goodymatt

Watching him I think he’s got something. At £10m I don’t see us losing money on him and just feel he has a higher ceiling. Looked decent for Hull who played possession footy. City’s academy also will have been a good preparation for Martin ball. Stoke and Preston completely different in their styles and he has had injury interruptions. It’s not all been rosey but that’s why his asking price has dropped to £10m. Think he’s a better gamble than Che Adams going forward if brought in as one to develop. Kane is a good example of not smashing the championship on his loans but realising that potential. Our model involves taking risks on these kind of players.

I think at £10m that would be a decent signing. He has the potential and at that price could he be one of a couple new strikers?

They’ve already broken our transfer record then. I was hoping he would go to Germany like Tella did as he is one of their best players. Great signing for Tractor Teds.

I think playing for Martin in a style built around him that he clearly excels in would be a bigger draw, than going back to the club he started out at that. He’s a WHU fan, so the sentimental thing would be to stay there, but he clearly wants to play and I would be very surprised if he moves and it isn’t to us.

He’s earned a new deal by getting us promoted at the first time of asking. I agree with @CSA96, logical move.

Lots to take in this lunchtime: KWP to WHU (Telegraph/Fab). Makes sense with one year and he goes with my best wishes having stayed and got us back up. Downes to Saints (Telegraph/Fab) saying swap deal With KWP. Athletic also reporting he feels there is unfinished business and Alvarez injury could open up an opportunity for him. Sugawara confirmed as high on our list (Echo) but there are a ‘few’ others on the list. Charlie Taylor to Saints (Echo/Mirror). Expected to sign on Monday.

It’s giving karma.

I just did a screenshot and added as an image. Link still doesn’t work for me on iPhone.

I think red just needs to be the main colour, “come on you reds!”. I like it though, nice change and very 2012 promotion kit.

Posting pic to save people clicking the links. I like this but does feel a bit more Stoke/Sunderland than Saints with white being dominant. Assuming a white back?

What we could have had if we stayed with Hummel: https://x.com/hummel1923/status/1806258681840836804?s=46&t=7raSKCMt6LV8RJ1C2d39WQ

https://x.com/fabrizioromano/status/1806213622999249395?s=46&t=7raSKCMt6LV8RJ1C2d39WQ Can’t see us spending €35-40m. Would be a great signing though!

Didn’t they have Maatsen on loan from Chelsea for their promotion season? Just signed for Villa for £35m!

Like the idea of a 1 of 20 collectors item. £180 is steep though! It’s a bit unique…

Agree this season’s objective is survival! 8th would seem to be the best we can ever hope for with the current financial rules and that would admittedly be some achievement if we were to get back there in the coming seasons. The question is how do we get the financial wiggle room to build a team to get there Owners seem to be willing to invest but won’t want any points deductions. It feels like we need to get lucky on recruitment and make some big money to be back in the net spend trophy 1st place, essentially what Brighton have been doing and we did under Koeman. This season is going to be a tough one, but your optimism is always welcome!

@S-Clarke has already answered this for me. My understanding is that over the 3 year period (which will include the lower threshold for the championship year) we have ended up in a position where we can’t spend what we want to, without breaking the FFP rules. If we were to sell KWP for say £25m and then sign a £10m replacement on a 4 year contract, that would be £2.5m per year amortised plus wages (which you’d expect would be less than KWP was earning), plus the £25m counting in full for this years numbers. The other factor is him walking for nothing next summer, that then makes replacing him much harder. In order to stay within the FFP rules, we will need to generate cash to go straight into the bottom line, freeing up the ability to improve the team in all required areas and spreading those costs over their contracts. The flip side is that selling your best player makes you weaker and the gamble of replacements being good enough. We could effectively be losing Che, Stu and Alex all for £0, all need replacing somehow. what we don’t know is exactly how much money we have to spend but after Downes, THB and Fraser come in, I can’t imagine there is much wiggle room left without sales. It’s so backwards as rules designed for fair competition are actually making it absolutely impossible for us to ever be a consistent top 8 team.

Those teams could easily be the top 7 come the end of the season, that is a horrific start. Lovely.

It’s not impossible that KWP signs a new deal with a sensible release clause but the most likely outcome is that he moves on for 2 main reasons: 1. He’s a top half PL fullback. 2. Stupid FFP rules will force our hand.

I’m also only in the market to buy for my 2 kids, 6 months and 2.5 years old.

https://uk.puma.com/uk/en/pd/rc-lens-24-25-home-jersey-men/774897?swatch=01&size=0120&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIp-Gd2er2hgMVnJZQBh3aNQ4DEAQYASABEgIjiPD_BwE Here’s the Puma link to see it from all angles. Are we going to see Saints shirts costing £80?! Hummel shirt was £55 last season.

I prefer this to Fenerbahce, more stripes.

Fenerbahce have released their Puma kits for this season. I wonder if we will get a red and white version of their home kit? I’d be happy with that.

Wasn’t it an obligation to buy?

Newcastle and Spurs both interested in Alcaraz. Bella-Kotchap wants a new challenge. KWP in his final year. Sulemana and Onuachu surplus to requirements. Stu gone, Che and Macca going? Perraud to Betis, DCC to Lyon, Lyanco to wherever. You’d hope that would go some way to giving us some freedom in the FFP numbers to bring in a new GK, CB, RB, LB, CDM, AM and CF. 11 out, 7/8 in?