Matthew Le God

This is an interesting read... https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11045531/Southampton-reaping-benefits-hiring-Joe-Shields-head-senior-recruitment.html

If 'he'd never come here' why would they 'break the bank' trying?

It isn't being reported as £30m now for Delap by the Daily Star. It is £20m with a further £10m in extras to be paid if conditions are met in the future. So that isn't the same as being able to then spend £30m on Cornet and Dembele, plus their combined wages would be huge.

Livramento... and it was correct

Expires in 4 years time... https://www.mancity.com/news/mens/liam-delap-manchester-city-contract-extension-63765063

The risk is reduced by it being £20m plus extras. Those extras are paid if he does well and aren't paid if he doesn't perform.

I doubt it, as Delap was available for £4m in 2001 😉

You are confusing 'option to buy' and 'obligation to buy'. Both exist in loan deals, both work differently.

That wasn't an option to buy, that was possibly an obligation to buy. Significant difference.

Yes I do Talked us through how it worked out for Saints having an option to buy on Toby Alderweireld.

That is a recipe for disaster. If he is a success it opens it up for another club to take advantage.

He is doing very well up there so far...

Rory Delap - Southampton club record fee £4m in 2001 Liam Delap - Southampton potential club record fee £23m in 2022

Let's give him his own thread. Club record fee (like his dad for Saints) if this is true... 😲

On their website https://www.watfordfc.com/news/southampton-stream-passes-buy-now

I'd say that is likely to be it, but for a shuffle of the centre backs, with Salisu on the left and possibly Bella-Kotchap on the right with Bednarek in the centre.

Because there is a mountain of evidence from numerous clubs that you start to play close to your starting XI two weeks before your first league game.

3421 formation again Possibly close to the starting team vs Spurs...

Link to the game. Coverage starts at 2:45 and costs £5... https://www.watfordfc.com/hornets-hive-live/watch

Ward-Prowse is back...