Obiang has left West Ham: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49106031 Can't say Lookman leaving Everton or West Ham losing Obiang does much to weaken either side. Probably just gives them a spare space on the bench at best!

Ademola Lookman has completed his permanent move to Leipzig: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49010835

Don't get much for £40 million these days. 7 league goals?

It seems to me there are 3 categories of players right now. Group 1 are those Ralph wants to retain and work with this season, group 2 are those who he clearly wants rid of (Austin, Lemina, Carillo, the now departed Clasie) and group 3 are those who he may prefer to be sold so as to strengthen other areas of the team but who he is happy to utilise if they show the necessary application if a move doesn't materialise (Cedric, Hoedt, Boufal). I'm surprised to see Hoedt in that group and hope Boufal takes this chance under Ralph, if that's what it transpires to be.

Ethan Ampadu has completed a loan move to RB Leipzig from Chelsea. I wonder if that frees up a CB at Leipzig?

Sheff Utd apparently struggling to get Dean Henderson back on loan from Man Utd and are considering alternatives. Give 'em a bell, Ralph, and highlight the fantastic keepers we have available...

Knockaert off to Fulham from Brighton according to Sky https://www.skysports.com/amp/football/news/11681/11766661/brighton-winger-anthony-knockaert-having-fulham-medical

Indeed. Plus, as he currently isn't even signed on at a club, this draconian punishment stands at: man who doesn't have a football club can't play football for 2 weeks. I bet Sturridge cries himself to sleep at night...

Sheff Utd sign Ravel Morrison. Now there's one who never really lived up to the earlier hype.

Get West Ham on the phone. They could have Austin for a fraction of the price...

Norwich sign Sam Byram from West Ham for £750k. A highly rated prospect at Leeds for whom it didn't work out at West Ham, who's now getting a chance elsewhere. £750k is peanuts these days too.

I guess a physically up to speed Hoedt might be easier to shift than a Hoedt who will need to play catch up. I mean, it's not like he's got any other limitations we'll need him to overcome...

RB Leipzig back in for the oft-Saints-linked Ademola Lookman according to the BBC. Not sure we'd still be interested now we have Djenepo anyway.

Sheff Utd confirm the signing of Irish international forward Callum Robinson from Preston in a record deal for them.

News of "verbal commitments" is always concerning. Whilst he's not worked out brilliantly, at the outset I did wonder how we got him here from Juventus and a Champions League final (substitutes) appearance. Maybe the verbal agreement was to get him here for a couple of years so he could attract bigger PL clubs and with that came a sense we wouldn't place an unrealistically high price tag on his head, which we are now honouring? Pure conjecture from me, and rather daft if so, but I bet it happens in some deals...

I'd agree. I'd rather have a proven, decent player on £100k pw, then several cr4p equivalents on 50k-60k pw.

Interesting comment from the Express but Mario wants to go to United... https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1151245/Mario-Lemina-Manchester-United-Arsenal-Leicester-Southampton-Premier-League

United, £18m? https://www.teamtalk.com/news/man-utd-given-permission-to-open-talks-with-18m-southampton-ace