Matthew Le God

Throw the money how exactly? They are under contract.

Chelsea

Thierry Rohart-Brown signs first professional contract | Southampton FC Official Site

It does not need to be one or the other. It should be both. There is no 'loss of focus' as it is a separate recruitment team for the academy teams. New appointment Mariela Nisotaki helping to lead the academy recruitment team. Saints sign Sutura Kakay to join Under-21s | Southampton FC Official Site The financial impact of signing players for the academy teams won't have any notable impact on the club's ability to sign 1st team players. Plus all it takes is for a few to work out well and it pays for itself.

Release clauses can state that they only apply up until a certain date in a transfer window. That prevents clubs being left in the lurch from losing a player late in a window.

Why not wait to hand out a new contract until you know?

Why would they extend his contract from 2026 to 2028 then? His contract was already fine for what we needed... until the end of a potential promotion season, at which point in 2026 he could leave at the end of his old contract. But they extended it to a point where we could be in the Premier League and he'd be wasting a spot in the squad. Should have left it as it was.

If we get promoted his wages will increase back to Premier League level, £50k+ per week. Plymouth Argyle are in League One, how would they afford that? If he was going to go to Plymouth we'd let his old contract expire in 2026, not extend it until 2028!

In the stands cheering them on during the multiple games he missed through suspension

He doesn't need a contract until 2028 to play for us in the Championship next season. They could leave it how it was. He isn't good enough after another promotion.

If they move in near their old managers they could be neighbours, everybody needs good neigh-bours

Might fall at the final hurdle

Ollie wright joins Accrington Stanley (who are they) on loan... SIGNING: Ollie joins from Southampton

Sulemana was sold to Ivan Juric's club... the Ivan Juric that deemed Brereton Díaz not good enough for the 2nd worst team in PL history and loaned him out.

What teams can tick all of these? 1) He'd be an improvement on what they've got 2) Can afford to pay his transfer fee (probably at the very least close to what we paid for him) 3) Can afford to match or get close to his wages at Saints I doubt many (if any) can tick all three to make a deal happen

In the Premier League, sure I agree, most aren't good enough, but the vast majority of them are good for what we need this season in a weaker league. Will Still has confirmed he agrees in recent interviews. With Quarshie and Downs added, we won't need many more to have a good go for automatic promotion. It then comes down to replacing any major players if they leave. Specifically Fernandes, Dibling and Ramsdale.

The club website says 8th July https://share.google/Qkr60VwzVCVFN4BTS

He is worth keeping for next season as he is prolific in the Championship. Would need to be sold if promoted as he isn't good enough for the PL.

He was playing out wide in the majority of games in 2023/24, with defensive responsibilities supporting the fullback in deep positions. That is not the role of a striker.

Top scorer for the best team in 2.Bundesliga last season is not nothing. He scored vs Bayer Leverkusen last season. I doubt he'd find Oxford United's defence daunting in comparison.