Lallana's Left Peg

One of the right-backs linked with Manchester United, Danilo, will sign for Real Madrid this summer for £23m. So that is one of the reported targets gone - and I personally feel increases the already high likelihood that Clyne leaves us for Manchester United anyway.

According to The Mail: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3019321/Arsenal-Southampton-locked-1m-battle-Newcastle-United-England-U19-goalkeeper-Freddie-Woodman.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

The new TV deal doesn't kick in until 2016/17. Freezing prices is fair I think.

My favourite part of the goal was how he made space for himself in a tight area with his run peeling away from the defenders that got attracted to the ball.

Absolutely mental that a club with a wage bill of 80k a week to players stumbles to 13th in League 2. And it doesn't look like it will be much better this season. Surely that's like Man Utd or Chelsea finishing 8th or 9th in the Premier League

True but now there is a spot open for him. He appears to be England's first choice and Man Utd clearly have a need for a right-back. £15m or so to them is nothing and for us it is a good deal for a player with a year left on his deal and no real indication that he wants to stay.

When is the last time all three promoted clubs got relegated the following season? I keep saying it at the start of every season and it looks like it may be true this time.

Yeah we probably won't get much increase in league position but we will get some - though I think we'll get more from TV than last year. Last season we got the minimum, by my reckoning we've been on TV 10 times already this season so any more is additional money to the minimum. I found this in the Mail which says what activity from this summer is and is not included in the accounts:

You need to bear in mind that the accounts only reflect last seasons financials and anything 'this season' up to the end of June. Any transfer activity after 30th June won't be reflected in the accounts. Our Chairman has already said the wage bill has gone up from last season so it will be interesting to see what it is and how much of the debt has been paid back as well. I expect the money owed in transfers to be drastically reduced as well. Next year I also expect to see an increase in income purely from an improved league position and us being on TV many more times.

Reasonably confident that these accounts show that this summer will be quiet unless we get big money in for a few players again.

Had completely forgot that Forster played for Norwich in that game!

Hmm I am not sure that is good news really. He's a good finisher but they spent a few months working out how to play without him (3-4-3 with Sterling up front) and then when he returned they stuck with the same formation and shoved him in it and they haven't played too well. I can see Sterling going back to up front (from right wing-back ) and I'll think they'll play better.

I don't think there will be much in terms of transfer fee revenue but if we can get their (alleged) £60k+ per week off the books for good it gives us more wriggle room for contracts for existing players and / or new signings.

It is net transfer debt though. So it is money we owe for transfers heading into last summer. It still has to be paid from somewhere. Whilst it is standard to usually owe money for transfers year to year, it still has to be paid by the club and I think the vast majority of it was owed last summer.

Yeah fair point - if Clyne and Schneiderlin go then I can see us spending 2/3rds of that money which would amount to a lot. But if they stayed then I can't see us doing much.

Heading into last summer we owed £27m+ in transfer fees. Last summer / this January we sold players for ~£94m Last summer / this January we signed players for ~£65m We're about evens for transfers in and out - however to be fair it is normal to have rolling transfer debt each season. Our Chairman has already acknowledged our wage bill has increased this season from last, even taking into account the departures. I'm not saying we're broke, but I don't think there is much money to play with. I'd imagine we could sign Alderweireld if we can get that deal over the line, and maybe a few prospects. If we sold Clyne and Schneiderlin that would give us far more to play with but I just can't see much money being spent - I think our wage bill is significantly more than people estimate, and the new TV deal doesn't take effect until 2016/17. It is certainly worth dispelling the idea that we have money left over from last summer - all of that is gone.

Not to derail the thread, but I can't see us spending much in the summer at all. Toby will be a hard deal to get done (but not because of finances) and Elia looks likely at £4m but I don't think there is much money left in the pot. Even if we got £25m for Schneiderlin and £15m for Clyne, I could only see £22.5m or so of that being spent on replacements. I don't think we have much wriggle room with wages at all.

Do we know if Boca Juniors have any money? The crazy bastard seems to be doing ok for them - would be great to sell this summer and get the wages off the books as well.

I suppose all it needs is a court to define a list of 'reasonable' reasons for letting a player go and the ruling doesn't mean much, but it does sound like it could be messy for a period.

Come the summer there will probably only be 6 other clubs more attractive to players in this country than Saints. That's all that matters to me right now.

His transfer fee will depend on a number of things but I think that Bony fee in January has set a decent benchmark for us this summer.

Can always sign someone in the summer on a 1 year deal or get someone in on loan. There should be plenty of keepers available.

Only at top speed - takes a long time to accelerate and not the most agile of players!

As Pap has mentioned, their shocking defence has completely undermined everything else they try and do. They just don't defend well as a team, and have a lot of players who legs have gone (Distin, Barry) or are going (Jagielka, Baines). Gareth Barry runs like he is wearing wellies and at 34 has two years left on his contract

His groin couldn't withstand the extra games that European football would bring. But lets not tell the clubs chasing him that.