Saint86

£14.98M then?

Well, unless we've got some hidden stoke ITK's on here (?) we won't find out how much influence he really had there. It seemed they had a lot of bad eggs in the dressing room and he fell out with the more vocal ones amongst them. I said on the Les Reed thread that I hoped Hughes (not being a yes man) would balance out with our recruitment strategy to actually compliment each other. More Koeman than Puel/Mope I hope. Guess we'll find out. To me at least it was obvious how much better we were under Hughes last season as soon as he took over. He obviously saved us, and I hope that with a pre-season and some of his own players he will take us back up to mid table. Whatever else happens behind the scenes, we best all hope its a stark improvement on the last 2years!

Carillo to be his last signing then?

Does this need some red bull? Or does it have wings already?

This is a good signing, about time we signed some decent British talent... and for the price we can't really lose. Looking forward to seeing him in the shirt. Pushes JWP and Steven Davis further from the team though I imagine?

I want to see Gallagher give time at saints as a minimum.

Does that mean our game would get pushed back? Its interesting if so, but I do wonder how much difference that particular element will make given they should be at their freshest at that point in the season. Given we're touring china, I reckon we'll see arguments for them being more match fit that us, or for their qualifying games upsetting the start of their season between now and then! I know the world cup is exciting and england are doing well (loving it whilst it lasts), but I also can't wait for the first game of the season! I hope it gets moved actually - will be the first first home game I miss in a long time otherwise

Exactly this. And our track record in recruitment is certainly very below par in recent seasons. That buck needed to stop regardless this summer, it needs a significant improvement if we sell Tadic. The only saving grace to all this is that I think Hughes probably knows what he's doing and I expect us to achieve a midtable to top 10 finish under him.

I'd love him to stay as well Always (especially for the rumoured fee), but there is so much smoke on this one that it does seem a done deal. Fee somewhere between £15m-£18m currently. You're right, its all based on rumours. But there are so many of them :/

Fans will never agree ofc. But it is a shame that seemingly so many can't wait to see the back of him though. He is without doubt our most creative player... in a team crying out for more goals, and being sold well under value with no real replacement in site.

Right. So you can't differentiate a frustrating player from an awful tactically set up team. Illogical hatred from the fans, and then we **** and moan about loyalty. Feel free to "track back" and check my Tadic comments. I'm sure you'll find me terrified he's about to take a penalty or moaning at him for missing... Doesn't mean I can't see his virtues or appreciate the wider picture of how badly the team was set up for attacking players.

FFS Seriously... He played under managers that did not attack or commit bodies forward for two years. He is a techncaily gifted player who beats a man on the edge of the box and gets a cross in. He's been prevented from getting to those positions by tactics, and we've had no one in the box to bloody well cross to... Do people seriously think its a coincidence that his "game" improved exactly in sync with the manager changing, and saints all of a sudden committing men forward? He is a great player when it comes to doing what he does best. He's been quality for Serbia this world cup, and he will be quality for Ajax or us (most likely not) next season.

I think you are missing the point here Faz. From all major news outlets - times, to sun, to mirror, to express. This is the only paper not reporting we have a £13m release clause. Coincidentally happens to be the club's pet journo, who coincidentally makes out the club are getting paid more than anywhere else is reporting. Why, to incrementally ease pressure on the board and look like they're doing a good job. I can't help but smell a rat. We'll never know though. I got asked for sources of a low release clause, i provided. No one else has anywhere near as much evidence that we're going to get £18m atm. Lets wait a see shall we. I predict a pattern just like the Mane transfer for example... club says £36-38m, everyone else says £30m.

In truth Dodd, I just going on what has been reported regarding release causes. The truth is that we'll never know as none of us will see his contract. Admittedly these are all from last summer but a very broad selection of media outlets quote a £13m (15m euros) release clause - hence i state "laughably low". - I don't think many will disagree with that description of that price?!?! https://metro.co.uk/2017/03/26/arsenal-target-dusan-tadic-has-release-clause-of-just-13m-6535193/ https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/southamptons-dusan-tadic-coy-future-10616124 https://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/liverpool-fc-keen-southamptons-dusan-13171107 https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/3775858/liverpool-look-to-raid-southampton-again-with-move-for-13million-dusan-tadic/ https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/klopp-plots-southampton-raid-for-tadic-29ztr92r9 Even the club's pet jounro (who either blindly or willingly peddles the line) is reporting a £15m figure for the transfer. Given the trust I and most fans have in our club's media spiel, I find it likely that that cost for getting the scoop is an inflated price, or it is directly fed to him as such. It is common practice for clubs to do this. Sadly trust in the club's PR (particularly regarding player sales) has been at a real low in recent seasons. Lets not forget January's misleading reporting from this same source telling fans we were basically getting Promes etc. I just simply cannot trust the club's media sources anymore... not until some good faith is restored.

So, any solid news of incomings?

If he has his heart set on Ajax and they pay his laughably low release clause then he'll be playing for Ajax... So no, saints won't see the same Tadic obviously. Not really getting your point. Fans want to hate him, but as has been said, he was one of the main reasons we stayed up in the end. He played for two years with managers that parked the bus, played low tempo contain football, and with no bodies committed to the box. It is not his fault he struggled in that system. He is at his best when he can take a man on and turn him inside and out to get the cross in. We've had no movement, no pace, and no options for two years. Most players would struggle to create with zero options. He showed exactly what he can do at the end of the season under a decent manager in an attacking team. Madness to sell, but then if he's had enough, who can blame him? At least he isn't moving for money like most of the mercenaries we've had. I hope Saints fans don't go giving him abuse when/if he leaves. I don't disagree we need a shake up. For years we've sold quality and signed filling. But selling one of the last bits of quality is a bad thing!

I think he's a decent player. Hopefully he comes and does well. He should add something a bit different to our midfield with respect to goals, and for the money you can't really argue. What concerns me is that it was obvious last year that we needed another attacking mid / winger to take people on, link play, and create chances. We haven't made any real moves to sign one yet, and we're selling Tadic for half what he will cost to replace. Needs to be addressed PDQ.

I think England have got a good chance this year. But I can't say I particularly fancy Mexico in the knock outs! Give me any of the billy big boys with ego issues before a decent team.

Say what?!?!

Based on your comments, your attitude appears to be that anyone with a bad word to say about the running of the club currently should be scorned. Maybe I read that wrong but its what both your comment to me imply, and frankly I totally disagree with that outlook given the club's collapse in the last two years. Sorry if it ruffles feathers but its a growing viewpoint (thankfully) amongst the fans. This is a thread about Target, and at the end of the day I said exactly what I thought of his situation? He should be kept and given a proper chance at the club. His loan proved that if nothing else did. On top of that, the way he has been ignored by the club whilst on loan etc was very poor. We deserve to lose him sadly and respect to him if he does move to secure playing time and to further himself. This is a club built around an academy that a couple of years ago was hailed as one of the best in europe... You wouldn't think it these days.

If you casually think I am "being negative about everything", you should probably check my post history. Its pretty clear exactly which part of the club I am "negative" about (I would say pragmatic/realistic). The rest of the time I fully support the club and am very positive. Unfortunately I see fans with the attitude you appear to have as a part of our problem. Overall our fans accept everythinand stand for nothing. The result is we get walked all over, accept mediocrity (at best), and spend our time insulting each other on a football forum rather than acting - unlike fans of bigger clubs. Don't get me wrong, I love casually cycling down the bath railway cycle path in my saints shirt, seeing another fan, and having a high tempo "come on you reds" cheered back and forth, we're a great bunch and will greet each other all over the world..... but our fans are a total walkover when it comes to bad management. We just let it slide until its usually too late. Very lucky we got Hughes last year. Literally, 1 game later or any other manager we were linked with and we would have gone down. Target should be kept, its as simple as that. Other clubs see him as prem quaility, but a team that just survived relegation, with only 1 other left back, are going to let a home grown fan of the club go... And that is ignoring the fact that this club is built around the academy and on the basis of giving kids a go. We've totally lost our way. Even Poch played Gallagher up front when he was here. Years earlier in his career than we are prepared to try despite him proving himself to be a useful player in the championship in poor sides... The club just blocked his pathway and shipped him out. Its bloody poor. Not all the kids will make it to prem level, but certainly more should have than have been allowed to. Look at the stagnation of Sims for example. But no, our fans have forgotten all about that since we got back to the prem. Total loss of identity.

No blame for this can be laid at Tadic's feet. He's been a good player for us and has decided to move on. The blame can be laid at the feet of those who have turned this into a club that he no longer wants to play for.

Giant **** up by the club. again.

Cracking window so far

Why are you arguing with him. He is either a troll, a footballing philistine, or some drunkard that everyone got bored of listening to down the pub so he turned up here. Just ignore.