Summer Transfer Window 2025/26

[Saint86]

1 hour ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

Rasmus shouldn’t be anywhere near a business, let alone a football club.

Absolute chancer.

According to Blackmore, Ankerson has been moved well away from the club's football operations and is being kept out of the way to allow Spors to do his work. Make of that what you will given Blackmore often parrots information as he's told to by the club.

Edited Tuesday at 12:49 by Saint86

[Saint86]

1 hour ago, S-Clarke said:

My feeling is that next season will be similar to our first season in the Championship when we were relegated in 05/06. Never in the promotion conversation, a bit of a recovery in the 2nd half of the season to finish top of the bottom half.

Football doesn't care for reputation or finances, if you have a losing habit then it can take some time to shift no matter what level you're at. We have a habit of not even competing, so god knows how long this will take us to reset.

Think we'll see a massive shake up this summer and keep only a smattering of the first team - thats what i'd like to see anyway.

Reckon the likes of manning, Arma, Charles will feature next year. Good chance that one of Downes of THB is still around. Edwards will step up and i'm excited to see him do that.

We've got a lot of players that seemingly don't want to be here (Sulemana, Onuachu, Fernandes, Dibling seemingly, Bednarek, ABK, Aribo, Taylor), and if that is the case then we should welcome the chance to clear them out / move them on, and build a largely new team and dressing room. Won't be too dissimilar to the job Koeman did in his first season.

And imo, something like that needs to happen to stop this cylical rut that we're in, and it shouldn't be something we're scared of doing - relegation will be the perfect opportunity to do it, the finances are in a solid enough state, wage clauses likewise, and the squad needs a radical restructuring under a new manager and Spors...

Edited Tuesday at 12:56 by Saint86

[S-Clarke]

9 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

Think we'll see a massive shake up this summer and keep only a smattering of the first team - thats what i'd like to see anyway.

Reckon the likes of manning, Arma, Charles will feature next year. Good chance that one of Downes of THB is still around. Edwards will step up and i'm excited to see him do that.

We've got a lot of players that seemingly don't want to be here (Sulemana, Onuachu, Fernandes, Dibling seemingly, Bednarek, ABK, Aribo, Taylor), and if that is the case then we should welcome the chance to clear them out / move them on, and build a largely new team and dressing room. Won't be too dissimilar to the job Koeman did in his first season.

And imo, something like that needs to happen to stop this cylical rut that we're in, and it shouldn't be something we're scared of doing - relegation will be the perfect opportunity to do it, the finances are in a solid enough state, wage clauses likewise, and the squad needs a radical restructuring under a new manager and Spors...

There's a hell of a lot riding on Spors!

I do agree that we need a clean slate in the main, but it will be hard to ditch everyone we want to in a single window. There will be some financial juggling I'm sure, and maybe it'll be over a few windows until we have a proper competitive side again.

My fear is wholesale change this summer will require big financial outlay in one big hit, mainly re-investing the fees we get. If we waste that money in one window then that's us done for. Could be a case of tread carefully, stabilise in the Championship for a year and build from there.

I'd hope the season after next to be one where we can really push again after stabilising, similar to as we did under Burley - but without being as skint as we were then.

Edited Tuesday at 13:04 by S-Clarke

[saintant]

1 hour ago, Saint86 said:

According to Blackmore, Ankerson has been moved well away from the club's football operations and is being kept out of the way to allow Spors to do his work. Make of that what you will given Blackmore often parrots information as he's told to by the club.

The best and most positive news about the club I've heard in ages. Hope it's true.

[Saint86]

1 hour ago, S-Clarke said:

There's a hell of a lot riding on Spors!

I do agree that we need a clean slate in the main, but it will be hard to ditch everyone we want to in a single window. There will be some financial juggling I'm sure, and maybe it'll be over a few windows until we have a proper competitive side again.

My fear is wholesale change this summer will require big financial outlay in one big hit, mainly re-investing the fees we get. If we waste that money in one window then that's us done for. Could be a case of tread carefully, stabilise in the Championship for a year and build from there.

I'd hope the season after next to be one where we can really push again after stabilising, similar to as we did under Burley - but without being as skint as we were then.

Agreed that it's an all in strategy and assumes Spors will do a good job, but then equally we are easily one of the big boys in the champ (squad wise and financially). If he can't manage to do it with reasonable competence this summer, then fundamentally it's a not a good sign and unlikely he'll fair better over multiple windows (this summer we will be our strongest relative to our competition).

Whilst I would like to think that we can afford to rebuild in the championship over multiple seasons, the odds of gaining promotion decrease significantly every year we fail, and with the latest prem teams getting relegated / whatever financially doped league 1 club is coming through.

I think we should be bold this summer.

Edited Tuesday at 14:47 by Saint86

[Owen The Saints]

On 03/05/2025 at 17:38, S-Clarke said:

This is going to be a busy summer. This is who can go as far as I'm concerned. I've accepted Ramsdale, THB, KWP, Aribo, Suguwara, Dibling and Fernandes will leave

Bednarek - His inability to defend has ruined my Saturdays for almost a decade. Needs to go

Stephens - One of the worst CB's we've ever had. Needs to go

Manning - Not good enough what so ever. Needs to go

Downes - Injury prone and pretty lost. Get what we can for him, he's probably still got some value there. He's lost without his mate, maybe he can buy him for Leicester when he becomes their manager.

Sulemana - Just fuck the fuck off. Awful player.

Stewart - Pay him off and let the poor bloke retire.

Archer - Terrible footballer, need shot.

Smallbone - Awful player, weak as piss. No good keeping players of his standard around, drags the rest down.

Onouachu - A big lump of shit in all honestly. Get what we can for him.

ABK - Waste of a wage, just pay him off at this point.

Fraser - We probably got his last somewhat usable year out of him, he's now done and we need shot.

Larios - The wind would injure him. He needs to leave and play at a lower to amateur level in Spain, as his body cannot deal with the rigours of professional football.

With the expected departures and the above also hopefully going, it'll leave us with McCarthy, Wood, Edwards, Wellington, Charles, Armstrong, BBD, Taylor, Bree. Obviously no where near enough, so we need to be signing lots and lots - and because of the upheaval that will likely take place over a couple of transfer windows, we will not be competitive for quite some time.

Step 1 - Sort out the recruitment setup, looks like we've made a start at that.

Step 2 - Use the new recruitment setup to appoint the correct manager and coaching staff to take us forward

Step 3 - Use the new recruitment setup, the new management and coaches to build a team.

Those steps happen over a few years for me, this isn't being fixed in one summer.

Taylor, McCarthy, BBD and Armstrong are all a waste of time. If we're going to keep shit players put them on shit pay. 4 left backs in the 1st team squad yet KWP has more starts in that position than all of them put together. Why isnt Wellington playing? Hope it's not another instance of buying a decent player who can't speak english.

As far as I'm concerned everyone mentioned above should be dropped for the rest of the season, leave them in no doubt they are out the door in the summer. 

Manning and Stephens are not even good enough to be classed as absolutely fucking useless.

[Convict Colony]

Sell whoever doesnt fit the new managers formation, regardless of standing and get players who play and can excel in the new system.

[Football Special]

5 hours ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

Rasmus shouldn’t be anywhere near a business, let alone a football club.

Absolute chancer.

He's king chancer and I think there's more within the business absolutely blagging a living, total wages spent in the last 12 months must be eye watering for such an embarrassing return,  at every level of the club, directors, managers, coaches, scouts, just bluffing their way along, comes from the top though

 

[Midfield_General]

51 minutes ago, Owen The Saints said:

If we're going to keep shit players put them on shit pay. 

I’m not sure that’s how contracts work (unfortunately). 

[ApprenticeBillionaire]

10 hours ago, skintsaint said:

Utd and the Hammers linked with Ramsdale in todays Mirror according to the BBC.

I can see him ending up at United they desperately need a Keeper.

[bugenhagen]

3 hours ago, Saint86 said:

Think we'll see a massive shake up this summer and keep only a smattering of the first team - thats what i'd like to see anyway.

Reckon the likes of manning, Arma, Charles will feature next year. Good chance that one of Downes of THB is still around. Edwards will step up and i'm excited to see him do that.

We've got a lot of players that seemingly don't want to be here (Sulemana, Onuachu, Fernandes, Dibling seemingly, Bednarek, ABK, Aribo, Taylor), and if that is the case then we should welcome the chance to clear them out / move them on, and build a largely new team and dressing room. Won't be too dissimilar to the job Koeman did in his first season.

And imo, something like that needs to happen to stop this cylical rut that we're in, and it shouldn't be something we're scared of doing - relegation will be the perfect opportunity to do it, the finances are in a solid enough state, wage clauses likewise, and the squad needs a radical restructuring under a new manager and Spors...

When I’m at my best, I also think like this, and I’m actually looking forward to the summer and next season! I applaud your way of thinking!

Sadly, Saints make it very difficult for me to be at my best and be positive about the club. Therefore it is easy to think that everything that can go wrong will go wrong -the Southampton Way!

[Saint Fan CaM]

Proof of the pudding and all that. We can only hope that the managerial appointment will be swift to allow maximum time to sort out the squad.  The club will need to offload a lot of players this summer before really strengthening. My concern is that Spors will consider the likes of Bednarek, Stephens, Manning and Smallbone as ‘good enough’ for the Championship - the benchmark for the quality required, then sanction the sale of Fernandes, Rambo and Dibling. We know KWP will be off. 

If that scenario transpires I dread to think what we’ll be left with and what style of play we’ll be watching (as that’s linked to the quality of squad). As I say, at the end of the window we’ll know how capable Spors is and so have a sense of how competitive we’ll be next season.

[Saint86]

29 minutes ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

Proof of the pudding and all that. We can only hope that the managerial appointment will be swift to allow maximum time to sort out the squad.  The club will need to offload a lot of players this summer before really strengthening. My concern is that Spors will consider the likes of Bednarek, Stephens, Manning and Smallbone as ‘good enough’ for the Championship - the benchmark for the quality required, then sanction the sale of Fernandes, Rambo and Dibling. We know KWP will be off. 

If that scenario transpires I dread to think what we’ll be left with and what style of play we’ll be watching (as that’s linked to the quality of squad). As I say, at the end of the window we’ll know how capable Spors is and so have a sense of how competitive we’ll be next season.

Hopefully Spors is looking for players that (with a years regular playing in the championship) can be considered as good enough for the prem. Anyone considered "good enough for the championship" should be firmly considered as squad depth this coming season.

[Turkish]

18 hours ago, Football Special said:

He's king chancer and I think there's more within the business absolutely blagging a living, total wages spent in the last 12 months must be eye watering for such an embarrassing return,  at every level of the club, directors, managers, coaches, scouts, just bluffing their way along, comes from the top though

 

We warned when he joined that he was a blagger. He was the ideas guy at Brentford whilst everyone around him had to reign him in getting carried away with his blue sky thinking and all that bollocks. Sounds like the Dragon has now got his number unfortunately cost him a few hundred million to find out the hard way. Rasmus is that typical guy seen a hundred times in business, looks good, speaks well has loads of ideas but fucking useless when it comes to actually delivering anything.

[Wade Garrett]

1 hour ago, Turkish said:

We warned when he joined that he was a blagger. He was the ideas guy at Brentford whilst everyone around him had to reign him in getting carried away with his blue sky thinking and all that bollocks. Sounds like the Dragon has now got his number unfortunately cost him a few hundred million to find out the hard way. Rasmus is that typical guy seen a hundred times in business, looks good, speaks well has loads of ideas but fucking useless when it comes to actually delivering anything.

Would be interested to know if his brother’s footballer cattle market profited from the club.

[tdmickey3]

21 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

Would be interested to know if his brother’s footballer cattle market profited from the club.

Sure it did, we signed some of its lame ones

[Oldandtired]

5 hours ago, Turkish said:

 looks good, speaks well has loads of ideas but fucking useless when it comes to actually delivering anything.

Sounds familiar 😎

[Pwoite]

On 06/05/2025 at 16:41, Owen The Saints said:

Taylor, McCarthy, BBD and Armstrong are all a waste of time. If we're going to keep shit players put them on shit pay. 4 left backs in the 1st team squad yet KWP has more starts in that position than all of them put together. Why isnt Wellington playing? Hope it's not another instance of buying a decent player who can't speak english.

As far as I'm concerned everyone mentioned above should be dropped for the rest of the season, leave them in no doubt they are out the door in the summer. 

Manning and Stephens are not even good enough to be classed as absolutely fucking useless.

Armstrong, a waste of time? Yup, proved that in the Championship last time with forty odd goals and assists. 
 

We cannot replace all eleven starting players over the summer, so need to build around the most competent and talented we have, those who can do a job next season, and a few ‘starlets’ that are likely to blossom into EPL standard. 
 

So, Edwards, Charles, Robinson supported by Armstrong, Stephens, Smallbone, Manning, and dare I say McCarthy, plus whoever we can hold onto from Fernandez, THB, Downes, and a few supporting squad players either coming through from the U21s or seniors we cannot shift. Supplement this with a new keeper, striker, central midfielder and so on.

We need to build a squad for next season with an eye on the one after, so a lot of evolution financially as well as the necessary revolution to move some players on.

[Whitey Grandad]

19 hours ago, Wade Garrett said:

Would be interested to know if his brother’s footballer cattle market profited from the club.

Ours would be sold for glue.

[Saint86]

Just seen a rumour saying KWP is staying and wants to be a leader at saints next season... silly season well and truly underway it seems 😂🤣

[spyinthesky]

Hope that's true

[skintsaint]

8 hours ago, Saint86 said:

Just seen a rumour saying KWP is staying and wants to be a leader at saints next season... silly season well and truly underway it seems 😂🤣

Maybe he suitors have buggered off after watching him this season.

[Convict Colony]

First signing announced + shirt reveal

Edited yesterday at 17:55 by Convict Colony

[Willo of Whiteley]

On 06/05/2025 at 13:48, Saint86 said:

According to Blackmore, Ankerson has been moved well away from the club's football operations and is being kept out of the way to allow Spors to do his work. Make of that what you will given Blackmore often parrots information as he's told to by the club.

That’s quite funny but a shame also.

It’s like that delinquent child who is a constant menace but you have to keep them nearby because they’re family.

Begs the question “what does he actually do within the SR group”?

[Willo of Whiteley]

The only players I’d like to see us keep is Dibling, KWP, Bednarek, Fernandes and Ramsdale. 

The rest can go.

Equally I know that we’ll be lucky to keep one of the above.

[Gloucester Saint]

Just now, Willo of Whiteley said:

The only players I’d like to see us keep is Dibling, KWP, Bednarek, Fernandes and Ramsdale. 

The rest can go.

Equally I know that we’ll be lucky to keep one of the above.

Zero I’m afraid, KWP looking likely to be Fulham unless Silva does a flit, Ramsdale has a market and alleged release clause for £25m, Bednarek release clause £6m, Fernandes and Dibling have markets, just how many clubs bid and whether it meets valuation.

The hope is that we get fees for some of the others eg Aribo, a modest fee for Smallbone, Sugawara, Manning, BBD. AA possibly.

[sockeye]

6 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

The only players I’d like to see us keep is Dibling, KWP, Bednarek, Fernandes and Ramsdale.

One of these things is not like the others...

[Willo of Whiteley]

The problem the club will have is who is going to take the likes of McCarthy, Stephens, Larios, Aribo, Smallbone, Sulemana, Onuachu, Stewart etc - some you could argue have market value, somehow. 
They’re all dreadful players in their own way, and will be difficult to shift on whether it be down to injury record, ability, or wages.

[sockeye]

Looking back over the season and this line-up makes me want to cry. Somewhat incredible that even the standouts of this season Fernandes and Ramsdale were end-of-window signings and this is what we started off with.

Need to look nothing like this in August.

Edited yesterday at 21:35 by sockeye

[Gloucester Saint]

9 hours ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

The problem the club will have is who is going to take the likes of McCarthy, Stephens, Larios, Aribo, Smallbone, Sulemana, Onuachu, Stewart etc - some you could argue have market value, somehow. 
They’re all dreadful players in their own way, and will be difficult to shift on whether it be down to injury record, ability, or wages.

They aren’t high is why Dragan has a lot of subsidising and writing off to do, which is the price for retaining a blagger and bullshitter (Rasmus) in a key role for far too long.

Bazanu and Larios will be heavily subsidised loans out until the end of their contracts, Stewart might as well keep for his final year as he’s decided he wants to play football again, Smallbone the new manager will look at but if they want a midfield two he’ll be off on a nominal fee (1 year left). Aribo and Onachu have buyers, not concerned there. Sulemana - interest but will be a fraction of the £22m rip off fee, Stephens ok as cover, ditto McCarthy. Taylor will be interesting. 

[Midfield_General]

11 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Stewart might as well keep for his final year as he’s decided he wants to play football again

Oh come on - the Stewart signing has been a disaster but I don't think it's in any way fair to suggest that he hasn't wanted to play. Injuries have destroyed his career. He's spent two years trying to get fit. I'd imagine that all he wants is to be fit and able to play regularly without his body breaking down on him. 

[Gloucester Saint]

20 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

Oh come on - the Stewart signing has been a disaster but I don't think it's in any way fair to suggest that he hasn't wanted to play. Injuries have destroyed his career. He's spent two years trying to get fit. I'd imagine that all he wants is to be fit and able to play regularly without his body breaking down on him. 

I was being harsh so fair play for pointing it out. 

[Jeremy Corbyn]

10 hours ago, sockeye said:

Looking back over the season and this line-up makes me want to cry. Somewhat incredible that even the standouts of this season Fernandes and Ramsdale were end-of-window signings and this is what we started off with.

Need to look nothing like this in August.

I know the attack and defence are poor, but that midfield 3 is just inexcusable for the premier league, none of those 3 players can even pretend to be this level.

[austsaint]

1 minute ago, Jeremy Corbyn said:

I know the attack and defence are poor, but that midfield 3 is just inexcusable for the premier league, none of those 3 players can even pretend to be this level.

I believe Downes is a cricket pitch in front of Aribo, and two cricket pitches better than Smallbone. But your observation is correct; we were vulnerable in CM during Martin’s Championship tilt and hopelessly exposed in the Prem.

[Gloucester Saint]

5 minutes ago, Jeremy Corbyn said:

I know the attack and defence are poor, but that midfield 3 is just inexcusable for the premier league, none of those 3 players can even pretend to be this level.

Only Downes has the engine and even he lacks the physical power of himself to enforce. Don’t know what Martin was thinking. 

Edited 13 hours ago by Gloucester Saint

[Midfield_General]

23 minutes ago, Jeremy Corbyn said:

I know the attack and defence are poor, but that midfield 3 is just inexcusable for the premier league, none of those 3 players can even pretend to be this level.

Also why would you waste your best centre-half, Aribo, in midfield? 

/Juric

[BERMUDASAINT]

How every Southampton loan departure has fared so far this season

15th November 2024

Southampton FC

By George Rees-Julian

ELEVEN Saints players are out on loan this season across clubs at varying levels of the professional game

For some, this season is a chance to show Southampton why they are ready for next season, while others are right at the start of their senior career.

Here's how Southampton's loaned-out players are getting on this season...

Shea Charles

Northern Ireland international Shea Charles had a mixed year after joining Saints in a big-money move from Manchester City.

Signed for the future more than the immediate, the now 21 year old impressed in his first few games before eventually losing his place upon Flynn Downes' arrival.

 

Southampton further strengthened their midfield options this summer, seeing Charles slip further down the pecking order, making a loan move sensible.

Charles chose to join Sheffield Wednesday, managed by former Saints assistant Danny Rohl. The move saw him reunited with his younger brother Pierce.

Playing in midfield, Charles has quickly won the hearts of Owls fans and has regularly been praised by his teammates and Rohl.

With over 1,000 minutes under his belt already, he is reaping the benefits of regular game time. He has scored his first senior goal and is regularly winning player of the match awards.

"He's learning - and this is why it will be so important for him," Martin told the Daily Echo when asked about Charles' loan earlier this season. 

"Rather than being in and around the first team as an option - because the Premier League is such a big jump - he's playing big games. He's got to keep going and keep growing."

Shea Charles has impressed in the Championship with Sheffield Wednesday (Image: Bradley Collyer/PA)

Sam Edozie

Martin recently reiterated that Sam Edozie remains a part of the "bigger picture" at Saints following his impressive start to life in Belgium.

Edozie was close to joining Rangers on loan on deadline day before the Scottish giants pulled out of the deal late on.

Luckily for the 21 year old, Anderlecht were still able to approach Saints for a deal after the English window had closed.

As a result, Edozie, much like Charles, is playing consistent football rather than hovering around Southampton's bloated squad as a potential option.

The winger has already scored twice and laid on two assists for Anderlecht - including a goal in the Europa League against Ludogorets.

Saints staff have made regular trips to Brussels for face-to-face contact with Edozie in order to monitor his progress.

Dom Ballard

Academy forward Dom Ballard had a difficult 2023/24 season. He joined Rubén Sellés' Reading on loan for a taste of senior football before suffering a season-ending injury.

Ballard had looked good for the Royles but spent most of the season at Staplewood recovering from a patella injury.

The England youth international returned to fitness in time for pre-season and eventually secured another League One loan, joining Blackpool.

Signed by Neil Critchley, Ballard is now managed by former Premier League boss Steve Bruce. He has also had to deal with more injury concerns.

The 19 year old appeared set for time on the sidelines with a shoulder injury. Surgery was considered but deemed unneeded and Ballard has since returned to action.

He has only scored once in 10 games for Blackpool, who have a wealth of forward options but are struggling towards the bottom of League One.

Dom Ballard is still playing despite previous concerns a shoulder injury would require surgery (Image: PA)

Cam Bragg

Midfielder Cam Bragg made his senior debut for Saints last season when he entered in the final stages of their 4-0 FA Cup win over Walsall.

Martin was impressed by what he saw and admitted he really likes Bragg "as a young man and as a footballer".

The 19 year old captained the under-21s last season and was rewarded with a one-year contract extension before he joined League One Crawley Town on loan.

League minutes have been difficult to come by for Bragg. He's played just 216 minutes in the league, his action largely limited to various cup competitions.

Cam Bragg signed a new deal at Saints this summer (Image: Southampton FC)

Lewis Payne

Full-back Lewis Payne is no stranger to spending time away from Southampton on loan. He joined Cheltenham Town this summer, his third loan club.

The 20 year old spent last season in South Wales with Newport County and helped them beat Eastleigh, another of his former clubs, en route to an epic FA Cup tie with Manchester United.

Payne has featured in 10 of Cheltenham's 15 games so far this season as they sit six points off the play-offs but also seven points off the drop zone.

Lewis Payne spent last season on loan at Newport County 

Nico Lawrence

Defender Nico Lawrence is another Saints youngster who has had to deal with injury problems during his young career.

His loan spell at Colchester United was cut short by a serious injury last season and he has had to contend with fitness issues at MK Dons this year too.

He missed 10 straight games after making his debut against Bradford in August and only played twice since.

Lawrence joined MK Dons after a conversation with Martin, who managed the League Two side. Both parties felt playing under Mike Williamson, Martin's close friend, would be optimal for his development.

Williamson has since departed Stadium MK and has been replaced by Scott Lindsey, who started the season with fellow League One outfit Crawley Town. 

Zach Awe

Former Arsenal defender Zach Awe is an imposing figure. Standing at six-foot five-inches, you would be forgiven for thinking his game is built on size and power.

However, Awe is a ball-playing centre-back, something which his loan at Accrington Stanley is allowing him to demonstrate.

The 20 year old scored his first Accrington goal earlier this month in a 3-0 win over Chesterfield Town.

He drove at the opposition defence before playing a neat one-two and rounding off the move with a tidy finish.

His boss John Doolan heaped praise on him after the game: “Zach Awe is outstanding, he really is. We knew what we were bringing to the club and that (his goal) shows it.

“He’s getting bigger, better, he’s physically stronger, he sees the game now. He was always technically good."

 

Ollie Wright

Goalkeeper Ollie Wright impressed Southampton bosses in the short time he spent travelling with the team following Gavin Bazunu's injury.

The 22 year old was their third goalkeeper at Wembley for the play-off final, playing stand-in behind Alex McCarthy and Joe Lumley.

After a stellar end to the 2023/24 campaign with Worthing in the National League South, which nearly ended with a promotion to the National League, Wright got his move to the fifth tier.

Wright has kept seven clean sheets in 17 National League games for Yeovil. Only York City (12) and Forest Green Rovers (14) have conceded more goals than Yeovil (15) so far this season.

"The fanbase is brilliant here at Yeovil," Wright said of his time at Huish Park. "I can tell the standard is so much quicker in the National League.

"You can't afford to make mistakes because goals will go in. It's been a big jump, but I feel like I've settled in nicely. I need to stay a steady seven out of 10."

Kuryu Matsuki

Japanese youth captain Kuryu Matsuki's departure from FC Tokyo was met with an emotional response from supporters. 

Upon joining Saints, the 21 year old was immediately loaned out to Sport Republic sister club Goztepe in the Turkish Super Lig.

The midfielder recently scored his first goal in European football. He fired in late on to help them win 2-0 over Konyaspor.

Back in the summer, Martin revealed the plan for Matuki while speaking to the Daily Echo: “We will see how he does at Goztepe.

"We spoke to him a good few weeks ago when we got sent the clips. The ownership group are really keen on having some players they can develop within the group with the aim of coming back to Southampton and playing for us.

"Stanimir (Stoilov, Goztepe manager) and Ivan (Mance, Goztepe sporting director) have a good record of developing young players. We will have to wait and see how he does.”

 

Juan

Another who joined Goztepe was Brazilian forward Juan. Southampton had initially agreed a deal for him to join in January before securing his services in the summer.

The 22 year old former Sao Paulo man has done well in Turkey, scoring twice and providing four assists, but his future at Saints is unclear.

 

Daouda Traoré

The final player signed in the summer and spending this season at another one of Sport Republic's clubs is Daouda Traoré.

French youth international Traoré is viewed as an exciting prospect at Saints and by those in France.

He had already made his Ligue 1 debut before arriving on the south coast and is spending this season at Valenciennes.

He has made nine league appearances for the club and played a further two games in the Coupe de France.

 

 

i wonder how our young loan players made out over the full season. Will any be ready to play for use in the championship?

 

We know Shea and Ronnie won POTY for thier loans

 

Recent update on Sam.

The Saints, after returning to the Premier League, let the winger join Anderlecht on loan in September.

This move has worked out for the Southampton owned player as he’s scored four goals and registered six assists from 32 games. Two different injuries forced him to spend over 50 days on the sidelines this season.

Edozie played the full 90 minutes in the final and assisted Luis Vázquez’s late goal. The newspaper states the Southampton owned player was the best performer for Anderlecht against Club Brugge.

Good site to see who we have in the squad, in and out.

https://www.fotmob.com/en-GB/teams/8466/transfers/southampton

Edited 10 hours ago by BERMUDASAINT

[Willo of Whiteley]

Someone said about KWP and a new contract.

The only “evidence” I have seen of that is a random Facebook post with a tier -5 report attached to it 😂

[Midfield_General]

13 hours ago, sockeye said:

Looking back over the season and this line-up makes me want to cry. Somewhat incredible that even the standouts of this season Fernandes and Ramsdale were end-of-window signings and this is what we started off with.

Need to look nothing like this in August.

Looking back at that, it's also telling that only two of the signings we had actually made over the summer - Sugawara and BBD - were deemed good enough for a place in the starting XI on the opening day, even in a side as poor at that one. 

Our other new signings at that point - Wood, Taylor and Archer - were on the bench because they were not considered good enough to dislodge any of those Championship level players in that awful, awful team. Even then we weren't done, as we added more dross like Cornet, Fraser and Gronbaek over the course of the season, again none of whom were considered good enough to consistently deserve a start in the joint worst PL team of all time. Then there were the wages being wasted on invisible men like Lallana who just weren't physically up to the demands of a PL season. 

With the exception of Fernandes and Ramsdale, the signings we made were such a colossal misjudgement by Russell Martin and everyone else involved that it goes beyond incompetence and borders on dereliction of duty. It's mind-boggling that Dragan allowed his money to be pissed away like that. 

Edited 10 hours ago by Midfield_General

[Gloucester Saint]

15 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

Looking back at that, it's also telling that only two of the signings we had actually made over the summer - Sugawara and BBD - were deemed good enough for a place in the starting XI on the opening day, even in a side as poor at that one. 

Our other new signings at that point - Wood, Taylor and Archer - were on the bench because they were not considered good enough to dislodge any of those Championship level players in that awful, awful team. Even then we weren't done, as we added more dross like Cornet, Fraser and Gronbaek over the course of the season, again none of whom were considered good enough to consistently deserve a start in the joint worst PL team of all time. Then there were the wages being wasted on invisible men like Lallana who just weren't physically up to the demands of a PL season. 

With the exception of Fernandes and Ramsdale, the signings we made were such a colossal misjudgement by Russell Martin and everyone else involved that it goes beyond incompetence and borders on dereliction of duty. It's mind-boggling that Dragan allowed his money to be pissed away like that. 

And BBD was on loan by January, 0 goals/assists, and Sugawara effectively out of favour by then after mistaking football for volleyball.

For only Fernandes and Ramsdale to work out is about right for SR transfer windows though as a success rate.

[UpweySaint]

There doesn’t seem to be much of substance in the press linking us to either but the Norwich DOF has done a fairly standard “we sell at good prices” comment on Sainz and Sergeant who I know a few on here have mentioned as potential targets.

Sainz had the spitting incident which is a bit of a black mark but he has impressed at Norwich and has really good numbers. I’ve not seen loads of him but I’ve been impressed by what I have seen and I like the idea of us buying players who we know can excel in the championship with scope to kick on if we are promoted back up.

No idea what Norwich would consider a ‘good’ price but may be one worth keeping an eye on.

[gio1saints]

21 minutes ago, UpweySaint said:

There doesn’t seem to be much of substance in the press linking us to either but the Norwich DOF has done a fairly standard “we sell at good prices” comment on Sainz and Sergeant who I know a few on here have mentioned as potential targets.

 

Given we have Sam E, Kameldeen and Ryan Fraser already at Left Wing not including Jay Robinson or Tyler who can both play there I’d say the vertically challenged Sainz is not what we need. At all. And bear in mind AA can and probably will play inside left as well as inside right up front. 
 

So who would be best to play with AA? My vote is for Josh Sargent who fits a #9 shaped gap we will have when TP inevitably leaves and is competition though probably an immediate starter in that role vs. RS. So of the two Norwich players it’s clear which id have. £15m -£18m should do it. 

[ally_uk]

Ings being released by West Ham... Worth a punt on a free? Could do a job.

[skintsaint]

7 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

Given we have Sam E, Kameldeen and Ryan Fraser already at Left Wing not including Jay Robinson or Tyler who can both play there I’d say the vertically challenged Sainz is not what we need.

Seeing as he has i think a goal every three games ratio for Norwich playing left wing he shits over what we have...

[skintsaint]

7 minutes ago, ally_uk said:

Ings being released by West Ham... Worth a punt on a free? Could do a job.

Burnley will snap him up.

[UpweySaint]

3 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

Given we have Sam E, Kameldeen and Ryan Fraser already at Left Wing not including Jay Robinson or Tyler who can both play there I’d say the vertically challenged Sainz is not what we need. At all. And bear in mind AA can and probably will play inside left as well as inside right up front. 
 

So who would be best to play with AA? My vote is for Josh Sargent who fits a #9 shaped gap we will have when TP inevitably leaves and is competition though probably an immediate starter in that role vs. RS. So of the two Norwich players it’s clear which id have. £15m -£18m should do it. 

Sam is a shout, I hadn’t really thought about him but he was decent at Championship level . I don’t see Fraser as an option - did we give him a one year deal or two?

I am assuming AA, Sulemana and Tyler will be off but could be wrong. I would be surprised if Robinson was ready to be a starter.

I quite like Sargeant - he is a good presser as well as other attributes which may suit us if we go back to that sort of style (seems likely based on what Spors has said). 
 

It’s hard to know what the make up of our squad will be after departures but I think both Sergeant and Sainz could do a job for us.  If we bring in money and shift a lot out I wouldn’t be disappointed to see us signing either/both for the right price.

[gio1saints]

1 minute ago, skintsaint said:

Seeing as he has i think a goal every three games ratio for Norwich playing left wing he shits over what we have...

He IS a very good player at that level granted but We’d need to sell at least 3-4 players before Sainz became a very necessary buy. Buying him today is a luxury but. Sargent, on the other hand, we need immediately before we’ve even sold. 
 

Season after season we’ve bought NOT A STRIKER …I hope we learn our lesson and bring at least TWO in. 

[SuperSAINT]

29 minutes ago, ally_uk said:

Ings being released by West Ham... Worth a punt on a free? Could do a job.

Something-something wages.

[sockeye]

I’d expect Spors to have a bit more imagination than Danny Ings. He is done. Not only will he be demanding ridiculous wages, but he has registered 4 league goals in the last 3 years. Even if he were to do well in the Championship, he would be as effective as a lead balloon were we to bounce back up next season. He would not even be in the conversation had he not played for us previously.

[Convict Colony]

3 hours ago, BERMUDASAINT said:

How every Southampton loan departure has fared so far this season

15th November 2024

Southampton FC

By George Rees-Julian

ELEVEN Saints players are out on loan this season across clubs at varying levels of the professional game

For some, this season is a chance to show Southampton why they are ready for next season, while others are right at the start of their senior career.

Here's how Southampton's loaned-out players are getting on this season...

Shea Charles

Northern Ireland international Shea Charles had a mixed year after joining Saints in a big-money move from Manchester City.

Signed for the future more than the immediate, the now 21 year old impressed in his first few games before eventually losing his place upon Flynn Downes' arrival.

 

Southampton further strengthened their midfield options this summer, seeing Charles slip further down the pecking order, making a loan move sensible.

Charles chose to join Sheffield Wednesday, managed by former Saints assistant Danny Rohl. The move saw him reunited with his younger brother Pierce.

Playing in midfield, Charles has quickly won the hearts of Owls fans and has regularly been praised by his teammates and Rohl.

With over 1,000 minutes under his belt already, he is reaping the benefits of regular game time. He has scored his first senior goal and is regularly winning player of the match awards.

"He's learning - and this is why it will be so important for him," Martin told the Daily Echo when asked about Charles' loan earlier this season. 

"Rather than being in and around the first team as an option - because the Premier League is such a big jump - he's playing big games. He's got to keep going and keep growing."

Shea Charles has impressed in the Championship with Sheffield Wednesday (Image: Bradley Collyer/PA)

Sam Edozie

Martin recently reiterated that Sam Edozie remains a part of the "bigger picture" at Saints following his impressive start to life in Belgium.

Edozie was close to joining Rangers on loan on deadline day before the Scottish giants pulled out of the deal late on.

Luckily for the 21 year old, Anderlecht were still able to approach Saints for a deal after the English window had closed.

As a result, Edozie, much like Charles, is playing consistent football rather than hovering around Southampton's bloated squad as a potential option.

The winger has already scored twice and laid on two assists for Anderlecht - including a goal in the Europa League against Ludogorets.

Saints staff have made regular trips to Brussels for face-to-face contact with Edozie in order to monitor his progress.

Dom Ballard

Academy forward Dom Ballard had a difficult 2023/24 season. He joined Rubén Sellés' Reading on loan for a taste of senior football before suffering a season-ending injury.

Ballard had looked good for the Royles but spent most of the season at Staplewood recovering from a patella injury.

The England youth international returned to fitness in time for pre-season and eventually secured another League One loan, joining Blackpool.

Signed by Neil Critchley, Ballard is now managed by former Premier League boss Steve Bruce. He has also had to deal with more injury concerns.

The 19 year old appeared set for time on the sidelines with a shoulder injury. Surgery was considered but deemed unneeded and Ballard has since returned to action.

He has only scored once in 10 games for Blackpool, who have a wealth of forward options but are struggling towards the bottom of League One.

Dom Ballard is still playing despite previous concerns a shoulder injury would require surgery (Image: PA)

Cam Bragg

Midfielder Cam Bragg made his senior debut for Saints last season when he entered in the final stages of their 4-0 FA Cup win over Walsall.

Martin was impressed by what he saw and admitted he really likes Bragg "as a young man and as a footballer".

The 19 year old captained the under-21s last season and was rewarded with a one-year contract extension before he joined League One Crawley Town on loan.

League minutes have been difficult to come by for Bragg. He's played just 216 minutes in the league, his action largely limited to various cup competitions.

Cam Bragg signed a new deal at Saints this summer (Image: Southampton FC)

Lewis Payne

Full-back Lewis Payne is no stranger to spending time away from Southampton on loan. He joined Cheltenham Town this summer, his third loan club.

The 20 year old spent last season in South Wales with Newport County and helped them beat Eastleigh, another of his former clubs, en route to an epic FA Cup tie with Manchester United.

Payne has featured in 10 of Cheltenham's 15 games so far this season as they sit six points off the play-offs but also seven points off the drop zone.

Lewis Payne spent last season on loan at Newport County 

Nico Lawrence

Defender Nico Lawrence is another Saints youngster who has had to deal with injury problems during his young career.

His loan spell at Colchester United was cut short by a serious injury last season and he has had to contend with fitness issues at MK Dons this year too.

He missed 10 straight games after making his debut against Bradford in August and only played twice since.

Lawrence joined MK Dons after a conversation with Martin, who managed the League Two side. Both parties felt playing under Mike Williamson, Martin's close friend, would be optimal for his development.

Williamson has since departed Stadium MK and has been replaced by Scott Lindsey, who started the season with fellow League One outfit Crawley Town. 

Zach Awe

Former Arsenal defender Zach Awe is an imposing figure. Standing at six-foot five-inches, you would be forgiven for thinking his game is built on size and power.

However, Awe is a ball-playing centre-back, something which his loan at Accrington Stanley is allowing him to demonstrate.

The 20 year old scored his first Accrington goal earlier this month in a 3-0 win over Chesterfield Town.

He drove at the opposition defence before playing a neat one-two and rounding off the move with a tidy finish.

His boss John Doolan heaped praise on him after the game: “Zach Awe is outstanding, he really is. We knew what we were bringing to the club and that (his goal) shows it.

“He’s getting bigger, better, he’s physically stronger, he sees the game now. He was always technically good."

 

Ollie Wright

Goalkeeper Ollie Wright impressed Southampton bosses in the short time he spent travelling with the team following Gavin Bazunu's injury.

The 22 year old was their third goalkeeper at Wembley for the play-off final, playing stand-in behind Alex McCarthy and Joe Lumley.

After a stellar end to the 2023/24 campaign with Worthing in the National League South, which nearly ended with a promotion to the National League, Wright got his move to the fifth tier.

Wright has kept seven clean sheets in 17 National League games for Yeovil. Only York City (12) and Forest Green Rovers (14) have conceded more goals than Yeovil (15) so far this season.

"The fanbase is brilliant here at Yeovil," Wright said of his time at Huish Park. "I can tell the standard is so much quicker in the National League.

"You can't afford to make mistakes because goals will go in. It's been a big jump, but I feel like I've settled in nicely. I need to stay a steady seven out of 10."

Kuryu Matsuki

Japanese youth captain Kuryu Matsuki's departure from FC Tokyo was met with an emotional response from supporters. 

Upon joining Saints, the 21 year old was immediately loaned out to Sport Republic sister club Goztepe in the Turkish Super Lig.

The midfielder recently scored his first goal in European football. He fired in late on to help them win 2-0 over Konyaspor.

Back in the summer, Martin revealed the plan for Matuki while speaking to the Daily Echo: “We will see how he does at Goztepe.

"We spoke to him a good few weeks ago when we got sent the clips. The ownership group are really keen on having some players they can develop within the group with the aim of coming back to Southampton and playing for us.

"Stanimir (Stoilov, Goztepe manager) and Ivan (Mance, Goztepe sporting director) have a good record of developing young players. We will have to wait and see how he does.”

 

Juan

Another who joined Goztepe was Brazilian forward Juan. Southampton had initially agreed a deal for him to join in January before securing his services in the summer.

The 22 year old former Sao Paulo man has done well in Turkey, scoring twice and providing four assists, but his future at Saints is unclear.

 

Daouda Traoré

The final player signed in the summer and spending this season at another one of Sport Republic's clubs is Daouda Traoré.

French youth international Traoré is viewed as an exciting prospect at Saints and by those in France.

He had already made his Ligue 1 debut before arriving on the south coast and is spending this season at Valenciennes.

He has made nine league appearances for the club and played a further two games in the Coupe de France.

 

 

i wonder how our young loan players made out over the full season. Will any be ready to play for use in the championship?

 

We know Shea and Ronnie won POTY for thier loans

 

Recent update on Sam.

The Saints, after returning to the Premier League, let the winger join Anderlecht on loan in September.

This move has worked out for the Southampton owned player as he’s scored four goals and registered six assists from 32 games. Two different injuries forced him to spend over 50 days on the sidelines this season.

Edozie played the full 90 minutes in the final and assisted Luis Vázquez’s late goal. The newspaper states the Southampton owned player was the best performer for Anderlecht against Club Brugge.

Good site to see who we have in the squad, in and out.

https://www.fotmob.com/en-GB/teams/8466/transfers/southampton

Thanks

The main thing i got from this was the reporters version of "done really well" and my version are miles apart.