Summer Transfer Window 2025/26

[LuckyNumber7]

4 hours ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

Happy for all but three of the squad to be sold (Ramsdale, Fernandes & Dibling) but know full well at least one of them will be going.

Would like to see us linked with the following:
- GK: Carl Rushworth (Brighton), Freddie Woodman (Preston, Viktor Johansson (Stoke)

- DEF: Max Aarons (Bournemouth), Ashley Phillips (Spurs), Bed Godfrey (Atalanta), 

- MID: Jeusren Rak-Sakyi (Crystal Palace), Lennon Miller (Motherwell), Jonathan Rowe (Norwich), Borja Sainz (Norwich)

- ST: Evan Ferguson (Brighton), Jack Sargeant (Norwich)

I am by no means saying we’re going to get these players but there is a blend of experience and youth in there.

I think we should be looking at British players based abroad too, there is a wealth of players overseas at the moment that I think would be tempted by a return to the UK and could do a job for us: Demari Gray (Saudi Pro League), Josh Doig (Serie A), Charlie Cresswell (Ligue 1) etc

Jonathan Rowe went to Marseille last summer, no chance he'd come here.

[Chez]

2 hours ago, goodymatt said:

Do we think Archer is going to be our main goal threat next season? Will he even stay? I think he would do well at Championship level as previous Boro loan suggests and also Will Still’s attacking at pace will give him much more opportunities to shoot.

On the flip side he was largely invisible at PL level, but was that due to the quality of the rest of our players and the slow build up style?

when he scored goals for Preston and Boro, did he play as part of a two up front or on his won with two wingers/wide forwards?

[leesaint88]

2 hours ago, LuckyNumber7 said:

Jonathan Rowe went to Marseille last summer, no chance he'd come here.

Also Ipswich fans are quite vocal about Godfrey being the worst player ever to feature for them, and considering the dross they've had over the years that's some achievement! 

[SaintJackoInHurworth]

I think the challenge for Saints in many positions and especially striker is not just to sign players that will do well in the Championship. We already have plenty of those in many positions. In terms of goal scorers, all of the following are pretty good at this level:

• Stewart
• Armstrong
• Archer
• Brereton-Diaz

The problem is that none of them have shown the ability to replicate that at Premier League level (though Stewart's injuries did not help him!)

While providing more passes to strikers will help, maybe we also need to explore whether we can sign players who may be able to demonstrate great goal scoring ability at the highest level.

[goodymatt]

42 minutes ago, Chez said:

when he scored goals for Preston and Boro, did he play as part of a two up front or on his won with two wingers/wide forwards?

Transfermarkt has him down as a CF for all but 2 of his appearances at Boro, 11 goals and 6 assists in 20 league apps for them.

[revolution saint]

34 minutes ago, SaintJackoInHurworth said:

I think the challenge for Saints in many positions and especially striker is not just to sign players that will do well in the Championship. We already have plenty of those in many positions. In terms of goal scorers, all of the following are pretty good at this level:

• Stewart
• Armstrong
• Archer
• Brereton-Diaz

The problem is that none of them have shown the ability to replicate that at Premier League level (though Stewart's injuries did not help him!)

While providing more passes to strikers will help, maybe we also need to explore whether we can sign players who may be able to demonstrate great goal scoring ability at the highest level.

Are we actually sure Brereton-Diaz scored a lot in the championship?  I know it's down in the record books and all but, after watching him play, it just doesn't seem likely.

[coalman]

52 minutes ago, SaintJackoInHurworth said:

I think the challenge for Saints in many positions and especially striker is not just to sign players that will do well in the Championship. We already have plenty of those in many positions. In terms of goal scorers, all of the following are pretty good at this level:

• Stewart
• Armstrong
• Archer
• Brereton-Diaz

The problem is that none of them have shown the ability to replicate that at Premier League level (though Stewart's injuries did not help him!)

While providing more passes to strikers will help, maybe we also need to explore whether we can sign players who may be able to demonstrate great goal scoring ability at the highest level.

The trouble is our strikers and defenders practice against each other in training. The weakness in both areas reinforces itself.

[swannymere]

In hindsight whomever didn't push the Liam Delap transfer along last year has probably cost us the our place in the league, hopefully any transfers in or out will be concludedma long time before the season starts.

[Matthew Le God]

5 minutes ago, swannymere said:

In hindsight whomever didn't push the Liam Delap transfer along last year has probably cost us the our place in the league, hopefully any transfers in or out will be concludedma long time before the season starts.

A lot more than just missing out on Delap did that! 

[qwertyell]

5 hours ago, LuckyNumber7 said:

Jonathan Rowe went to Marseille last summer, no chance he'd come here.

He joined them on loan. Spent most of the season on the bench. De Zerbi didn't fancy him, but Marseille were obligated to make the transfer permanent at the end of the season regardless.

So it's not inconceivable that he could be available - perhaps a loan. 

[Chez]

4 hours ago, goodymatt said:

Transfermarkt has him down as a CF for all but 2 of his appearances at Boro, 11 goals and 6 assists in 20 league apps for them.

OK, but did he play on his own or as a pair?

[Chez]

4 hours ago, SaintJackoInHurworth said:

I think the challenge for Saints in many positions and especially striker is not just to sign players that will do well in the Championship. We already have plenty of those in many positions. In terms of goal scorers, all of the following are pretty good at this level:

• Stewart
• Armstrong
• Archer
• Brereton-Diaz

The problem is that none of them have shown the ability to replicate that at Premier League level (though Stewart's injuries did not help him!)

While providing more passes to strikers will help, maybe we also need to explore whether we can sign players who may be able to demonstrate great goal scoring ability at the highest level.

If we can offload and buy better than we have, do it, but if players stay, then hopefully we can get promoted and then we can try and upgrade next summer.

[goodymatt]

32 minutes ago, Chez said:

OK, but did he play on his own or as a pair?

Looks like CF in a 4-2-3-1 example vs Watford:

Edited June 6 by goodymatt

[Danbert]

Hooray another goalkeeper rumour...

https://sportwitness.co.uk/wolves-and-southampton-waiting-for-signal-before-transfer-effort-managers-decision-key/ 

 

[Midfield_General]

14 minutes ago, Danbert said:

Hooray another goalkeeper rumour...

https://sportwitness.co.uk/wolves-and-southampton-waiting-for-signal-before-transfer-effort-managers-decision-key/ 

 

'Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton are waiting for a sign from Lazio before making a concrete move for goalkeeper Christos Mandas.'

'That’s according to Il Messaggero, via La Lazio Siamo Noi, who say both sides have show ‘concrete interest’ in the 23-year-old.'

'They’ve shown concrete interest in the goalkeeper according to Il Messaggero but are waiting for a signal from Formello before they ‘manifest themselves concretely’.'

Presumably he's useful against teams who look to get it in the mixer. 

Edited June 7 by Midfield_General

[Matthew Le God]

 

[St. Ciervo]

Another young keeper at a high cost. 

He appears to be a better shot-stopper than Baz, but spills out some uncomfortable rebounds there too--ones our current defense will fail to clear out due to the roots in their feet. 

[East Kent Saint]

Slicker standing in for Gunn seems like a Saints signing 😄

[skintsaint]

14 minutes ago, East Kent Saint said:

Slicker standing in for Gunn seems like a Saints signing 😄

Somehow looked worse than Baz.

[Badger]

2 hours ago, Midfield_General said:

'Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton are waiting for a sign from Lazio before making a concrete move for goalkeeper Christos Mandas.'

'That’s according to Il Messaggero, via La Lazio Siamo Noi, who say both sides have show ‘concrete interest’ in the 23-year-old.'

'They’ve shown concrete interest in the goalkeeper according to Il Messaggero but are waiting for a signal from Formello before they ‘manifest themselves concretely’.'

Presumably he's useful against teams who look to get it in the mixer. 

Think his name cropped up last summer.

The article mentions €20m. Can't see us spending that on a GK. Saw reference to Johannsen (Stoke) at likely figure of £5-7m (probably speculation). I know how I'd like us to go with that. 

(Why we weren't after him last summer when he left Rotherham for about £1m I don't know... even as a squad player he'd have been an upgrade).

[Badger]

2 hours ago, St. Ciervo said:

Another young keeper at a high cost. 

He appears to be a better shot-stopper than Baz, but spills out some uncomfortable rebounds there too--ones our current defense will fail to clear out due to the roots in their feet. 

Not difficult.... weren't most other GK's in the EFL last time we were there ?

[Saint Fan CaM]

3 hours ago, Matthew Le God said:

 

Don’t see anything particularly outstanding about this guy, especially at the price tag mentioned.

[bugenhagen]

Just now, Saint Fan CaM said:

Don’t see anything particularly outstanding about this guy, especially at the price tag mentioned.

Or, look at it the other way: “If they value him at that price, he must be good”

-The Southampton Way.

[lambtiss]

On 31/03/2025 at 16:26, Midfield_General said:

What's the Italian for 'handball'?

Sugawari?

[UpweySaint]

1 hour ago, Badger said:

Think his name cropped up last summer.

The article mentions €20m. Can't see us spending that on a GK. Saw reference to Johannsen (Stoke) at likely figure of £5-7m (probably speculation). I know how I'd like us to go with that. 

(Why we weren't after him last summer when he left Rotherham for about £1m I don't know... even as a squad player he'd have been an upgrade).

Johannsen also showed a lot of class in the Rotherham home game calling for the game to be stopped - as well as pulling off some really impressive saves. 

[Badger]

37 minutes ago, bugenhagen said:

Or, look at it the other way: “If they value him at that price, he must be good”

-The Southampton Way.

Guaranteed to improve… sell on … 

(And his team play in sky blue. And that’s the same as Man City..) 

Nailed on success. What could go wrong ? 

[S-Clarke]

On 06/06/2025 at 11:27, BERMUDASAINT said:

https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/southampton-fc-have-exciting-forward-juan-he-could-save-will-still-millions/

Looks like Juan is developing well enough to be a starter for us in the EFL.

He's already re-signed for another season on loan at Goztpe

[Matthew Le God]

33 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

He's already re-signed for another season on loan at Goztpe

There has been no confirmation of that from either club.

Edited June 7 by Matthew Le God

[Rebel]

17 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

There has been no confirmation of that from either club.

It was always talked about as a 2 year loan deal to Göztepe when he signed for us last summer - hopefully that was wrong or there is a break clause as I’d think he’d be good for us in the Championship this coming season 

[Matthew Le God]

2 minutes ago, Rebel said:

It was always talked about as a 2 year loan deal to Göztepe when he signed for us last summer

I'm not saying it couldn't be, but it has not been mentioned by either club.

[Turkish]

 Chelsea signing Jamie Gittens from Dortmund reminded me of our own big money signing John Gittens back in the late 80s. IIRC the fee was about £500k which was a bit wedge of money back then. The problem was a couple of years before we’d sold him for £50k and when he came back for 10 times more he wasn’t much better and didn’t play much this time round either 

Edited June 7 by Turkish

[Nolan]

1 hour ago, Matthew Le God said:

I'm not saying it couldn't be, but it has not been mentioned by either club.

I still think his injuries this season don't enable to get the points for English Work Permit.

[Teamsaint1]

1 hour ago, Turkish said:

 Chelsea signing Jamie Gittens from Dortmund reminded me of our own big money signing John Gittens back in the late 80s. IIRC the fee was about £500k which was a bit wedge of money back then. The problem was a couple of years before we’d sold him for £50k and when he came back for 10 times more he wasn’t much better and didn’t play much this time round either 

When we bought him back we blew a big chunk of money that we received as an option on  potential building land Jackson’s Farm at Hedge End I think. I wonder what happened to that land as a Saints asset ? 

[Harold K Steptoe]

37 minutes ago, Teamsaint1 said:

When we bought him back we blew a big chunk of money that we received as an option on  potential building land Jackson’s Farm at Hedge End I think. I wonder what happened to that land as a Saints asset ? 

That land was donated to the club years ago by chairman John Corbett, I’ve heard that Kat somehow gave it to herself, not sure how true but wouldn’t surprise us 

[trousers]

8 minutes ago, Harold K Steptoe said:

That land was donated to the club years ago by chairman John Corbett, I’ve heard that Kat somehow gave it to herself, not sure how true but wouldn’t surprise us 

I thought it had been turned into a monkey chicken petting zoo, but could be my memory playing tricks on me...

[Saint NL]

 

Smaller clubs can't have nice things.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

7 minutes ago, Saint NL said:

 

Smaller clubs can't have nice things.

 

I wonder if that will be the trigger that sends Brentford spiralling down to their natural place in the EFL? That's bound to please the premier league as it would mean that a bigger club that will drive bigger commercial results like Leeds could have a space at the table.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

36 minutes ago, Saint NL said:

 

Smaller clubs can't have nice things.

 

Frank's been there since 2016, initially as assistant, so that's good going these days. It will be a test for the club's resilience. The players they were prepared to move on, may now be joined by a crowd of others looking to jump ship.

Fortunately, they can dust off the succession plan created by a certain. R. Ankerson...

Martin, R; Jones, N; Juric, I...

 

As for Frank, he's joining a club that wants free, attacking football, until they don't and where pining for silverware has to come with champions league football. And the last time they were on the cusp of all that, Levy didn't move the squad on, resulting in the end of Poch. With the managers they burn through, Frank should be available again in a couple of seasons, for a Brentford return.

[CB Fry]

1 hour ago, Saint NL said:

 

Smaller clubs can't have nice things.

 

What? Brentford who are a tiny club have had/having five straight seasons in the Premier League, is that not a "nice thing"?

Frank isn't obliged to stay with one club for the rest of his life, he's given them plenty. 

[Badger]

1 hour ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

 

As for Frank, he's joining a club that wants free, attacking football, until they don't and where pining for silverware has to come with champions league football. And the last time they were on the cusp of all that, Levy didn't move the squad on, resulting in the end of Poch. With the managers they burn through, Frank should be available again in a couple of seasons, for a Brentford return.

Madness going to Spurs whilst Levy is in charge.

But Poch will probably be available after the WC in 2026. 

[Badger]

12 hours ago, Turkish said:

 Chelsea signing Jamie Gittens from Dortmund reminded me of our own big money signing John Gittens back in the late 80s. IIRC the fee was about £500k which was a bit wedge of money back then. The problem was a couple of years before we’d sold him for £50k and when he came back for 10 times more he wasn’t much better and didn’t play much this time round either 

That became a bit of a trend for a while. We also resigned George Lawrence and Craig Maskell around that time. 
 

None of them really any better than when we sold them the first time. 

[gio1saints]

General squad composition thinking is to have one spare player for each position plus an extra goalie (or two) 

That means 23 -24 first team players in a tight, competitive, cost-effective, high quality to quantity ratio squad.

Our current squad is > 24 players and quality to quantity ratio ineffective, certainly at EPL level. Not shock news but lots of work is required to move back towards optimum squad size/quality ratio. 

I agree with all those saying that this squad should be composed with half an eye on being able to Play  EPL the following season.
 

In other words, they are ALL up for sale. None showed they can play acceptable EPL bar Mateus and Aaron. Those two are the ones I would and should shift heaven and earth to keep. 
 

It seems like a foregone conclusion that our two best players will go. But I’d rather sell the other 28 + players  and keep them two, build the new team totally around them - than keep the others and lose the best we have..
 

Edited June 8 by gio1saints

[Gloucester Saint]

6 minutes ago, Badger said:

That became a bit of a trend for a while. We also resigned George Lawrence and Craig Maskell around that time. 
 

None of them really any better than when we sold them the first time. 

Jon Gittens was 1991, IIRC he made his second debut at home to Liverpool in a televised game on ITV we won 1-0. Didn’t hold his place and went to Boro on a loan-perm for roughly what we paid. Very sad how young he passed though 🥲 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Gittens

Maskell was Jan 1994, made his second debut again v Liverpool and scored in a 4-2 win on Sky famous for MLT’s hat-trick with Mark Wright conceding a penalty for handball. Again, that was as good as it got.

George was a bit earlier than those two, featuring in the superb early 80s sides and returning 1985-7. His sale to Millwall was a surprise at the time (they had two seasons in the top flight) that wiki isn’t wrong, easily the best return of the three https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Lawrence_(footballer,_born_1962)

 

 

[Kenilworthy59]

36 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Jon Gittens was 1991, IIRC he made his second debut at home to Liverpool in a televised game on ITV we won 1-0. Didn’t hold his place and went to Boro on a loan-perm for roughly what we paid. Very sad how young he passed though 🥲 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Gittens

Maskell was Jan 1994, made his second debut again v Liverpool and scored in a 4-2 win on Sky famous for MLT’s hat-trick with Mark Wright conceding a penalty for handball. Again, that was as good as it got.

George was a bit earlier than those two, featuring in the superb early 80s sides and returning 1985-7. His sale to Millwall was a surprise at the time (they had two seasons in the top flight) that wiki isn’t wrong, easily the best return of the three https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Lawrence_(footballer,_born_1962)

 

 

Maskell does share a record with Mike Channon of scoring on both his first and second debuts with Saints

[Nolan]

3 hours ago, Saint NL said:

 

Smaller clubs can't have nice things.

 

That's a Frank admission.

[Wade Garrett]

Brentford rumoured to want McKenna as Frank’s replacement.

[sockeye]

8 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

Brentford rumoured to want McKenna as Frank’s replacement.

Would be great for us

[Midfield_General]

2 hours ago, gio1saints said:

None showed they can play acceptable EPL bar Mateus and Aaron. Those two are the ones I would and should shift heaven and earth to keep. 
 

It seems like a foregone conclusion that our two best players will go. But I’d rather sell the other 28 + players  and keep them two, build the new team totally around them - than keep the others and lose the best we have..
 

So you're saying you'd prefer to sell the shit ones and keep the good ones. It's pretty radical thinking. 

[Miltonaggro]

15 hours ago, Turkish said:

 Chelsea signing Jamie Gittens from Dortmund reminded me of our own big money signing John Gittens back in the late 80s. IIRC the fee was about £500k which was a bit wedge of money back then. The problem was a couple of years before we’d sold him for £50k and when he came back for 10 times more he wasn’t much better and didn’t play much this time round either 

Yes, there were quite a few from around that era. The Big Match Revisted on ITV player have just put some new shows from the mid eighties up. In these you’ve got Trevor Hebberd playing for Oxford and Ian Baird #9 for Leeds. I liked both of those playing for Saints as youngsters, committed direct players, and wished they had been kept on at that time. These days as it’s a big squad game I suppose they would be. 

[Master Bates]