the saint in winchester

Am I the only one anxious that we get this deal done and dusted? I don't want us getting outbid for the sake of a few mill.

Man City have already offered £100M, but Levy wants £150M, not a penny less. I can't see that deal going through, and so consequentially I can't see the right offer for Ings coming.

Coutinho is available for just €25M. Spend the Ings wages on him, and the proceeds of sale would buy him and Armstrong combined.

Just checked Watford's squad list. The only DM listed is Nathaniel Chalobah, market value £4.5M, contract ends Jun22. If he were the player offer, I'd be saying YES. Of course, they may be offering us squad filler.

You must be my age if you remember songs from 1975!

If you want to bring players in, then we have to sell players to fund that. If you are saying 'no' to selling JWP, Ings, Vesty, who are we going to sell then? Selling Long, Obafemi and Ndululu won't fund a can of beans player-wise. I fear we won't sell anyone and have to go into next season with Perraud as our only addition.

Re Maehle : And he can play both sides, as he has proven. To think we balked at paying €5M. He's worth far more than that now. He looked superb.

Just reported? This started two weeks ago after they splurged on Buendia and said they were interested in JWP and the suggestion was that they would offer us a higher value than for Buendia. The intelligencia said "no, not unless its an offer of £50M+". I don't think this one has legs. If he was short on contract maybe we would consider it. But he's a south coaster and I'm sure he doesn't envisage his life being in the Midlands. So it's a no from the club, the fans and the player.

Yes, definitely, but even their squad players are likely on £100k pw!

Ridiculous. Sounds like we have reached agreement with the player and possibly Brest too, but that either the player or the club don't want the deal to go through yet, in case there are better bids or personal terms incoming from another party.

That in itself is a good reason to buy.

I read it was only £2.5M down, another £2.5M at a later date (guaranteed), plus up to £4.5M in dependent add-ons. So we're walking away today with just £2.5M. It helps, but it's not a lot for this window,

The report I read suggested Villa would be prepared to top their Buendia fee to get JWP. Again, just newspaper reports, so I can't guarantee this is correct, but it was reported the fee for Buendia is £34M down plus £6M in add-ons. That would put the JWP offer as in the £35-45M bracket, and I think the club have to consider it. I appreciate many don't want to see our established senior players leave us, but we need (IMHO) to get back to the 'buy low sell high' philosophy, especially with the debt we are in. With £40M, personally I would get in that Delaney fella (£8M), a new LB (£15M), a new striker (up to £17M). Use Jankewitz as the 4th DM. Develop him.

The Club is fully invested in Ralph, he has total control on the playing side, style etc. So I can't envisage ANY scenario where the Club dismiss Ralph. None. I CAN envisage a scenario where Ralph has just had enough - not backed in the transfer market, trying to get those 'mangled pigeons' to perform better when they have just lost interest. At that point, I think Ralph will walk away, whether he has another job to go to or not. When that will happen I don't know, and Howe may be waiting well into next season or the season after.

I'm of the view that if the offer is sizeable enough (to be defined) we have to consider selling JWP. We were banking on £25M from an Ings sale to fund other purchases. This has come from left field, but (say) £50M from JWP sets us up also. As someone noted above, we think he's invaluable, but he's not. There must be a price at which the benefits of selling outweigh the risks.

LOL, a 'Karen' from Winchester. The club will back down now Karen has spoken.

Agree. Forster came back from Celtic on a higher level than when he left us. No reason for Moi not to improve by playing regularly, and being trusted. I'd rather have him back than speculate precious funds on 'maybe' players.

I assume your idea of decent players was Norman Hunter and Billy Bremner?

Ohh I laughed out loud at that 😄 His "mother HAS a Brazilian."

He's not 'feigning injury'; he is genuinely getting hurt. I fear the EPL is (allowed to be) more physical than his body physiology is suited for. The role RH is asking him to play, and the physical side, are not ideal for him. I don't agree with telling him to bulk up, he is what he is. He is lithe and skinny, and a style of play based on skills would be better for him. I don't think that it is in the UK leagues.

I recommend Itchen South at £399. Why would you pay more? It's not an obstructed view, it's the same game wherever you sit. Apart from the guy who kept sitting in my seat if I wasn't there by 2:45, it worked well.

I am as confused as you all after Ralph's comments. On the one hand, he says we know we have a talented player and I will give him a chance, but he also says we want to get as many points on the board as we can with our strongest team. And he clearly doesn't see Janko as part of the strongest team. It's now or never, Ralph. We have 3 games left. Give him a chance. If not, he'll be putting in another transfer request and the fans will support it.

Even the Saints FC statement indicates it was mutually agreed he should pursue his career elsewhere. Yes, I'm sure we would have loved Targett to stay with us and play second fiddle for the last couple seasons, but it was the right thing to let him move on, and getting £17M for him was a very good offer. Rico Henry would be ideal, but I think Brentford will make it up this time. They are the form side of the playoff candidates. Hopefully we can a decent replacement.

Klopp said this week there is a place for him (Taki) in next season's squad, so we have no option to buy him or extend the loan. It seems to now be keeping Klopp sweet so we can maybe borrow someone else next season.

I thought there was a 'gentleman's agreement; between Ings and Ralph, that he would be go in the shop window, and if an offer comes in from top side, then he'll go. But if the only bidders are middling clubs, then he'll reject them and sign another contract. I think it could be July before a decision is taken. We are down the food chain, and the likes of Mbappe, Aguero etc need to find homes before clubs look at Ings. I think Cavani's signature closes the door at Man Utd. Now let's see how City, Leicester, Spurs unravel.