Summer Transfer Window 2025/26

[Harry_SFC]

5 minutes ago, Golac's Cunning Stunts said:

No real reason why he would stay. Just hope our powers that be have all the incomings already sorted once the dominos start to fall

Yep, we still have to expect Fernandes to leave. If he stays then great. If he does go then jesus there's a lot of work to be done before the end of the window. 

[ErwinK1961]

6 minutes ago, SuperSAINT said:

 

A lot of laughing going on there.

Looks like someone said “Everton?! LOL”

[Turkish]

1 minute ago, ErwinK1961 said:

A lot of laughing going on there.

Looks like someone said “Everton?! LOL”

“And then they showed me the dugouts…..”

[SWLondon Saint]

Hoping we've got our incomings lined up before they let him go out the door 🤞🏼 Fair deal all round, the thing I'd worry about overall is his final ball / decision making is still a work in process and they probably won't be that patient having shelled out a fee like that...

Edited August 22 by SWLondon Saint

[freshen up]

Not sure west ham buying MF will fix this mess. 

Gonna spend a bunch paying off Potter probably 

[benjii]

1 minute ago, freshen up said:

Not sure west ham buying MF will fix this mess. 

Gonna spend a bunch paying off Potter probably 

Yes, I get a sense that Potter is dwelling in the quietism of despair. They need a freshen up.

[SaintJackoInHurworth]

If Fernandes leaves you have got to think it could be to somewhere other than West Ham. Rumours have already suggested that they are not prepared to get anywhere near our valuation, but with West Ham rapidly looking like a relegation struggler will Fernandes really want another season like that?

Of course, it maybe that the Chelsea thrashing will cause them to find another £10m behind Sullivan's sofa and Fernandes may be sufficiently convinced that he can help them to rise above that level, but it would be somewhat of a gamble for him in that sense.

It would also be a gamble for West Ham if they think they may need to change their manager with all the extra costs that would involve.

Nevertheless, some weeks ago Fernandes was linked with a move to one of several big European clubs and he seemed to prefer that option, so it remains to be seen if one of them finally makes a bid.

Edited August 22 by SaintJackoInHurworth
Add in comment about Potter's potential sacking

[Ex Lion Tamer]

When you think about the fire sale two years ago, this summer at least feels more orderly. Hopefully we can build from a position of strength now and bring in some good players

[Matthew Le God]

1 minute ago, Ex Lion Tamer said:

When you think about the fire sale two years ago, this summer at least feels more orderly. Hopefully we can build from a position of strength now and bring in some good players

It wasn't a fire sale. Fire sales are selling things along way below their worth. Saints raised a huge amount of money that summer.

Edited August 22 by Matthew Le God

[CB Fry]

We all know he's not coming but just to prove it more he's off to play another Russian Premier League match this weekend.

 

 

[Ex Lion Tamer]

19 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

It wasn't a fire sale. Fire sales are selling things along way below their worth. Saints raised a huge amount of money that summer.

You're picking me up on the precise use of language but my point was that we needed to raise a large sum and sell a large number of players to balance the books. It felt more challenging to get where we needed to be financially

Edited August 22 by Ex Lion Tamer

[Convict Colony]

9 hours ago, CB Fry said:

We all know he's not coming but just to prove it more he's off to play another Russian Premier League match this weekend.

 

 

[Patches O Houlihan]

8 hours ago, Ex Lion Tamer said:

... my point was that we needed to raise a large sum and sell a large number of players to balance the books. It felt more challenging to get where we needed to be financially

It was - The disparity between our Championship income for 23-24, and our established PL wage bill based on 12 seasons there will have been much bigger than it is this year where we still have players we signed in the  last Championship season.

[Danbert]

9 hours ago, Matthew Le God said:

It wasn't a fire sale. Fire sales are selling things along way below their worth. Saints raised a huge amount of money that summer.

He was using "fire sale" in an idiomatic footballing sense I think

[Weston Super Saint]

9 hours ago, CB Fry said:

We all know he's not coming but just to prove it more he's off to play another Russian Premier League match this weekend.

 

 

To be fair, a nasty injury during the game - ruptured something or other - and he'll be ours, all ours.

[Toussaint]

11 hours ago, goodymatt said:

He seems certain Fernandes will be sold.

I think so, but it needs to be someone way better than West Ham. I would have thought one of the Portuguese premier league managers may shown an interest, that’s assuming he stays in England. 

[Midfield_General]

10 hours ago, CB Fry said:

We all know he's not coming but just to prove it more he's off to play another Russian Premier League match this weekend.

 

 

In that top photo it looks like he's worn his full kit during the flight. 

Had no idea he was a full kit wanker. We don't need someone that unfashionable at the club.

Move on. 

 

Edited August 23 by Midfield_General

[AlexLaw76]

55 minutes ago, Toussaint said:

I think so, but it needs to be someone way better than West Ham. I would have thought one of the Portuguese premier league managers may shown an interest, that’s assuming he stays in England. 

Way better than West Ham? 
you sound like the Krasnodar owner

[Farmer Saint]

We don't HAVE to sell Fernandes if Dibling is out the door, so I think we'll be even more stringent sticking to our valuation of him.

[gio1saints]

16 minutes ago, Farmer Saint said:

We don't HAVE to sell Fernandes if Dibling is out the door, so I think we'll be even more stringent sticking to our valuation of him.

Agree that will bolster price resolve. A certain propensity to sell him exists at high level though. It has to in real life. 

It is also simultaneously contingent on how offers for our targets proceed. 
I’ve only heard of firm interest in attacking midfielders/wingers /10 - none of which really seem to match Mateus characteristics - so, if he is sold, then that’s a possible gap. This may undermine that propensity to sell as his engine, willingness to run and defend and tackle PLUS his strong attackIng characteristics are a special combo. That’s why he is an high value young player basically! Unsure any of the interesting names we’ve heard possess his package. 

 

Edited August 23 by gio1saints

[West end Saints]

43 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

Agree that will bolster price resolve. A certain propensity to sell him exists at high level though. It has to in real life. 

It is also simultaneously contingent on how offers for our targets proceed. 
I’ve only heard of firm interest in attacking midfielders/wingers /10 - none of which really seem to match Mateus characteristics - so, if he is sold, then that’s a possible gap. This may undermine that propensity to sell as his engine, willingness to run and defend and tackle PLUS his strong attackIng characteristics are a special combo. That’s why he is an high value young player basically! Unsure any of the interesting names we’ve heard possess his package. 

 

I accept a tackling attacking midfielder is unusual, but not knowing too much about these targets, from the little I know I would assume that the russian guy and Azaz are being looked at as replacements? And wouldn't be targets if we thought Fernandes is going to be in our starting 11 all season? I think both are probably too good not to be starting, and haven't seen suggestions for a starting 11 including them Plus MF, therefore I assumed he was off - if we are seriously after either of these two.

Edited August 23 by West end Saints

[BARCELONASAINT]

Its my firm belief we believed we had "our man" (the Armenian guy) he was stellar signing to make up for losing Dibling and Fernandez (obviously Fernandez might still be here come the close of the window). I think we have moved on to our 2nd, 3rd, 4th choice alternatives which unfortunately are unlikely to be of the same quality. It will be interesting to see if our stance on loan signings has changed if this is the case!

[Teamsaint1]

9 minutes ago, BARCELONASAINT said:

Its my firm belief we believed we had "our man" (the Armenian guy) he was stellar signing to make up for losing Dibling and Fernandez (obviously Fernandez might still be here come the close of the window). I think we have moved on to our 2nd, 3rd, 4th choice alternatives which unfortunately are unlikely to be of the same quality. It will be interesting to see if our stance on loan signings has changed if this is the case!

I bet if we were offered David Brooks on a season loan  at a sensible price we’d be happy to take him . Not that he is likely to be available , just as an example.

Edited August 23 by Teamsaint1

[gio1saints]

6 minutes ago, West end Saints said:

I accept a tackling attacking midfielder is unusual, but not knowing too much about these targets, from the little I know I would assume that the russian guy and Azaz are being looked at as replacements? And wouldn't be targets if we thought Fernandes is going to be in out starting 11 all season? I thought both are probably too good not to be starting, and haven't seen suggestions for a starting 11 including them Plus MF, therefore I assumed he was off.

Yes I think you are probably right and Mateus non attacking ability may have only been made more conspicuous by necessity last year! He is clearly - to me- our best #10. But he’s had to defend more than a #10 usually has to!

[Toadhall Saint]

14 minutes ago, West end Saints said:

I accept a tackling attacking midfielder is unusual, but not knowing too much about these targets, from the little I know I would assume that the russian guy and Azaz are being looked at as replacements? And wouldn't be targets if we thought Fernandes is going to be in out starting 11 all season? I thought both are probably too good not to be starting, and haven't seen suggestions for a starting 11 including them Plus MF, therefore I assumed he was off.

I think Azaz will be with us next week given the comments from Boro - just the fee to agree us the way I see it.

[egg]

36 minutes ago, Farmer Saint said:

We don't HAVE to sell Fernandes if Dibling is out the door, so I think we'll be even more stringent sticking to our valuation of him.

I think we do. The books are more unbalanced than a Russell Martin team selection.

I'm also not sure we particularly need him. That Azaz lad or Rudoni would offer no less at this level imo.

The only caveat is that selling without a replacement would be crazy, although I suspect we can do that now Dibling is gone. 

I'd expect a decent AM this week, then Fernandes gone. 

[lambtiss]

If Fernandes is leaving (I think he will) I hope he gets to go to a better side than West Ham seem to be at the moment. 

He gave everything last season in a hopeless side destined for relegation. I wish him well and hope he gets his next opportunity in a decent, competitive side.

[Matthew Le God]

13 minutes ago, egg said:

I think we do. The books are more unbalanced than a Russell Martin team selection.

What makes you think they are so unbalanced both need to be sold? Especially as we've already sold Amo-Ameyaw,  Onuachu, Bednarek and Sulemana. Plus £4m loan fee for Ramsdale, plus Aribo, Edozie, Bella-Kotchap and others will leave. Ontop of that players have 40% wage reductions and parachute payments covers a lot of the rest of the wage bill. So what outgoings do we have that need Fernandes to be sold?

Edited August 23 by Matthew Le God

[West end Saints]

So, appealing to those who know more about the options and have been following our rumours more than me...

Our priority target positions  and possible solutions are

A - a number 10, targets 1) russian 2) Azaz 3) Rudoni

B - a winger, targets   Fellows? - any others?

Is that about where we are?

Maybe back up keeper?

Any more?

 

Edited August 23 by West end Saints
Corrected by post below

[Matthew Le God]

1 minute ago, West end Saints said:

So, appealing to those who know more about the options and have been following our rumours more than me...

Our priority target positions  and possible solutions are

A - a number 10, targets 1) russian 2) Azaz 3) Rudoni

B - a winger, targets  Clarke? Fellows?

Is that about where we are?

I don't think there has been a Clarke rumour this summer

[gio1saints]

There are two decent attacking mf/wingers playing for stoke, probably relatively cheap (highly regarded Sth Korean winger/player and I think German origin mf) plus the goalie of course. We will get a chance to see them today. And if Will Smallbone  recovers it’s not impossible he’s involved in any deal..

[egg]

11 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

What makes you think they are so unbalanced both need to be sold? Especially as we've already sold Amo-Ameyaw,  Onuachu, Bednarek and Sulemana. Plus £4m loan fee for Ramsdale, plus Aribo, Edozie, Bella-Kotchap and others will leave. Ontop of that players have 40% wage reductions and parachute payments covers a lot of the rest of the wage bill. So what outgoings do we have that need Fernandes to be sold?

The accounts. I can't recall the detail, but we're massively short of where we need to be. The failed window really hurt us, and £4-5m here and there isn't enough to bring us bear balance. 

We need the money from Fernandes. 

Feel free to show me the numbers and tell me where I'm wrong. 

[Matthew Le God]

34 minutes ago, egg said:

The accounts. I can't recall the detail, but we're massively short of where we need to be. The failed window really hurt us, and £4-5m here and there isn't enough to bring us bear balance. 

We need the money from Fernandes. 

Feel free to show me the numbers and tell me where I'm wrong. 

We don't have accounts for 2024/25. There was no huge hole in the 2023/24 accounts, they made a £5.7m profit in the last accounts we have available!

https://share.google/blJDx1j34eI638QxT

Selling Dibling, Amo-Ameyaw, Onuachu, Bednarek and Sulemana. Plus £4m loan fee for Ramsdale, plus Aribo, Edozie, Bella-Kotchap and others will leave raises a lot of money.

Our outgoings on wages is now significantly smaller, with 40% reductions and the squad now smaller.

So where is the huge hold in the finances that requires a sale of Fernandes? 

Edited August 23 by Matthew Le God

[Saint NL]

We also need someone who can take a decent corner. Fernandes does them now and they're nearly always shite.

[Midfield_General]

23 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

plus Aribo, Edozie, Bella-Kotchap and others will leave

Oh cool. When's that happening then?

[Midfield_General]

32 minutes ago, lambtiss said:

If Fernandes is leaving (I think he will) I hope he gets to go to a better side than West Ham seem to be at the moment. 

He gave everything last season in a hopeless side destined for relegation. I wish him well and hope he gets his next opportunity in a decent, competitive side.

If I was Sullivan, after their terrible end to last season and absolute humiliation at home last night I'm not sure Fernandes at £50m+ would be the signing I'd be banking on to win the fans over. 

Their fans are going mental and want a marquee statement of intent. They are also less than impressed that acquiring a stream of players who have been relegated with us (JWP, KWP, potentially Fernandes) seems to imply a lack of ambition from their board. They also really don't like JWP, which obviously has no bearing at all on whether Fernandes is any good, but they just associate him as a failed signing from us for fairly big money which they don't want to repeat and football fan logic doesn't always make sense. 

If we stick to our guns pricing him at circa £50m I just can't see him going there. It's way too risky for them. 

Edited August 23 by Midfield_General

[Patches O Houlihan]

22 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

Oh cool. When's that happening then?

ABK already has - loan to Nantes.

Will Still as good as said Edozie and Aribo are off in the presser

[egg]

27 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

We don't have accounts for 2024/25. There was no huge hole in the 2023/24 accounts, they made a £5.7m profit in the last accounts we have available!

Selling Dibling, Amo-Ameyaw, Onuachu, Bednarek and Sulemana. Plus £4m loan fee for Ramsdale, plus Aribo, Edozie, Bella-Kotchap and others will leave raises a lot of money.

Our outgoings on wages is now significantly smaller, with 40% reductions and the squad now smaller.

So where is the huge hold in the finances that requires a sale of Fernandes? 

Year ended 30.6.24 - loss £66.6m

Year ended 30.6.23 - loss £49.2m

We will have lost money since then. 

Where's the surplus that means we don't have to sell? 

[gio1saints]

Agree with @Midfield_General here. I think having three players from a team associated with multiple relegations would be at least one too many for the Hammers fans to stomach.  
Fan opinion is very strong very vocal- and still relatively influential at West Ham.  I don’t think Mattie is going to do himself any favours going there. Get loadsamoney -yes-improve his career and International prospects? He spent a season with a struggling club last year in EPL how is a repeat going to do that? There’s better clubs out there for him * and he will still get paid well at Saints until they come knock on the SMS door I reckon. 
 

* Villa, Spurs or Palace for example. 

Edited August 23 by gio1saints

[Matthew Le God]

4 minutes ago, egg said:

Year ended 30.6.24 - loss £66.6m

Year ended 30.6.23 - loss £49.2m

We will have lost money since then. 

Where's the surplus that means we don't have to sell? 

The outgoings are now significantly smaller due to relegation wage reduction clauses and trimming of the squad.

We've already sold players for a lot of money this summer. Dibling, Amo-Ameyaw, Onuachu, Bednarek and Sulemana. Plus £4m loan fee for Ramsdale. Others will go on top of that.

The last accounts available had a £5.7m profit.

https://share.google/blJDx1j34eI638QxT

Edited August 23 by Matthew Le God

[Midfield_General]

10 minutes ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

ABK already has - loan to Nantes.

Will Still as good as said Edozie and Aribo are off in the presser

ABK hasn't actually gone yet. 'A deal is reported to have been struck', so it's promising, but we've been here before with him. Similarly with Edozie and Aribo, there's obviously some proper interest but nothing is signed yet. 

Hopefully they will all go asap this week. 

Edited August 23 by Midfield_General

[egg]

1 minute ago, Matthew Le God said:

The outgoings are now significantly smaller due to relegation wage reduction clauses and trimming of the squad. We've already sold players for a lot of money this summer. The last accounts available had a £5.7m profit.

https://share.google/blJDx1j34eI638QxT

£67m net spend in the 24/25 season, after losses as below, with inevitable as yet unreported trading losses, and you seriously don't appreciate that we need to sell. We do and we will.

Year ended 30.6.24 - loss £66.6m

Year ended 30.6.23 - loss £49.2m

[Convict Colony]

Well it seems speyts is out i'd guess unless the president is crossing every finger possible someone else bigger comes in before deadline day other wise he sells to us.

But in the mean time are there any other under valued gems out there or who arent in trendy leagues who have goals and assists to play attacking midfielder for us ?

This is your time to shine footie manager dudes !!

Forgot to add i am current in Samara, following Krasnador around and just waiting for the president to be alone to hand over some cash for him, i will make it happen.

Edited August 23 by Convict Colony

[Wsaint]

2 hours ago, Midfield_General said:

In that top photo it looks like he's worn his full kit during the flight. 

Had no idea he was a full kit wanker. We don't need someone that unfashionable at the club.

Move on. 

 

Absolute pony son in law, no place for that sort of character in our squad...

[Willo of Whiteley]

People need to move on from Spertsyan now

[Matthew Le God]

13 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

People need to move on from Spertsyan now

Or... just wait and see what happens. As none of really know what has been going on.

[Convict Colony]

27 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

People need to move on from Spertsyan now

1 week left amigo, we dare to dream

[Danbert]

1 hour ago, Matthew Le God said:

The outgoings are now significantly smaller due to relegation wage reduction clauses and trimming of the squad.

We've already sold players for a lot of money this summer. Dibling, Amo-Ameyaw, Onuachu, Bednarek and Sulemana. Plus £4m loan fee for Ramsdale. Others will go on top of that.

The last accounts available had a £5.7m profit.

https://share.google/blJDx1j34eI638QxT

https://eflanalysis.com/news/southampton-sent-financial-warning-amid-tyler-dibling-exit-talks-with-sales-necessary-verdict/

 

"In 2023-24, which is the last full financial year for which the data has been published, Southampton’s wage bill was £80m.

“That was a Championship season, albeit one they were in receipt of parachute payments, which meant their overall revenue was £85m.

“They also had nearly £40m of other expenses, plus amortisation costs of £51m. So at the operating level, they were losing a lot of money. They swung back to a profit because of the huge profit on player sales they made."

“2025-26 is a mirror image of that season, i.e. their first back in the Championship after relegation.

“Now, we don’t have the accounts for 2024-25, so we don’t know what the wage bill is, but we can safely assume that costs are going to massively outstrip revenue once again.

“Yes, they have parachute payments, but they will still be generating an operating loss, so sales are necessary both in terms of PSR and to fund the club’s day-to-day operations.

“That’s the simple answer. You can’t have a Premier League wage bill and a Premier League squad in the Championship when your revenue, even with parachute payments, has been cut in half overnight.”

 

[Matthew Le God]

13 minutes ago, Danbert said:

https://eflanalysis.com/news/southampton-sent-financial-warning-amid-tyler-dibling-exit-talks-with-sales-necessary-verdict/

 

"In 2023-24, which is the last full financial year for which the data has been published, Southampton’s wage bill was £80m.

“That was a Championship season, albeit one they were in receipt of parachute payments, which meant their overall revenue was £85m.

“They also had nearly £40m of other expenses, plus amortisation costs of £51m. So at the operating level, they were losing a lot of money. They swung back to a profit because of the huge profit on player sales they made."

“2025-26 is a mirror image of that season, i.e. their first back in the Championship after relegation.

“Now, we don’t have the accounts for 2024-25, so we don’t know what the wage bill is, but we can safely assume that costs are going to massively outstrip revenue once again.

“Yes, they have parachute payments, but they will still be generating an operating loss, so sales are necessary both in terms of PSR and to fund the club’s day-to-day operations.

“That’s the simple answer. You can’t have a Premier League wage bill and a Premier League squad in the Championship when your revenue, even with parachute payments, has been cut in half overnight.”

 

They haven't taken into account the significant wage reduction clauses of circa 40%.

[Harry_SFC]

15 minutes ago, Danbert said:

https://eflanalysis.com/news/southampton-sent-financial-warning-amid-tyler-dibling-exit-talks-with-sales-necessary-verdict/

 

"In 2023-24, which is the last full financial year for which the data has been published, Southampton’s wage bill was £80m.

“That was a Championship season, albeit one they were in receipt of parachute payments, which meant their overall revenue was £85m.

“They also had nearly £40m of other expenses, plus amortisation costs of £51m. So at the operating level, they were losing a lot of money. They swung back to a profit because of the huge profit on player sales they made."

“2025-26 is a mirror image of that season, i.e. their first back in the Championship after relegation.

“Now, we don’t have the accounts for 2024-25, so we don’t know what the wage bill is, but we can safely assume that costs are going to massively outstrip revenue once again.

“Yes, they have parachute payments, but they will still be generating an operating loss, so sales are necessary both in terms of PSR and to fund the club’s day-to-day operations.

“That’s the simple answer. You can’t have a Premier League wage bill and a Premier League squad in the Championship when your revenue, even with parachute payments, has been cut in half overnight.”

 

I'm fairly sure our wage bill will be a fair bit lower this time around.