CSA96

I'm possibly over-analysing but I was interested that he keeps saying 'we're not in the running right now' and 'we can't afford the price a club wants right now' - given we already know from Alfie House that personal terms are broadly agreed

Usually flips around December. Can't quite remember if it was start of December or end of January last year

Maybe that's why Sekou tweeted the eyes emoji today then

Saints in advanced talks with Strasbourg over Sekou Mara, deal expected to be a loan

I suppose it also suggests to Charles (who is presumably about to go out on loan) that he isn't being entirely replaced and he can work his way back in here when Ugochukwu's loan and his own loan (wherever he may end up) ends

Played for the French national team at every youth level up to U23s so far. Was at the Olympic Games so guess that's why it couldn't progress sooner

Can't claim to be an expert but he's meant to be pretty good. Chelsea obviously getting desperate to shift players now

Exclusive with Russell Martin in the Daily Telegraph - paywall removed: https://www.removepaywall.com/search?url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2024/08/15/russell-martin-interview-southampton-manager-premier-league/

Can you shed any light on Armel Bella-Kotchap. We know he's been over in Hoffenheim but there's some slightly scary stories about him... RM: Yes, he is in Hoffenheim and it's progressing. With Armel, I think because it mention the heart it probably seems like a scarier story than it actually is. He's had a really standard procedure on it so Hoffenheim want to investigate and do more tests, of course. It's never caused him a problem, we've all been aware of it for quite some time and I expect and I hope, for Armel, that it will all still happen. As I said, it's progressing. Armel is fine, completely fine and I think this is a really good deal for all parties. So hopefully for him and for us and for Hoffenheim it all goes through. And if it doesn't, then we'll get him back here and reassess.

talkSPORT interviewed Russell Martin today: - 'nowhere near' bringing Ryan Fraser back as it stands - 'not in the race right now' re: making an acceptable bid to Celtic Matt O'Riley - Kyle Walker-Peters has received a new contract offer "We have to do it [the transfer market] in our own means and make sure we're sustainable. I knew that when I signed a new contract, so it's not like I'm sitting here frustrated. I'm relaxed about it because I think we will end up doing business that we're quite happy with."

Interesting that RM is still using 'right now' as the qualifier. Hopefully he knows something we don't but seems like Atalanta are ready to wrap it up in the next couple of days and the ABK stuff may cause us to miss out if so

https://www.bild.de/sport/fussball/beim-medizincheck-bundesliga-wechsel-von-dfb-verteidiger-ueberraschend-geplatzt According to BILD information, the second transfer of a defender to Bundesliga club TSG Hoffenheim has fallen through within 24 hours. After Salzburg defender Oumar Solet (24), German international Armel Bella-Kotchap (22) from FC Southampton also failed the medical. According to BILD information, Bella-Kotchap is said to be suffering from a heart problem. The transfer of Solet fell through due to a serious knee injury. When asked by BILD, Hoffenheim did not want to comment on the status of negotiations with Bella-Kotchap. The transfer was supposed to have taken place on Tuesday evening for a transfer fee of 15 million euros. The transfer of another French central defender, Étienne Youté Kinkoué (22/Le Havre), to Hoffenheim did not materialize at the last moment.

Oh dear...

Didn't we offer £15m for Carvalho a week or so ago though? If we had the money ready to go to make a £15m signing, then in theory you can budget the £12m for ABK to that and then you have £27m? (fully appreciate I may be overly simplistic with this)

Ipswich have appointed Matt Holland to their board of directors. Another deal where we pissed around and took too long over the medical

Just theorising here but are they now taking Joao Felix just because he is a Jorge Mendes client and Mendes got them Neto ahead of the likes of Arsenal and Spurs who were supposedly also interested? Now the Omorodion deal has fallen through they need someone else from the Atletico squad to balance up the fees for the Gallagher deal to do their little FFP fiddle, and Felix wants out of Atletico and supposedly enjoyed his loan spell with Chelsea (even though at the time they didn't keep him on permanently)

Would be interested to know if he was like it with the Swans reporters at all and he just 'enjoys' the sparring with the media, definitely seen a few managers who like that side of it and get something out of it. Definitely seems that he isn't shy in letting Adam know if he ruffles his feathers

Atalanta have fifth bid rejected for Matt O'Riley according to Sky Italia

- didn't argue AMC's preseason mistakes - said he doesn't fret too much over preseason, it's preseason - felt AMC got better as preseason went on, better with the regular defence - when you get promoted, you naturally want to give opportunities to the guys who got you there - however you do have to balance that up with bringing in players that can make improvements to your team - we want players in many positions right now, we are trying to find the right deals for the right ones - if we sign a goalkeeper this month, then it will be because we believe they are the right person and they will come in and improve us

Pretty non-committal on Alex McCarthy there

Sky Sports reporting that Armel Bella-Kotchap has been given permission to undergo a medical with Hoffenheim tomorrow, after Saints accepted a bid of €15m

BILD saying Eintracht Frankfurt are interested in a deal for Armel Bella-Kotchap now, Hoffenheim also looking at Oumar Solet from RB Salzburg