Summer Transfer Window 2025/26

[lambtiss]

3 hours ago, Chez said:

I struggle to see Ramsdale wanting to return to us next summer should we get promoted - unless Pope somehow kept him out out if the side, which is very doubtful. 

Obviously I knew he would depart (some of the posts on here suggesting he wasn't all that are laughable), but I will still be disappointed as it seems like a very long time ago that Forster was any good or McCarthy had a decent season for us. We'd finally sorted out the position and it lasted one season.

Error, so deleted

Edited Monday at 17:11 by lambtiss

[HarvSFC]

16 minutes ago, bangkoksaint said:

Gunn and Baz cost us circa £25M…..let that sink in

And there was James Trafford right next to them for £15m.

[Gloucester Saint]

8 minutes ago, HarvSFC said:

And there was James Trafford right next to them for £15m.

That’s the difference when football and non-football people are making decisions.

Data takes you so far but you’ve got to watch players live and make an objective judgement. The football people watched Trafford’s all round game over a long sample size as part of due diligence, the non-football people bought the hype, a couple of early international games and were focused on re-sale.

Gunn is very iffy coming off his line and always has been. See Norwich at Elland play off semi for Exhibit A and he was like it for us as well. Baz - supposedly passes the ball well but post-Russell that’s not needed as much and he doesn’t have the core attributes or physique a modern keeper needs. 

Edited Monday at 17:19 by Gloucester Saint

[hypochondriac]

45 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

"Come sign for us and completely ignore our plans to bench you next summer"

"come sign for us on much higher wages with a chance of promotion and a chance to fight for your place in the prem". 

[hypochondriac]

20 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Players aren’t stupid, they know that’s what happens. Hence a good promotion bonus is built into the contract and he’d still be on a fair chunk more as #2 in the PL than in the Champ for Stoke, who barring a Mark Robins miracle won’t be going back up anytime soon (neither will we if the club are dickheads about sticking with the grim goalkeeping duo of doom). One flying boot or loss of form and he’s a PL keeper.

It never seemed to bother the likes of David connolly or Tadanari Lee. No one at the moment is going to prefer to stay at stoke over saints given the choice. 

[Gloucester Saint]

6 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

It never seemed to bother the likes of David connolly or Tadanari Lee. No one at the moment is going to prefer to stay at stoke over saints given the choice. 

Stoke lower mid Champ - £15k per week

Saints - £20k per week, chunky promotion bonus to clear your mortgage, PL back/compete for place £30k per week.

If he’s got a family, not really a choice if the clubs agree a fee and Saints get their act together for the first time in several years in a key position.

Edited Monday at 17:33 by Gloucester Saint

[Fabrice29]

16 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Players aren’t stupid, they know that’s what happens. Hence a good promotion bonus is built into the contract and he’d still be on a fair chunk more as #2 in the PL than in the Champ for Stoke, who barring a Mark Robins miracle won’t be going back up anytime soon (neither will we if the club are dickheads about sticking with the grim goalkeeping duo of doom). One flying boot or loss of form and he’s a PL keeper.

 

1 minute ago, hypochondriac said:

"come sign for us on much higher wages with a chance of promotion and a chance to fight for your place in the prem". 

Fwiw, it wasn't just the convincing the player angle that made me laugh. I think it's a pretty funny strategy all round. But okay, throw some money at the player and the club and you get him in. Wonderful. Now in a years time, you've got a keeper on "much higher wages" and "a good promotion bonus (hopefully) that you now are looking to upgrade on. Is that really a strategy you endorse? We have a squad full of Championship proven players here that we don't think can step up and I'm not sure adding another player to that list is a "no brainer". Surely it makes more sense to sign players who we think might be able to go on that journey and have the potential to step up.

I've no idea about this specific keeper fwiw, I've seen him twice for Rotherham and see he's not riding high on the save percentages for Championship keepers last season but I'm sure there's much better ways to judge him and I'm sure you've seen him more than I have but not convinced "we might have to replace you next summer" is the glowing endorsement you think it is and wouldn't convince me to spend quite a few million on if I was the owner for example.

11 minutes ago, HarvSFC said:

And there was James Trafford right next to them for £15m.

We signed Gunn in 2018 didn't we? Hardly right next to "them". 

[Gloucester Saint]

Just now, Fabrice29 said:

 

Fwiw, it wasn't just the convincing the player angle that made me laugh. I think it's a pretty funny strategy all round. But okay, throw some money at the player and the club and you get him in. Wonderful. Now in a years time, you've got a keeper on "much higher wages" and "a good promotion bonus (hopefully) that you now are looking to upgrade on. Is that really a strategy you endorse? We have a squad full of Championship proven players here that we don't think can step up and I'm not sure adding another player to that list is a "no brainer". Surely it makes more sense to sign players who we think might be able to go on that journey and have the potential to step up.

I've no idea about this specific keeper fwiw, I've seen him twice for Rotherham and see he's not riding high on the save percentages for Championship keepers last season but I'm sure there's much better ways to judge him and I'm sure you've seen him more than I have but not convinced "we might have to replace you next summer" is the glowing endorsement you think it is and wouldn't convince me to spend quite a few million on if I was the owner for example.

We signed Gunn in 2018 didn't we? Hardly right next to "them". 

Sticking with Gavin (statistically the worst in PL and Champ by a mile) and Alex (a year older than last time and struggled badly last year) - if Dragan wants to destroy what’s left of his investment/pull off his mask and reveal Milan Mandaric this is the way to do it.

[Fabrice29]

Just now, Gloucester Saint said:

Sticking with Gavin (statistically the worst in PL and Champ by a mile) and Alex (a year older than last time and struggled badly last year) - if Dragan wants to destroy what’s left of his investment/pull off his mask and reveal Milan Mandaric this is the way to do it.

That isn't what I said though, thanks for reading.

[SuperSAINT]

 

[Gloucester Saint]

1 minute ago, Fabrice29 said:

That isn't what I said though, thanks for reading.

If you’re suggesting buying a different first choice keeper, or loaning at a push, then I’m all ears. There are other keepers than Johannsson available of course who are better than those two already at the club. Not a high bar, or any bar admittedly.

[SouSaint]

6 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

 

Fwiw, it wasn't just the convincing the player angle that made me laugh. I think it's a pretty funny strategy all round. But okay, throw some money at the player and the club and you get him in. Wonderful. Now in a years time, you've got a keeper on "much higher wages" and "a good promotion bonus (hopefully) that you now are looking to upgrade on. Is that really a strategy you endorse? We have a squad full of Championship proven players here that we don't think can step up and I'm not sure adding another player to that list is a "no brainer". Surely it makes more sense to sign players who we think might be able to go on that journey and have the potential to step up.

I've no idea about this specific keeper fwiw, I've seen him twice for Rotherham and see he's not riding high on the save percentages for Championship keepers last season but I'm sure there's much better ways to judge him and I'm sure you've seen him more than I have but not convinced "we might have to replace you next summer" is the glowing endorsement you think it is and wouldn't convince me to spend quite a few million on if I was the owner for example.

We signed Gunn in 2018 didn't we? Hardly right next to "them". 

He was 5th with a 71% save percentage according to this

https://www.fotmob.com/en/leagues/48/stats/season/23744/players/_save_percentage/championship

[hypochondriac]

18 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

 

Fwiw, it wasn't just the convincing the player angle that made me laugh. I think it's a pretty funny strategy all round. But okay, throw some money at the player and the club and you get him in. Wonderful. Now in a years time, you've got a keeper on "much higher wages" and "a good promotion bonus (hopefully) that you now are looking to upgrade on. Is that really a strategy you endorse? We have a squad full of Championship proven players here that we don't think can step up and I'm not sure adding another player to that list is a "no brainer". Surely it makes more sense to sign players who we think might be able to go on that journey and have the potential to step up.

I've no idea about this specific keeper fwiw, I've seen him twice for Rotherham and see he's not riding high on the save percentages for Championship keepers last season but I'm sure there's much better ways to judge him and I'm sure you've seen him more than I have but not convinced "we might have to replace you next summer" is the glowing endorsement you think it is and wouldn't convince me to spend quite a few million on if I was the owner for example.

We signed Gunn in 2018 didn't we? Hardly right next to "them". 

It's all relative. A much higher wage than stoke isn't a high wage for us with our resources. You'd be upgrading the squad and if we gain promotion at minimum you'd have an upgrade on our backup keeper or be pushing another keeper for a starting place and all for a fairly small outlay. It's not like someone is suggesting 15 million on a player we know isn't good enough. We absolutely should be getting in as strong a squad as we can this season without breaking the bank and then looking to upgrade as much as we can to try to stay in the division. 

Our main problem last summer was that we simply weren't ruthless enough. If we gain promotion then almost all players should be aware that they may be replaced at the very least in the starting eleven with survival being the aim. 

Edited Monday at 17:52 by hypochondriac

[Harry_SFC]

3 minutes ago, SuperSAINT said:

 

Admittedly don't know much about this guy but he's pretty highly rated by all accounts. Has a good goalscoring record for an attacking midfielder too and is a regular for Armenia. 

[Gloucester Saint]

5 minutes ago, SouSaint said:

He was 5th with a 71% save percentage according to this

https://www.fotmob.com/en/leagues/48/stats/season/23744/players/_save_percentage/championship

There’s others as well, basically there’s probably 50-100 keepers in our price range who be a huge improvement. Those two are only with us because literally no other club wants them. Celtic wanted Alex allegedly after Wembley and if so he should have gone, last season killed what was left in him as a keeper. Gavin only had Standard come in because his City academy coach was there, and he was apparently shocked at how bad he was. This was early 2025, one decent 45 minutes in a pre-season doesn’t wipe away two years of very unreliable displays.

Edited Monday at 17:48 by Gloucester Saint

[SuperSAINT]

1 minute ago, Harry_SFC said:

Admittedly don't know much about this guy but he's pretty highly rated by all accounts. Has a good goalscoring record for an attacking midfielder too and is a regular for Armenia. 

I’ll take an EFL Tadic. 

[goodymatt]

duplicate post

Edited Monday at 17:51 by goodymatt
Quoting error

[S-Clarke]

9 minutes ago, SuperSAINT said:

 

Wasn't he going to PSG? Would be surprised to see this one, he's well above us and Championship level. 

[goodymatt]

10 minutes ago, SuperSAINT said:

 

Transfermarkt have him valued at double that, 25yo, in a position we need. Sign him up.

[Chez]

 

1 hour ago, Farmer Saint said:

As I said previously, no PL teams are willing to trigger Ramsdale's release clause

why not force Newcastle do so? If they want hm, make them pay in full.

[lambtiss]

4 hours ago, pingpong said:

Baz is better than people here think, and gets over scrutinised for every move he makes.

His stats were very similar to ederson and only slightly below Allison during the promotion season, it was partly the fault of our system of play, which focussed on giving opponent strikers the ball in the most dangerous positions on the pitch.

He's looked good preseason, I'm not worried if ramsdale goes. For some reason from day one ramsdale got a pass for minor errors, whereas baz gets pilloried for the same things. If fans can get over that, he'll be fine.

Some posts make you wonder whether the poster has ever watched Saints play. 

Time and time again, Bazunu would let in goals that you would expect him to save. 

His  positioning was poor, his hands weak, he didn't command his area and for someone whose alleged special talent was with the ball at his feet, well he wasn't especially good at that either.

And to suggest, the minor errors that he was pilloried for were the same as the errors Ramsdale made but not criticised for. Well, you must be smoking something very strong.

 

[Harry_SFC]

6 minutes ago, SuperSAINT said:

I’ll take an EFL Tadic. 

Just watching his highlights and he does have that sort of style of play about him. Can pick a pass, not massively quick but can beat a player through good footwork. Obviously not as good as Dusan but happy days if we manage to pull it off.

Edited Monday at 17:53 by Harry_SFC

[Chez]

2 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

Wasn't he going to PSG? Would be surprised to see this one, he's well above us and Championship level. 

That's the kind of description I want to hear when we are linked to a player.

[Mr Brightside]

3 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

Wasn't he going to PSG? Would be surprised to see this one, he's well above us and Championship level. 

Quick search (never heard of him) and was supposedly linked with Arsenal a couple of weeks back. 
Hope he weighs more than the 66kg stated though as might not enjoy a cold Tuesday in Stoke. 

[Gloucester Saint]

2 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

Just watching his highlights and he does have that sort of style of play about him. Can pick a pass, not massively quick but can beat a player through good footwork. Obviously not as good as Dusan but happy days if we manage to pull it off.

That will be a coup if that transfer comes off. 

[S-Clarke]

17 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

 

Fwiw, it wasn't just the convincing the player angle that made me laugh. I think it's a pretty funny strategy all round. But okay, throw some money at the player and the club and you get him in. Wonderful. Now in a years time, you've got a keeper on "much higher wages" and "a good promotion bonus (hopefully) that you now are looking to upgrade on. Is that really a strategy you endorse? We have a squad full of Championship proven players here that we don't think can step up and I'm not sure adding another player to that list is a "no brainer". Surely it makes more sense to sign players who we think might be able to go on that journey and have the potential to step up.

I've no idea about this specific keeper fwiw, I've seen him twice for Rotherham and see he's not riding high on the save percentages for Championship keepers last season but I'm sure there's much better ways to judge him and I'm sure you've seen him more than I have but not convinced "we might have to replace you next summer" is the glowing endorsement you think it is and wouldn't convince me to spend quite a few million on if I was the owner for example.

We signed Gunn in 2018 didn't we? Hardly right next to "them". 

You take some strange angles on here to 'debate' people, but this is one of the strangest. 

If we bring in a new first choice keeper now, the likelihood is that we start next season with two pretty decent GK's to compete for the starting spot. I'd say that's a much more healthy position to be in than having average squad players as your backups to everyone. The drop off from our first team to the squad is way too big, I'm sure the club see it.

Any new player coming in will have to be confident enough in their ability to hold a place here for the foreseeable future, if they weren't and they worried about Ramsdale coming back then I wouldn't want them.

The club aren't going to tell them ''you're keeping this warm until Ramsdale comes back'', they're going to say this is now your place to keep. Show us what you can do.

[Farmer Saint]

17 minutes ago, SuperSAINT said:

 

He's meant to be shit hot 

[Gloucester Saint]

1 minute ago, Mr Brightside said:

Quick search (never heard of him) and was supposedly linked with Arsenal a couple of weeks back. 
Hope he weighs more than the 66kg stated though as might not enjoy a cold Tuesday in Stoke. 

He will have experienced a lot colder than Stoke playing in that league!

Edited Monday at 17:57 by Gloucester Saint

[UpweySaint]

37 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

That’s the difference when football and non-football people are making decisions.

Data takes you so far but you’ve got to watch players live and make an objective judgement. The football people watched Trafford’s all round game over a long sample size as part of due diligence, the non-football people bought the hype, a couple of early international games and were focused on re-sale.

Gunn is very iffy coming off his line and always has been. See Norwich at Elland play off semi for Exhibit A and he was like it for us as well. Baz - supposedly passes the ball well but post-Russell that’s not needed as much and he doesn’t have the core attributes or physique a modern keeper needs. 

I don’t get what the distinction is between a football person and a non football person. What qualifies somebody as a football person or is it a bit intangible?

Either way I may be misremembering but was Bazunu not a pick from Joe Shields? Like him or not he’s got a good reputation in the game as a talent spotter particularly at youth level. Does he count as a football person in your opinion?

[Fabrice29]

10 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

If you’re suggesting buying a different first choice keeper, or loaning at a push, then I’m all ears. There are other keepers than Johannsson available of course who are better than those two already at the club. Not a high bar, or any bar admittedly.

Exactly what I'm suggesting. The signings of Quashie and Downes appear to be long term which a view being able to contribute this season. No reason we should go away from that when it comes to permanent signings. If you want someone who can just contribute in the Championship then I'd argue thats what loans are for.

5 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

It's all relative. A much higher wage than stoke isn't a high wage for us with our resources. You'd be upgrading the squad and if we gain promotion at minimum you'd have an upgrade on our backup keeper or be pushing another keeper for a starting place. We absolutely should be getting in as strong a squad as we can this season without breaking the bank and then looking to upgrade as much as we can to try to stay in the division. 

Our main problem last summer was that we simply weren't ruthless enough. If we gain promotion then almost all players should be aware that they may be replaced at the very least in the starting eleven with survival being the aim. 

Yeah, this is all common sense stuff but you can also save yourself resources and upheaval if you recruit well enough this season and sign players who you hope/think might be able to step up next year too. If you're deliberately signing players you aren't convinced by, thats more work and cost next summer.

[Farmer Saint]

6 minutes ago, Chez said:

 

why not force Newcastle do so? If they want hm, make them pay in full.

Because they don't want him that badly, as they have Pope. No-one wants to pay his fee and a lot of clubs are suffering with PSR limitations. He was also told he'd be let leave if we got relegated.

[Fabrice29]

3 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

You take some strange angles on here to 'debate' people, but this is one of the strangest. 

If we bring in a new first choice keeper now, the likelihood is that we start next season with two pretty decent GK's to compete for the starting spot. I'd say that's a much more healthy position to be in than having average squad players as your backups to everyone. The drop off from our first team to the squad is way too big, I'm sure the club see it.

Any new player coming in will have to be confident enough in their ability to hold a place here for the foreseeable future, if they weren't and they worried about Ramsdale coming back then I wouldn't want them.

The club aren't going to tell them ''you're keeping this warm until Ramsdale comes back'', they're going to say this is now your place to keep. Show us what you can do.

Yeah you've not read what I actually "debated" here but thats fine. I've no issue with us signing a new first choice keeper now. I'd welcome it. I just dont think the club should embark on a "we'll sign you now and by the way we are going to look at replacing you next summer as well" strategy when it comes to signing that keeper.

[Chez]

4 hours ago, saintant said:

Newcastle fans raging about this - not happy at all.

Why are they not happy? He's better than they have.

I've no idea why we are allowing him to leave on loan unless we can't afford his wages. 

[S-Clarke]

1 minute ago, UpweySaint said:

I don’t get what the distinction is between a football person and a non football person. What qualifies somebody as a football person or is it a bit intangible?

Either way I may be misremembering but was Bazunu not a pick from Joe Shields? Like him or not he’s got a good reputation in the game as a talent spotter particularly at youth level. Does he count as a football person in your opinion?

I don't think signing young players is a bad move per say, so Joe Shields may have a decent eye for young talent - but there needs to be some sense in the squad selection, he was nowhere near ready to be a first team PL keeper - but whoever was at the club decided he was, straight away. Absolutely braindead.

Has his early exposure ruined him? Maybe, too much too soon. He's a bag of nerves now. Keepers do mature later, so he has some leeway - but there are genuine attributes he misses in his game which he won't wake up with one morning, so for that reason I'm out.

[Saint Matty 76]

Interesting one where apparently Ajax nearly signed Spertsyan but their board blocked the signing due to "moral concerns about dealing with a Russian club".

[Gloucester Saint]

12 minutes ago, UpweySaint said:

I don’t get what the distinction is between a football person and a non football person. What qualifies somebody as a football person or is it a bit intangible?

Either way I may be misremembering but was Bazunu not a pick from Joe Shields? Like him or not he’s got a good reputation in the game as a talent spotter particularly at youth level. Does he count as a football person in your opinion?

Les Reed and Ross Wilson are political football figures, I doubt very much their ability to really watch a player over an extended period of time. Look at the successful Koeman signings, they were clearly Ronald’s. Close friend of mine scouted for Tony Pulis and he would go there and watch the player, not even the match as a whole, he would focus on the player Pulis wanted him to watch and he would want a detailed report on all of the active moments, off ball behaviours and interactions with other players. The player would be watched over an extended period.

Shields found Lavia and got a new job off the back of it but he doesn’t convince me - Baz, Edozie and Larios were never PL players in a million years and it was obvious immediately. Gavin chucked into a struggling side at that age and key position was harsh. He’d have needed to be a goalkeeping Luke Littler or Wayne Rooney. Tim Flowers struggled in Division 1 post-Shilton hence John Burridge came in a for a season, and Tim was very talented as a youngster. But Nicholl knew football clubs and knew player psychology.

Wilcox and Paul Mitchell - they were more thorough and questioning of what the club would tell them.

Edited Monday at 18:11 by Gloucester Saint

[Mr Brightside]

10 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

He will have experienced a lot colder than Stoke playing in that league!

True. Was more intimating he may struggle with the physicality of the Championship. Though they do make them tough in Russia I suppose. 

[Wade Garrett]

6 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

Yeah you've not read what I actually "debated" here but thats fine. I've no issue with us signing a new first choice keeper now. I'd welcome it. I just dont think the club should embark on a "we'll sign you now and by the way we are going to look at replacing you next summer as well" strategy when it comes to signing that keeper.

AM is out of contract in a year.  No reason why we couldn’t have the Stoke guy and Ramsdale then.  
Personally, I don’t think Ramsdale comes back anyway.

[hypochondriac]

8 minutes ago, Saint Matty 76 said:

Interesting one where apparently Ajax nearly signed Spertsyan but their board blocked the signing due to "moral concerns about dealing with a Russian club".

Bollocks to that! Get the bloke in. 

[Chez]

18 minutes ago, Farmer Saint said:

Because they don't want him that badly, as they have Pope. No-one wants to pay his fee and a lot of clubs are suffering with PSR limitations. He was also told he'd be let leave if we got relegated.

Maybe no one wanted to pay it last week, but this week things could be different.

Newcastle obviously want Ramsdale. How "badly"? How about we try to find out?

Villa are probably looking at this news and wondering how they get Martinez sold and avoid missing out.

Many at Newcastle do not rate Pope and Howe is perhaps one of them, which is why they tried to sign Trafford.

Oh, it's two minutes since they were willing to spend £27m on Trafford. PSR doesn't seem to be an issue for Newcastle.

Edited Monday at 18:18 by Chez

[CB Fry]

13 minutes ago, Chez said:

Why are they not happy? He's better than they have.

I've no idea why we are allowing him to leave on loan unless we can't afford his wages. 

Could be part of some Newcastle FFP scam where they need to keep some spending off the books.

If there is something in it for us from Newcastle in return, then great. 

If not then we should just sell Aaron and move on.

[SW5 SAINT]

1 hour ago, bangkoksaint said:

Gunn and Baz cost us circa £25M…..let that sink in

Incredible to think that Ramsdale only cost £3m more than Baz….!!

[hypochondriac]

We should be doing whatever we can to get josh Brownhill by the way assuming he's up for being in the championship again. 

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

16 minutes ago, Saint Matty 76 said:

Interesting one where apparently Ajax nearly signed Spertsyan but their board blocked the signing due to "moral concerns about dealing with a Russian club".

Could that be because Ajax are traditionally a Jewish football club and with Putin’s ties with Iran, his antisemitic outbursts and attacks on Ukraine (isn’t Zelenskyy Jewish?), they’re making a stand?

[Gloucester Saint]

1 minute ago, hypochondriac said:

We should be doing whatever we can to get josh Brownhill by the way assuming he's up for being in the championship again. 

Linked with West Ham and Everton last I saw.

[hypochondriac]

3 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Linked with West Ham and Everton last I saw.

Fair enough. I wasn't certain he'd be good enough for them. 

[Gloucester Saint]

Just now, hypochondriac said:

Fair enough. I wasn't certain he'd be good enough for them. 

May not be and as we move into August and neither of those two moves come off, his agent may cast around. 

[Chez]

12 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

Could be part of some Newcastle FFP scam where they need to keep some spending off the books.

If there is something in it for us from Newcastle in return, then great. 

If not then we should just sell Aaron and move on.

They weren't getting Trafford for buttons, so they have the money.

I doubt there are any senior players at Newcastle willing to drop down a division. I don't think many will want to leave full stop as they will be on serious wages. I can see Lewis Miley (who I thought looked terrific when he burst onto the scene) potentially wanting a move, but not to a championship side. 

Edited Monday at 18:32 by Chez

[Chez]

1 minute ago, hypochondriac said:

Fair enough. I wasn't certain he'd be good enough for them. 

Burnley offered him a new contract. Dropping down a division seems unlikely.

[Saints4Prem]

https://c.newsnow.co.uk/A/1281798062?-11205:798

Tyler Dibling transfer to Aston Villa ?