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Summer Transfer Window 2025/26

Master Bates

By Master Bates
in The Saints

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Monk

Monk

Posted
Posted
11 hours ago, kjurwi said:

Would still want us to go for Victor Johansson at Stoke. 

Ditto. 

tdmickey3

tdmickey3

Posted
Posted (edited)
17 hours ago, Wade Garrett said:
17 hours ago, Wade Garrett said:

Great shout.

Yep, but probably end up with Victor (meldrew) from Kettering

Edited by tdmickey3
  • Haha 1
daldridge7

daldridge7

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, SteveGc said:

http://sportwitness.co.uk/southampton-midfielder-makes-it-clear-he-has-transfer-aim-wants-return-to-old-club/
 

Fernandes apparently wants return to Sporting 

Yeah he does but isn’t this out of context, doesn’t he mean at some point he would like to play for Sporting again, not just that he wants to be sold straight back. I definitely think he will leave, but there’s no point him closing off his options when there will probably at least be interest from bigger teams. 

  • Like 2
Appy

Appy

Posted
Posted (edited)
On 26/04/2025 at 08:59, Monk said:

Ditto. 

Same but we’ll probably plod on with the three stooges. Bazunu, McCarthy and Lumley. 

Edited by Appy
Matthew Le God

Matthew Le God

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, SteveGc said:

http://sportwitness.co.uk/southampton-midfielder-makes-it-clear-he-has-transfer-aim-wants-return-to-old-club/
 

Fernandes apparently wants return to Sporting 

I'd be surprised if that was his next move. He may just want to return at some point in the future, perhaps towards end of career.

I doubt Sporting Lisbon could afford either his transfer fee or wages for next season.

  • Like 2
Holmes_and_Watson

Holmes_and_Watson

Posted
Posted
19 minutes ago, daldridge7 said:

Yeah he does but isn’t this out of context, doesn’t he mean at some point he would like to play for Sporting again, not just that he wants to be sold straight back. I definitely think he will leave, but there’s no point him closing off his options when there will probably at least be interest from bigger teams. 

Yup. The quote noticeably avoids any timescales.

Making his desire clear about his future, Fernandes said: “I want to return to Sporting.”

Could be where he wants to end his career, for all that makes clear.

  • Like 1
Miltonaggro

Miltonaggro

Posted
Posted
26 minutes ago, Appy said:

Same but we’ll probably plod on when the three stooges. Bazunu, McCarthy and Lumley. 

Perhaps Spors’ first test of competence at season end. If he can’t see it already we are in real trouble. Without ramsdale we’d have made that Derby side look like Real Madrid this season. Ramsdale will be off early so need a new number one in for pre-season. 

  • Like 3
West end Saints

West end Saints

Posted
Posted

I think the league will be marginally weaker than  when we got promoted.

Our main 11, on appearance times, was 

Bazunu

 

KWP

Bednarek 

THB

Manning

 

Smallbone

Downes

Stu Armstrong

 

Ryan F

Che

Adam A

Manager Martin

Surely with players who stay, half decent manager, a few good youngsters coming through and a couple of signings we will be stronger?

I feel Shea Charles could be central for us.

 

Saint Fan CaM

Saint Fan CaM

Posted
Posted
13 minutes ago, West end Saints said:

I think the league will be marginally weaker than  when we got promoted.

Our main 11, on appearance times, was 

Bazunu

 

KWP

Bednarek 

THB

Manning

 

Smallbone

Downes

Stu Armstrong

 

Ryan F

Che

Adam A

Manager Martin

Surely with players who stay, half decent manager, a few good youngsters coming through and a couple of signings we will be stronger?

I feel Shea Charles could be central for us.

 

Yeah, I feel this too - mainly because he’s a central defensive midfielder perhaps? 😉

woodsaint1

woodsaint1

Posted
Posted

While I accept that we dont need to make wholesale changes this summer....we do need wholesale changes by summer 2026 if we want to be a competitive PL team again (if we get promoted). We could be forced into doing a large chunk of that this summer.

If you take our regular starting team we're definitely losing KWP and Big Les. We're also very likely losing Ramsdale, Dibling and Fernandes. Wouldnt be surprised if one or two others tried to force a move also.

Yes we're going to need to rely on some of those players who've let us down this season (and even 22/23) but we need to keep that number to a bare minimum and they need to be squad fillers only. If we're starting next season with Bazunu, Bednarek, Stephens, Bree, Manning, Sulemana, AA or Onuachu as regular starters - then our recruitment hasnt been good enough and we're making the same mistakes again.

We likely need 6/7 new starters imo

CSA96

CSA96

Posted
Posted

Fair enough. Really wouldn't mind freshening up the CB positions, we're overloaded with players in that position and it feels like we've been turning out Bednarek and Stephens forever and a day now. Creates room for Edwards, would need to add another if/when THB goes and then Stephens and Wood can be the backups

Bednarek is a good Championship player but we're probably overdue for a parting of the ways there

  • Like 8
Oisin

Oisin

Posted
Posted

I just feel like I’ve seen more than enough of him playing for us, normally not quite well enough.

Careful what you wish for I guess, but I’d be happy to see him move on.

  • Like 6
Saint86

Saint86

Posted
Posted (edited)

Think we will lose Bednarek and ABK at CB. Hopeful of keeping THB.

THB, Woods, Stephens, Edwards - that is a decent enough set of CBs for the championship (if we play with 4 at the back)... Preferably we start THB and Edwards from those 2, and i think both can develop into good players for saints.

Manning on the left (wellington, and dare i say it, Larios, as backups). Sugarawara and Bree and RB. Its solid if not spectacular. Could it be improved - absolutely, but there are likely to be other areas that need it more.

Where we are strongest is in our starting CM for next season i think - excited to see if we can play Charles and Downes as holding and central mids in a 3man central midfield. Hopefully keeping one of Dibling or fernandes to play in front of them. Failing that Aribo, and Smallbone could also play in front of them but obviously we'd like to see some improvements there. Depth wise we'll be a bit weak for that kind of setup however.

Have to assume that Sulemana is finally leaving, so wide attackers are weak... Edozie, keep AA? Maybe dibling... Significant improvements needed there at any rate - especially in the depth department. A shame we've let SAA go 😕

Then up front its Stewart, Onuachu, and Archer... Can we get a tune out of them or do we just reset?

GK....

Edited by Saint86
  • Like 1
Wade Garrett

Wade Garrett

Posted
Posted
42 minutes ago, SuperSAINT said:

I would assume no chance of THB staying - especially with his patented change of agent pre-summer.

He might find out in the Summer that he’s not as good as he thinks he is.  Can’t see much interest from the Premier League  in him.

  • Like 5
Osvaldorama

Osvaldorama

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Oisin said:

I just feel like I’ve seen more than enough of him playing for us, normally not quite well enough.

Careful what you wish for I guess, but I’d be happy to see him move on.

Agreed. Good at championship level; nowhere near good enough for prem unfortunately.

 

Always gives his all so I wish him well wherever he goes. 

  • Like 1
HarvSFC

HarvSFC

Posted
Posted

Timing's key with this one. Romano gets his information from agents and Bednarek's agent will have asked Romano to make the release clause public knowledge as well as the throwaway line of "several clubs attentive to this opportunity" which doesn't actually mean anything but may push a club into making a move. He must have his eye on a move this summer. We can thank Bednarek for his service. He has kind of redeemed himself after refusing to play in the Cup because of the upcoming international break and his comments after joining Villa. However, we've never had a good defence with Bednarek in it. Not even last season in the Championship. We need someone more dominant and physical in the position. Villa quickly found out he wasn't good enough and that was when they were below us and we tried to replace him and Stephens two years ago, yet here they are starting every week.

So, yeah, not going to lose too much sleep over this one. Bednarek leaving is one of the keys to getting a squad refresh.

  • Like 6
Miltonaggro

Miltonaggro

Posted
Posted
43 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

He might find out in the Summer that he’s not as good as he thinks he is.  Can’t see much interest from the Premier League  in him.

Not at the price we'd sell him for, given the £20M will apparently paid for him.  The neo-Maldini barnet might add another £35.

  • Like 1
trousers

trousers

Posted
Posted (edited)
6 minutes ago, HarvSFC said:

Villa quickly found out Bednarek wasn't good enough and that was when they were below us and we tried to replace him and Stephens two years ago, yet here they are starting every week.

If you ever have to illustrate to someone why we've gone from being better than a club like Aston Villa to exponentially worse than them in the space of a few years, just get them to read that sentence right there... 👆

#nutshell. 

Edited by trousers
  • Like 4
Lee On Solent Saint

Lee On Solent Saint

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Osvaldorama said:

Agreed. Good at championship level; nowhere near good enough for prem unfortunately.

 

Always gives his all so I wish him well wherever he goes. 

I actually like Bednarek, not the greatest but as you say gives his all. Can't help wondering if he would be better playing alongside a more dominant centre back partner.

  • Like 2
BarberSaint

BarberSaint

Posted
Posted
22 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

I actually like Bednarek, not the greatest but as you say gives his all. Can't help wondering if he would be better leaving.

Yes please. Waste of £5m.

  • Haha 2
Gloucester Saint

Gloucester Saint

Posted
Posted
13 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

Waste of 5m? Really?

£5m was a mid-level Champ fee at the time, now its top 10 League 1. 200 odd appearance, bulk of them in the top flight, can’t really moan.

Not Jannik’s fault that Reed and Wilson couldn’t stay off the sauce long enough to think that Hoedt and Vestergaard were worth £17m each (£30m today). 

  • Like 3
madge

madge

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

I actually like Bednarek, not the greatest but as you say gives his all. Can't help wondering if he would be better playing alongside a more dominant centre back partner.

Yeah I do actually think he has done well since returning from villa. He’s been steady and you know what you get from him. He deserves his move and would wish him all the best. Been a good servant. 

  • Like 4
Gloucester Saint

Gloucester Saint

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, BarberSaint said:

Yes please. Waste of £5m.

Don’t know what that makes Jannik Vestergaard then - cost Saints £18m, then even more astonishingly Leicester paid £15m for him with only a year left on his deal at Saints. And he played in the 0-9.

  • Like 1
Chez

Chez

Posted
Posted
5 hours ago, skintsaint said:

Believe he stated he is off at the end of the season.

contracted until 2026, so wont be going anywhere unless we allow it. The daily Mail story suggested there was interest from Turkey, but we have seen with Onuachu how little money there is available, so I wouldn't put money on that move happening. Much more likely he sees out his contract and goes on a free next year.

  • Like 1
Chez

Chez

Posted
Posted
5 hours ago, goodymatt said:

 

never rated him, but sadly we have looked worse when he hasn't played (amazing I know), so I don't have massive confidence in the others either.

  • Like 2
Saint Scott

Saint Scott

Posted
Posted
6 hours ago, goodymatt said:

 

Jan has been a decent(ish) servant for the club, but you always feel there is a mistake coming from him in most games.

The time is right to have a fresh start, for both parties. He'd do well on the continent in my opinion.

Good luck to him

  • Like 1
Saint Fan CaM

Saint Fan CaM

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Chez said:

never rated him, but sadly we have looked worse when he hasn't played (amazing I know), so I don't have massive confidence in the others either.

A really good observation this. Think some supporters underestimate the importance of the CB pairing - i.e. how well do they work together?  Bednarek might arguably well be our best CB, but if that standard is ‘damaged’ by the lack of compatibility of one or more poorer standard partners, the entire defence looks worse. That analysis works through the spine of the team too.

  • Like 5
SouSaint

SouSaint

Posted
Posted
8 hours ago, waylander said:

You know nothing. Been a solid player for us.

Solid is pushing it massively. He always has a mistake in him, he's just been the best of a very bad bunch of CBs that we've had since he became a regular in 2018. In truth, he should never have been anything more than a squad player for this club. 

  • Like 2
chivvy

chivvy

Posted
Posted

Don't really rate Bednarek but his stats are better than you'd think go check out who scored.com. think he needs a better partner

Thb has this love in on him .I don't know why.

Stephens just needs to go on big wages

What I'd love to is ABK loved told he was 1st choice and go out and fulfill your potential.  He looked awesome at one stage . The championship could be the league to rebuild his career. Sadly perhaps he doesn't have the application..lots of managers can't all be wrong.

  • Like 1
Saint86

Saint86

Posted
Posted (edited)

Who are the near certain departures then?

Aribo (1 year left on his contract so that will be saints getting minimal fee for him as well.)

Bednarek (2 years left and clearly trying to exit)

Sulemana (would be worth keeping for the champ for how little we'll get for him, but has seemingly wanted out for years and into his final 2 years)

KWP (sadly)

Fernandes (much better than championship and will have interest) - maybe the club will put their foot down and make a show of keeping him?

Dibling (2 years left on his contract and no sign of a new deal)

ABK (1 year left on his contract - bye bye)

 

Probable departures:

Ramsdale

Armstrong - wants out

Onuachu - i would keep him for what we'll likely get for him, but has interest from abroad for years.

 

Edited by Saint86
Chez

Chez

Posted
Posted
43 minutes ago, chivvy said:

Don't really rate Bednarek but his stats are better than you'd think go check out who scored.com. think he needs a better partner

Thb has this love in on him .I don't know why.

Stephens just needs to go on big wages

What I'd love to is ABK loved told he was 1st choice and go out and fulfill your potential.  He looked awesome at one stage . The championship could be the league to rebuild his career. Sadly perhaps he doesn't have the application..lots of managers can't all be wrong.

THB is too slow. I said so during his first season. Not sure he makes up for that by reading the game brilliantly. Still learning though, so not giving up hope. What I do expect from a 'slower' CB is tremendous strength and aerial ability. He doesn't offer that. What we have is a defender with average traits that's pretty decent with the ball.

ABK is the opposite. He doesn't look comfortable with the ball at all. And that's before the long lay off. He has looked even more limited since coming back. He's strong, but certainly not dominant. He doesn't read the game well and he's not quick either. 

 

  • Like 3
Chez

Chez

Posted
Posted
3 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

Who are the near certain departures then?

Aribo (1 year left on his contract so that will be saints getting minimal fee for him as well.)

Bednarek (2 years left and clearly trying to exit)

Sulemana (would be worth keeping for the champ for how little we'll get for him, but has seemingly wanted out for years and into his final 2 years)

KWP (sadly)

Fernandes (much better than championship and will have interest) - maybe the club will put their foot down and make a show of keeping him?

Dibling (2 years left on his contract and no sign of a new deal)

ABK (1 year left on his contract - bye bye)

 

Probable departures:

Ramsdale

Armstrong - wants out

Onuachu - i would keep him for what we'll likely get for him, but has interest from abroad for years.

 

Not sure some of those are near certain departures. We may stick to our Gus on valuations like we did last summer with Onuachu, pricing them out if moves. Wages are relatively high, so teams may wait until they are available on frees. Perhaps we will loan out some players. It's not a given Sulemana departs for example.

Gloucester Saint

Gloucester Saint

Posted
Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, Chez said:

THB is too slow. I said so during his first season. Not sure he makes up for that by reading the game brilliantly. Still learning though, so not giving up hope. What I do expect from a 'slower' CB is tremendous strength and aerial ability. He doesn't offer that. What we have is a defender with average traits that's pretty decent with the ball.

ABK is the opposite. He doesn't look comfortable with the ball at all. And that's before the long lay off. He has looked even more limited since coming back. He's strong, but certainly not dominant. He doesn't read the game well and he's not quick either. 

 

Agree, I think football clubs and scouts must be watching a different game to me at times because I see a bang average centre half similar to Bednarek in a 4, and in a 5 THB has been miles worse than Jan, and even worse than Stephens when the latter has been off the pitch. Not even sure he’s been better than Wood in a 5. He’s alright on the ball but so is Stephens when he’s not sent off.

That England cap might make us very grateful to Lee Carsley if we can somehow turn a profit on him. I do hope that it is another learning point along with Bazanu (the biggest lesson), Larios and to an extent Edozie that because a player has looked good for an ECL petrol club below first team level with genuine talent around them that it will automatically translate to PL at a medium sized club. 

The Livramento and Lavia transfers made money but they also killed SFC in a lot of ways.

Edited by Gloucester Saint
Appy

Appy

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Saint86 said:

Who are the near certain departures then?

Aribo (1 year left on his contract so that will be saints getting minimal fee for him as well.)

Bednarek (2 years left and clearly trying to exit)

Sulemana (would be worth keeping for the champ for how little we'll get for him, but has seemingly wanted out for years and into his final 2 years)

KWP (sadly)

Fernandes (much better than championship and will have interest) - maybe the club will put their foot down and make a show of keeping him?

Dibling (2 years left on his contract and no sign of a new deal)

ABK (1 year left on his contract - bye bye)

 

Probable departures:

Ramsdale

Armstrong - wants out

Onuachu - i would keep him for what we'll likely get for him, but has interest from abroad for years.

 

Not a chance Onuachu should be here next year if we’re looking to supposedly play a high energy, high pressing system. The bloke can hardly move. 

Turkish

Turkish

Posted
Posted
50 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Agree, I think football clubs and scouts must be watching a different game to me at times because I see a bang average centre half similar to Bednarek in a 4, and in a 5 THB has been miles worse than Jan, and even worse than Stephens when the latter has been off the pitch. Not even sure he’s been better than Wood in a 5. He’s alright on the ball but so is Stephens when he’s not sent off.

That England cap might make us very grateful to Lee Carsley if we can somehow turn a profit on him. I do hope that it is another learning point along with Bazanu (the biggest lesson), Larios and to an extent Edozie that because a player has looked good for an ECL petrol club below first team level with genuine talent around them that it will automatically translate to PL at a medium sized club. 

The Livramento and Lavia transfers made money but they also killed SFC in a lot of ways.

I think back and wonder if the Livramento signing was the catalyst behind the disaster of the 2022 windows. Having signed him and put him straight in the first team where he settled straight away did the club think they had struck gold and that everyone would do the same? I know common sense tells you that is not going to be the case but since when has common sense ever been a factor as this club when we constantly try and reinvent the way football clubs are run?

  • Like 1

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