Summer Transfer Window 2025/26

[Pamplemousse]

1 minute ago, Convict Colony said:

Dragan is Serbian, Serbia has a very good relationship with Russia, he can send them money no worries.

Yeah this is what I'm thinking.

Krasnodar sold a player to PSG last season so I'm sure we can find a way.

Although personally I do feel uncomfortable us being involved in any deals with Russian clubs. Unless we promise them the money, sign the player and then we stitch them up somehow. Then I'm all for it.

[Matthew Le God]

13 minutes ago, Convict Colony said:

Dragan is Serbian, Serbia has a very good relationship with Russia, he can send them money no worries.

It isn't Solak's bank account that the money will be going from. To buy a player, it goes from Saints' bank account to the selling club. 

[Fitzhugh Fella]

1 hour ago, Convict Colony said:

Dragan is Serbian, Serbia has a very good relationship with Russia, he can send them money no worries.

Dragan is at loggerheads with the Serbian government - in fact he doesn't go back to his native country for fear of of what might happen to him. I believe he lives in Slovenia.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

8 hours ago, CB Fry said:

Look, good luck to the guy but fuck me imagine doing an unveiling video for Jan Bednarek.

Just synch his hand waving blame to a dance track, and you're done. 🙂

[Bakovnetski]

1 hour ago, Pamplemousse said:

Yeah this is what I'm thinking.

Krasnodar sold a player to PSG last season so I'm sure we can find a way.

Although personally I do feel uncomfortable us being involved in any deals with Russian clubs. Unless we promise them the money, sign the player and then we stitch them up somehow. Then I'm all for it.

I don't think we can be too bothered (or precious) seeing as we had a dodgy Chinese majority owner for several years.

[Matthew Le God]

7 minutes ago, Bakovnetski said:

I don't think we can be too bothered (or precious) seeing as we had a dodgy Chinese majority owner for several years.

Why does that mean we can't be concerned about money going into Russia? Plus in any case, Gao didn't put a penny into Saints so it wasn't dirty money if there was no money transferred. 

[Pamplemousse]

11 minutes ago, Bakovnetski said:

I don't think we can be too bothered (or precious) seeing as we had a dodgy Chinese majority owner for several years.

We didn't send any money into China though did we? And China isn't subject to international sanctions.

[Danbert]

9 hours ago, davefizzy14 said:

Yes please! 

Seems strong and mobile with good close control and JWP free kick skills. 

 

[DT]

So Fernandes is off then...

[trousers]

Just now, DT said:

So Fernandes is off then...

Call me old fashioned but any chance of a link...?

[gio1saints]

Totally yes please from me too.
 

Why this guy is not being picked up by an EPL team at the reputed likely fee is a mystery to me - but let’s hope we get this over the line. 
 

I will allow myself a few unrealistic fantasy team moments of imagining a Saints team with MF, this guy, Shea Charles, Tyler, Big DD up front, JR wizardry on one wing and JQ behind them all defending like his life depended upon it 🤣. 
NB. Might need another defender or two plus a good goalie not called Ramsdale and that wins the league for me! 
 

[revolution saint]

58 minutes ago, Danbert said:

Seems strong and mobile with good close control and JWP free kick skills. 

 

He looks quite good.  Bit concerned about motivation though - sounds like the guy wants more than just a move to the championship.  

[Saint Fan CaM]

Spertsyan is exactly the type of player the team is crying out for. The chances of signing him seem very, very slim, but if it happens then credit to Spors/Still - would be probably one of the best signings in the last 4 years. This also presumes Fernandes is retained so that overall squad quality is improved.

[lambtiss]

Spertsyan looks exactly like what we need as a creative midfielder in videos, and from his stats in a decent league. My only concern would be his commitment to coming to the 2nd league in England when he has been linked with much higher profile clubs than us in the past and has apparently, rejected us just a few weeks ago.  

[richardc]

2 minutes ago, revolution saint said:

He looks quite good.  Bit concerned about motivation though - sounds like the guy wants more than just a move to the championship.  

Well he can earn it by getting us promoted 

[Convict Colony]

2 hours ago, Matthew Le God said:

It isn't Solak's bank account that the money will be going from. To buy a player, it goes from Saints' bank account to the selling club. 

You talk like someone who likes paying tax, no outside the box thinking.

Example, gozteppe buy him and goes on loan to Southampton with a set buy fee at end of season.

 

[Convict Colony]

8 minutes ago, revolution saint said:

He looks quite good.  Bit concerned about motivation though - sounds like the guy wants more than just a move to the championship.  

Hahahaha we don't want to play in the championship, you can't blame a player who was lining up Europe with ajax suddenly not fancying Wrexham at home.

[hypochondriac]

14 minutes ago, revolution saint said:

He looks quite good.  Bit concerned about motivation though - sounds like the guy wants more than just a move to the championship.  

Brilliant I want a club that is bigger than the Championship too. Sounds like we are aligned. 

[Dusic]

36 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

Totally yes please from me too.
 

Why this guy is not being picked up by an EPL team at the reputed likely fee is a mystery to me - but let’s hope we get this over the line. 


 

Its not that much of a mystery. There is a war and heavy regulatory sanctions placed on the country his club is based in which means sensing millions to that country is not currently possible through traditional means and thats before the moral side of it or the actual reality of dealing with a Russian club is factored in.

Not exactly a straightforward transfer!

[saintant]

42 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

Totally yes please from me too.
 

Why this guy is not being picked up by an EPL team at the reputed likely fee is a mystery to me - but let’s hope we get this over the line. 
 

I will allow myself a few unrealistic fantasy team moments of imagining a Saints team with MF, this guy, Shea Charles, Tyler, Big DD up front, JR wizardry on one wing and JQ behind them all defending like his life depended upon it 🤣. 
NB. Might need another defender or two plus a good goalie not called Ramsdale and that wins the league for me! 
 

It's probable that most are scared off by Armenia's links to Russia. Not convinced we'd be able to negotiate this transfer either or that the club would consider embroiling themselves in the problems it might raise. Very good player though and would love him in our side but don't think it's going to happen.

[revolution saint]

24 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Brilliant I want a club that is bigger than the Championship too. Sounds like we are aligned. 

The point was you could end up with a player who has aspirations above the championship who joins because he doesn't have any better options and then goes through the motions.  Off the top of my head some examples of players who joined but couldn't really give much of a toss about being here except for the money are ABK, Maitland Niles,  Orsic, Salisu, Lemina.  

If you believe the initial reports then his first reaction was fuck off.  Doesn't exactly scream come and get me, does it?  Not all players will react in the same way but definitely need to do their homework on attitude and whether he'd be worth it after 6 months and the reality of championship football kicks in. 

[Dman]

21 minutes ago, Dusic said:

Its not that much of a mystery. There is a war and heavy regulatory sanctions placed on the country his club is based in which means sensing millions to that country is not currently possible through traditional means and thats before the moral side of it or the actual reality of dealing with a Russian club is factored in.

Not exactly a straightforward transfer!

Football lost its morality a long, long time ago. 

If he's a good player and will help us achieve our goals, I couldn't really care where he comes from. 

[hypochondriac]

3 minutes ago, revolution saint said:

The point was you could end up with a player who has aspirations above the championship who joins because he doesn't have any better options and then goes through the motions.  Off the top of my head some examples of players who joined but couldn't really give much of a toss about being here except for the money are ABK, Maitland Niles,  Orsic, Salisu, Lemina.  

If you believe the initial reports then his first reaction was fuck off.  Doesn't exactly scream come and get me, does it?  Not all players will react in the same way but definitely need to do their homework on attitude and whether he'd be worth it after 6 months and the reality of championship football kicks in. 

Sure it's a risk but you could just as likely end up with an Adel taraabt type who was a total prick but won qpr promotion. 

[revolution saint]

1 minute ago, hypochondriac said:

Sure it's a risk but you could just as likely end up with an Adel taraabt type who was a total prick but won qpr promotion. 

Which is why I said I'd be a bit concerned about motivation rather than making a categorical judgement.  Could be great, could be crap but definitely something that would need to be looked at carefully.

[hypochondriac]

3 minutes ago, revolution saint said:

Which is why I said I'd be a bit concerned about motivation rather than making a categorical judgement.  Could be great, could be crap but definitely something that would need to be looked at carefully.

I'd rather take the risk personally for a couple of players than end up with another Smallbone type who is a nice lad but a crap footballer 

[revolution saint]

1 minute ago, hypochondriac said:

I'd rather take the risk personally for a couple of players than end up with another Smallbone type who is a nice lad but a crap footballer 

Isn't the choice between good footballers who want to be here and good footballers who don't though?

[hypochondriac]

Just now, revolution saint said:

Isn't the choice between good footballers who want to be here and good footballers who don't though?

I haven't seen us linked with many really good attacking midfielders yet. Maybe this is the best quality one. 

[Rebel]

He may be Armenian by football nationality - but he's Russian by birth and that's the only place he ever played by the looks of it.  

With the war in Ukraine we shouldn't even be looking at players in Russia.  Surely our scouts can find an attacking midfielder from somewhere else.

[hypochondriac]

1 minute ago, Rebel said:

He may be Armenian by football nationality - but he's Russian by birth and that's the only place he ever played by the looks of it.  

With the war in Ukraine we shouldn't even be looking at players in Russia.  Surely our scouts can find an attacking midfielder from somewhere else.

Why shouldn't we look at Russian players? It's not their fault. 

[Convict Colony]

Classic Saintsweb, moan about needing more creative players so we can score goals.

Club gets creative to get a seemingly top quality player who we shouldn't be able to get but based on current world issues there is a chance and we moan about motivation to play for us.

No way would Ajax be outspending us on wages (dutch are the Europe version of Scottish) would be a cut above the championship (like Fernandes) but exactly the sort of player we would need in the PL.

Get deal done with option after 1 yr if we don't get promoted to be set fee he can leave for.

[revolution saint]

1 minute ago, Convict Colony said:

Classic Saintsweb, moan about needing more creative players so we can score goals.

Club gets creative to get a seemingly top quality player who we shouldn't be able to get but based on current world issues there is a chance and we moan about motivation to play for us.

No way would Ajax be outspending us on wages (dutch are the Europe version of Scottish) would be a cut above the championship (like Fernandes) but exactly the sort of player we would need in the PL.

Get deal done with option after 1 yr if we don't get promoted to be set fee he can leave for.

Classic Saintsweb strawman argument.  At least about the motivation issue - people expressed concern over his potential motivation.  They haven't moaned about it and you've just made that up. 

Presume you said the same when we signed Lemina?

[Saint Mikey]

18 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Why shouldn't we look at Russian players? It's not their fault. 

Agreed. I'd be happy to kit the entire team out with Ruskies or players from Russian teams - if it got us promotion and kept us up.

Side point: We've been here before with a player we tried to sign from Dnipro - he was supposed to be quality but we couldn't get a work permit. Anyone remember who that was? It was under Nichol and (maybe) before we signed Cherednik and Gotsmanov. 

 

[Patrick Bateman]

1 hour ago, revolution saint said:

He looks quite good.  Bit concerned about motivation though - sounds like the guy wants more than just a move to the championship.  

Looking at it, he plays for a club I've never heard of, probably paid in apples, so Championship salaries will be huge either way and being classic Saints, he'll be sold next season for double (which means we've had a good season from him)

[bugenhagen]

16 minutes ago, revolution saint said:

Classic Saintsweb strawman argument.  At least about the motivation issue - people expressed concern over his potential motivation.  They haven't moaned about it and you've just made that up. 

Presume you said the same when we signed Lemina?

But you made up the whole motivation issue. It is not really there, it’s in your mind… 

[revolution saint]

Just now, bugenhagen said:

But you made up the whole motivation issue. It is not really there, it’s in your mind… 

So he didn't initially turn us down then?

[gio1saints]

https://x.com/armeniefootball/status/1949886180142510141?s=46 

Looks like Girona were interested but no offer. Surely we can outbid and outpay girona? Or are we being used to flush out Forest or Brentford for example? 

[bugenhagen]

1 minute ago, revolution saint said:

So he didn't initially turn us down then?

I don’t think we even know that for sure, or how exactly we were turned down?

Either way, that does not equal motivation issues if he does sign. You made that conclusion. 

[revolution saint]

Just now, bugenhagen said:

I don’t think we even know that for sure, or how exactly we were turned down?

Either way, that does not equal motivation issues if he does sign. You made that conclusion. 

If you look at what I actually wrote, I didn't say there would definitely be motivation issues.  I said I'd be concerned there could be.  I was pretty clear that I wasn't being definitive about that. 

Fuck me there's some dense people around.

[Bakovnetski]

2 hours ago, Pamplemousse said:

We didn't send any money into China though did we? And China isn't subject to international sanctions.

I have no idea whether or not SFC sent any money into China. But we accepted a good slice for Pelle. Also there may not be any sanctions vs China but there seems to be a blind eye cast upon Uigur persecution. There is no way we would know if the money would go into Russia either. Their ownership may ultimately be elsewhere. The world is awash with dirty money, politics and atrocities. My point is that to raise concern for one avenue is not consistent when there are so many others.

[BARCELONASAINT]

I personally don't think there is a cat in hells chance we land this Armenian player. Sounds like agent bullshit to get the bigger clubs that have shown interest to jump. I will be absolutely amazed if he ends up here, he has had interest from a host of clubs playing at a higher level than we now find ourselves.

[Crouchie's Lawyer]

7 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

https://x.com/armeniefootball/status/1949886180142510141?s=46 

Looks like Girona were interested but no offer. Surely we can outbid and outpay girona? Or are we being used to flush out Forest or Brentford for example? 

That's my guess. Player thought he would have decent interest from top level teams this summer. Perhaps hasn't materialised as he had hoped.

 

We come along and his gut reaction to us is "nah, I'm fine thanks" thinking he will get better.

 

Better hasn't come along for whatever reason so his agent tells him to come out and say you will now consider the proposal from Saints, as this may mean that teams in the tier between Saints and the top level teams are alerted (the likes of Brentford, West Ham, Everton, Fulham, Brighton etc) if they see you saying you would consider joining Saints in the Championship.

 

Would love it to happen but I'd be very, very surprised if it does.

[bugenhagen]

1 minute ago, revolution saint said:

If you look at what I actually wrote, I didn't say there would definitely be motivation issues.  I said I'd be concerned there could be.  I was pretty clear that I wasn't being definitive about that. 

Fuck me there's some dense people around.

I just don’t agree with you. I think you are jumping to conclusions, even if your first post on the subject stated that there may just be a concern. 

Why the need to call me names? I joined in a discussion on a point it looked like you wanted to discuss.

Anyways, I’ll leave it alone.

[gio1saints]

I’d be v happy with the fc koln keeper ex DD teammate but it’s v unlikely. Failing that £5-£7m will get Viktir Johannssen  from Stoke, who we should have bought off Rotherham. The latter reputedly on £15k pw.

Edited yesterday at 10:36 by gio1saints

[Saint_lambden]

The potential lack of motivation talk seems a bit unfair. He's played at Krasnodar for a lot of years and has turned down many an opportunity to move to bigger and better teams for more money but wanted to win a trophy with his current team which he's now done as they won the league last season, so he and the club are open to a move, especially as he won't be able to play in the Champions League now with all Russian clubs banned from it. We'll now have the financial muscle to pay him very handsomely and he'd start every week for a team trying to get back to the Premier League within a year so it may well be the best route to eventually playing there without a current Prem team wanting to commit. 

 

[Chez]

27 minutes ago, revolution saint said:

So he didn't initially turn us down then?

Who knows, but agents are not stupid, they won't have turned us down unless they knew there was a possibility of a move to a bigger club. Likewise, they will have left their options open by saying to SFC "we are leaving our options open at this stage of the window, but lets stay in touch." As the window progresses Ajax or whoever said they were interested may have moved on to another target and the path opens up. I imagine this happens all the time. It will be entirely up to us if we want to go back again.

Being second or third choice destination doesn't mean he wont be committed when he comes here. Helping us get promoted, and him into the PL, a big rise in wages and the subsequent exposure and potential to make an even bigger jump in his career will be motivating.

[Dman]

39 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

https://x.com/armeniefootball/status/1949886180142510141?s=46 

Looks like Girona were interested but no offer. Surely we can outbid and outpay girona? Or are we being used to flush out Forest or Brentford for example? 

Girona, who are owned by the city group?

[redkeith]

1 minute ago, Dman said:

Girona, who are owned by the city group?

They can't pump money into Girona under Spanish rules. The only financial boost they got recently was last years Champions league entry, but the hardly picked up any points/bonuses in that.  

[Chez]

34 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

https://x.com/armeniefootball/status/1949886180142510141?s=46 

Looks like Girona were interested but no offer. Surely we can outbid and outpay girona? Or are we being used to flush out Forest or Brentford for example? 

They got some champions league money last season, but obviously didn't qualify again - they were woeful in fact in the league, almost getting relegated. I think they spent some of the CL money in advance last summer, bringing in my mate Asprilla, who had a mixed bag season (we should try to sign him IMO), but they also sold a couple of players last summer for serious money too, so I think they will be pretty well set financially.

Bloody nice place to live too. I stayed there for a while last year - and heartedly recommend it to anyone that goes to Barcelona and has some free time. 

[Chez]

Just now, redkeith said:

They can't pump money into Girona under Spanish rules. The only financial boost they got recently was last years Champions league entry, but the hardly picked up any points/bonuses in that.  

...and the £50m in players sales they got last summer.

[Miltonaggro]

3 hours ago, Danbert said:

Seems strong and mobile with good close control and JWP free kick skills. 

 

Always difficult in a video montage but really good feet, close control and quick footballing brain in those clips - movement reminds me a bit of a Shaqiri or Kinkladze.  One to get excited about if we get this over the line.