Summer Transfer Window 2025/26

[OneMrsWallace]

8 hours ago, Chez said:

no matter the quality of players in the squad, they need to become a functional hard working unit again that is tight at the back, dominant in midfield and creates and takes chances. Like or loathe Martin, he handled considerable unrest and turnover of player and then turned a bunch of losers into a side that won a lot of games. The side had a pattern of play that by and large worked. Hopefully Still can do that, he's got his work cut out if you ask me, but let's see.

Agree with all that but there has to be some concern over the mental fragility of players who were so terrible last season, constantly losing games, often heavily. I hope we get off to a good start, but a couple of early defeats it could go horribly wrong. It's why for me, we need fresh faces who arrive without the, dare I say it, scare tissue. 

[Farmer Saint]

10 minutes ago, OneMrsWallace said:

Agree with all that but there has to be some concern over the mental fragility of players who were so terrible last season, constantly losing games, often heavily. I hope we get off to a good start, but a couple of early defeats it could go horribly wrong. It's why for me, we need fresh faces who arrive without the, dare I say it, scare tissue. 

A lot were the same team that got promoted under RM though, and quite a few of them got relegated nearly as pathetically the year before that.

Edited Saturday at 16:22 by Farmer Saint

[ErwinK1961]

1 hour ago, Matthew Le God said:

We had a lack of creativity in the 2024/25 Premier League... because most of the players were not good enough at that level. 

In 2023/24 in the Championship we did not lack creativity... we scored 87 goals! We are playing at that level again and still have lots of those players. Plus some other new players who will excel at that level.

We’re playing a different style to then, which requires a different skill set. 

Also disagree that we are ‘sorted’ for a midfield three if Fernandes, Charles and Downes stay. Fernandes best position isn’t a 10 - we still very much need reinforcements there.

[ally_uk]

Crying out for a winger or two who can actually cross and create.

A attacking creative 10 

And keep Stephens away from 1st team. 

Job done 

 

 

[Lighthouse]

Not Saints related but this reminded me of a similar interview with a Mr A. Lallana in 2014.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c860l3d10j6o

[Saint NL]

No idea what all this is about

 

[Pamplemousse]

Got to be some sort of in-joke?

[Dusic]

Interesting in Adam Blackmore's interview with Still post match today that WS mentioned the need to now condense down the squad for this first month of the season.

To me a nod to the fact that foe the 2nd month it will likely look quite different, e.g once the likes of Ramsdale, Fernandes, Dibling etc have moved on.

Will be interesting to see if much movement before Wrexham but August will surely be busy, as it is for most clubs to be fair.

August is about setting a foundation, trying to keep pace with those near the top and avoiding an awful start (possible with fairly tough looking fixture) and then the settled phase pretty much begins in September post transfer window.

[SuperSAINT]

11 minutes ago, Dusic said:

Interesting in Adam Blackmore's interview with Still post match today that WS mentioned the need to now condense down the squad for this first month of the season.

To me a nod to the fact that foe the 2nd month it will likely look quite different, e.g once the likes of Ramsdale, Fernandes, Dibling etc have moved on.

Will be interesting to see if much movement before Wrexham but August will surely be busy, as it is for most clubs to be fair.

August is about setting a foundation, trying to keep pace with those near the top and avoiding an awful start (possible with fairly tough looking fixture) and then the settled phase pretty much begins in September post transfer window.

Yeah, essentially pre & post Sunderland from 2 seasons ago 

[The Kraken]

Factless Alfie

[HarvSFC]

A small sample size and it is still only pre-season, but searching for positives this summer and at least Quarshie and Downs now have shown glimpses of talent on the pitch. After a number of years of signing 3 or 4 duds for every 1 good player, maybe the Spors scouting regime is better at identifying talent.

[goodymatt]

1 hour ago, Saint NL said:

No idea what all this is about

 

Is this because Alfie 100% expects him to leave this summer? Alfie did make comments about David Brooks wanting to move up north to be near family, which nobody else reported. Struggling to see what else has been written about Ramsdale or his close friends.

[goodymatt]

9 minutes ago, HarvSFC said:

A small sample size and it is still only pre-season, but searching for positives this summer and at least Quarshie and Downs now have shown glimpses of talent on the pitch. After a number of years of signing 3 or 4 duds for every 1 good player, maybe the Spors scouting regime is better at identifying talent.

Small sample size indeed, but both new signings look to be encouraging so far. Quarshie looks a starter already, which for £3m looks great value. Downs we need to see more of but a great finish today. 

imagine if Edwards and Quarshie end up being our starting partnership, only £6m combined!

[SuperSAINT]

Who was the ITK who said incomings & outgoings would be fun for Saints fans. 

[hypochondriac]

14 minutes ago, goodymatt said:

Small sample size indeed, but both new signings look to be encouraging so far. Quarshie looks a starter already, which for £3m looks great value. Downs we need to see more of but a great finish today. 

imagine if Edwards and Quarshie end up being our starting partnership, only £6m combined!

It reassures you somewhat that our scouting is pretty good. 

[Challenger]

35 minutes ago, SuperSAINT said:

Who was the ITK who said incomings & outgoings would be fun for Saints fans. 

Yeah, it's like they were going to say it's going to be exciting but thought better of it.

[beatlesaint]

Morgan Gibbs White signs new deal with Forest so hopefully that’s one potential Fernandes suitor off the scene.

[Smirking_Saint]

15 minutes ago, beatlesaint said:

Morgan Gibbs White signs new deal with Forest so hopefully that’s one potential Fernandes suitor off the scene.

That whole saga was very weird

[beatlesaint]

7 minutes ago, Smirking_Saint said:

That whole saga was very weird

It certainly was.

[Willo of Whiteley]

The Ramsdale comments are just weird, is it an in-joke? Is there offence that has taken place? 

[Willo of Whiteley]

Will Still saying there are some that have said they don’t want to be there speaks volumes, I’d be hoping those that don’t want to remain were left out the Spain camp but given that three were injured, the only other ones that remain are Bella-Kotchap and Bednarek.

We need to clear a few more than that; and desperately need to freshen the squad up with new talent.

The squad on paper is a Championship squad, but we need a couple of special players to have us be fighting for promotion.

Looking up and down the league and you could argue they’ll be at least fifteen times eyeing promotion this season.

[Wade Garrett]

7 hours ago, goodymatt said:

Small sample size indeed, but both new signings look to be encouraging so far. Quarshie looks a starter already, which for £3m looks great value. Downs we need to see more of but a great finish today. 

imagine if Edwards and Quarshie end up being our starting partnership, only £6m combined!

I have fiercely criticised the scouting team, but Downs took his goal extremely well, so I hope my criticisms are unfounded.  Not seen anything of Quarshie, Edwards looked quality at QPR.

To be fair, I am wrong on a lot of things most of the time.  Just ask my missus.

[InvictaSaint]

10 hours ago, Saint NL said:

No idea what all this is about

 

It’s to do with a comment Alfie made about AR after the Wolves game where he said he should have saved the header that went in. AR is having trouble letting go by all accounts….

[skintsaint]

9 hours ago, Smirking_Saint said:

That whole saga was very weird

Yeah dont they know you sell your key players as soon as a big bid comes in.

[Harry_SFC]

41 minutes ago, InvictaSaint said:

It’s to do with a comment Alfie made about AR after the Wolves game where he said he should have saved the header that went in. AR is having trouble letting go by all accounts….

To be fair he should have done. If that was Bazunu we'd all be slating him. AR clearly has a chip on his shoulder. Should probably just let it go..

[Chez]

9 hours ago, Smirking_Saint said:

That whole saga was very weird

Once Spurs failed to get him, there was no suitor, so he took the massive pay rise.

Edited Sunday at 07:24 by Chez

[Chez]

2 hours ago, Wade Garrett said:

I have fiercely criticised the scouting team, but Downs took his goal extremely well, so I hope my criticisms are unfounded.  Not seen anything of Quarshie, Edwards looked quality at QPR.

To be fair, I am wrong on a lot of things most of the time.  Just ask my missus.

I didn't see yesterday's game, but in the previous game Quarshie looked ropey. He seems to have the physical attributes, which we have needed for some time, but there's more to playing there than being tall. If Bednarek is leaving, Quarshie is going to have to shine.

[Charlie Wayman]

11 hours ago, Dusic said:

Interesting in Adam Blackmore's interview with Still post match today that WS mentioned the need to now condense down the squad for this first month of the season.

To me a nod to the fact that foe the 2nd month it will likely look quite different, e.g once the likes of Ramsdale, Fernandes, Dibling etc have moved on.

Will be interesting to see if much movement before Wrexham but August will surely be busy, as it is for most clubs to be fair.

August is about setting a foundation, trying to keep pace with those near the top and avoiding an awful start (possible with fairly tough looking fixture) and then the settled phase pretty much begins in September post transfer window.

Whatever happened to the old idea of hitting the ground running on day 1 and setting the pace?

[hypochondriac]

10 minutes ago, Chez said:

I didn't see yesterday's game, but in the previous game Quarshie looked ropey. He seems to have the physical attributes, which we have needed for some time, but there's more to playing there than being tall. If Bednarek is leaving, Quarshie is going to have to shine.

He looked great yesyerday. 

[Patches O Houlihan]

10 minutes ago, Chez said:

I didn't see yesterday's game, but in the previous game Quarshie looked ropey. He seems to have the physical attributes, which we have needed for some time, but there's more to playing there than being tall. If Bednarek is leaving, Quarshie is going to have to shine.

Quarshie only played the first half, but he looked pretty good

[hypochondriac]

1 minute ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Whatever happened to the old idea of hitting the ground running on day 1 and setting the pace?

I do have a bit of a concern about that too. Leicester were miles ahead last time and their great start is basically why they were so far ahead of the pack near the end of the season when they had a little dodgy patch. 

[Chez]

8 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

He looked great yesyerday. 

Good to hear. We need about three quarters of our signings to hit, and that's never easy to do. 

Edited Sunday at 07:41 by Chez

[Chez]

6 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

I do have a bit of a concern about that too. Leicester were miles ahead last time and their great start is basically why they were so far ahead of the pack near the end of the season when they had a little dodgy patch. 

Worth noting that all their signing that summer we're done by end of July.

[hypochondriac]

4 minutes ago, Chez said:

Good to hear. We three quarters of our signings to hit, and that's never easy to do. 

I wonder which of our centre backs are going to be leaving? Maybe wood and THB? 

[hypochondriac]

Just now, Chez said:

Worth noting that all their signing that summer we're done by end of July.

It is a concern. It's going to be masses in and out again over the next month. 

[AlexLaw76]

1 minute ago, hypochondriac said:

It is a concern. It's going to be masses in and out again over the next month. 

Surprising really, given that (according to some), signings for this season were made last summer...

We should be ready to go, right?

[hypochondriac]

2 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Surprising really, given that (according to some), signings for this season were made last summer...

We should be ready to go, right?

Good point... 

[Chez]

43 minutes ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

Quarshie only played the first half, but he looked pretty good

Just watched first half. He looked good. Much more comfortable on the ball than when I watched him for Koln. 

 

[Chez]

38 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

I wonder which of our centre backs are going to be leaving? Maybe wood and THB? 

Not sure. Wood hasn't impressed. I'm not a big fan of THB. Edwards being played at right back seems strange, but perhaps it's to get his fitness up. I don't understand why Bednarek move hasn't happened by now.

[hypochondriac]

1 minute ago, Chez said:

Not sure. Wood hasn't impressed. I'm not a big fan of THB. Edwards being played at right back seems strange, but perhaps it's to get his fitness up. I don't understand why Bednarek move hasn't happened by now.

That's a bit harsh. He barely played in the prem and looked better than many of our players when he did. 

[Lee On Solent Saint]

1 minute ago, hypochondriac said:

That's a bit harsh. He barely played in the prem and looked better than many of our players when he did. 

Wood is definitely one I thought Martin might have come in for. 

[Chez]

9 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

That's a bit harsh. He barely played in the prem and looked better than many of our players when he did. 

I'll rephrase. Wood didn't impress me. 

[Forester]

I think Still is simply talking common sense in the Blackmore interview.  In terms of trimming the squad, I would have thought that most fans would say it is not controversial to assume the following would go between now and end of window:

- one of the three keepers, replaced with cheaper 3rd option (a la Lumley)

- one of the three left backs

- ABK & Bednarek

- Dibbling

- Matsuki

 

Others may have more names on their list but that is six more exits (albeit a keeper coming in too).   

[Forester]

4 minutes ago, Chez said:

I'll rephrase. Wood didn't impress me. 

Different division and a year older though 

[Gloucester Saint]

15 minutes ago, Forester said:

I think Still is simply talking common sense in the Blackmore interview.  In terms of trimming the squad, I would have thought that most fans would say it is not controversial to assume the following would go between now and end of window:

- one of the three keepers, replaced with cheaper 3rd option (a la Lumley)

- one of the three left backs

- ABK & Bednarek

- Dibbling

- Matsuki

 

Others may have more names on their list but that is six more exits (albeit a keeper coming in too).   

Swap Ramsdale for a new first choice keeper and I’d agree with that. I still think one of the strikers will leave - BBD or AA. Not ITK, just a feeling. 

[revolution saint]

26 minutes ago, Forester said:

I think Still is simply talking common sense in the Blackmore interview.  In terms of trimming the squad, I would have thought that most fans would say it is not controversial to assume the following would go between now and end of window:

- one of the three keepers, replaced with cheaper 3rd option (a la Lumley)

- one of the three left backs

- ABK & Bednarek

- Dibbling

- Matsuki

 

Others may have more names on their list but that is six more exits (albeit a keeper coming in too).   

I reckon one of the right backs could be on that list too.  Sugawara doesn't seem to have played many minutes and Bree is coming into the last year of his contract so club might be looking to see if they can get some sort of fee for him.  Right back is one of the few areas where we seem to have had some links too.

Think Aribo will be off.  Same situation as Bree with regard to contract and doesn't feel like he's played many minutes. I'd have liked to see him in that Fernandes role with Fraser out wide instead of BBD during pre-season and just feels a better fit than Fraser.  There was talk of moving to Turkey for Aribo and if that's the case then wouldn't surprise me if they wait until close to the end of the window and chuck in a very lowball bid. 

[Willo of Whiteley]

I think ABK will be released or loaned out on the final day of the window.

Ben Brereton Diaz will leave, probably on loan and I think that maybe Nathan Wood, Jan Bednarek, Aaron Ramsdale and Joe Aribo will leave.

The rest of the squad I see staying. I think Dibling and Fernandes will be Saints players come September.

My concern would be the incomings, because letting those go would mean we still have a Championship capable squad but you need those sparks from players, and there’s none at the moment that I see as creating that something special for us.

They’ll be fifteen teams going for promotion this season at least, it’s that competitive, and the club surely won’t be selling to rivals, and these players are not Premier League level, so it’s either take the hit to a rival or keep an unhappy player, and they got on board for a season or they sulk.

Edited Sunday at 09:26 by Willo of Whiteley

[macca155]

Nothing is happening until that exit door starts revolving, the finances simply won't allow it. Look at how many FBs and CBs there are on the books, it's just unsustainable. 

As Will said there's a few stinking the place out at the moment.

However, got to hold on to the positives. Quarshie, Downs, Charles, Robinson, Sesay, and maybe Wood have shown some promise. We may even keep Downes, Fernades, Dibling, and THB. Even big Baz seems to be taking it seriously.

There's a team there somewhere 😂

i've resigned myself to August being crap, hopefully pick up after that.

 

[revolution saint]

6 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

I think ABK will be released or loaned out on the final day of the window.

Ben Brereton Diaz will leave, probably on loan and I think that maybe Nathan Wood, Jan Bednarek, Aaron Ramsdale and Joe Aribo will leave.

The rest of the squad I see staying. I think Dibling and Fernandes will be Saints players come September.

My concern would be the incomings, because letting those go would mean we still have a Championship capable squad but you need those sparks from players, and there’s none at the moment that I see as creating that something special for us.

They’ll be fifteen teams going for promotion this season at least, it’s that competitive, and the club surely won’t be selling to rivals, and these players are not Premier League level, so it’s either take the hit to a rival or keep an unhappy player, and they got on board for a season or they sulk.

If Dibling and Fernandes stay then they can both make things happen in the final third.  I'm always loathe to judge anyone on pre-season too much but Robinson has really impressed me too and I can see a situation where he becomes a genuine starter fairly quickly.

[saintant]

6 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

I think ABK will be released or loaned out on the final day of the window.

Ben Brereton Diaz will leave, probably on loan and I think that maybe Nathan Wood, Jan Bednarek, Aaron Ramsdale and Joe Aribo will leave.

The rest of the squad I see staying. I think Dibling and Fernandes will be Saints players come September.

My concern would be the incomings, because letting those go would mean we still have a Championship capable squad but you need those sparks from players, and there’s none at the moment that I see as creating that something special for us.

Agree and this is my concern. Others have cited Fernandes and Dibling but I think we need a player more consistently creative than either of those two - a ball carrier who can beat his man, occupy space between the lines, pick a killer pass or cross and drive us forward.