Summer Transfer Window 2025/26

[lambtiss]

3 minutes ago, saintant said:

Yeah, I just get the feeling they could develop into a decent pair. Archer is nothing without a partner from what I've seen. Could play them a bit like we did Adams and Armstrong. A lot will depend on Stewart being able to stay fit so, assuming we don't sign another centre forward, it'll be a gamble unless Downs makes rapid progress.

That's our biggest vulnerability in my opinion (apart from goalkeeper). 

Stewart looks to have the ability but cannot be relied upon at all. Downs just doesn't look ready.

 

 

Edited yesterday at 11:48 by lambtiss

[DT]

I think the ins and outs are pretty good business today if they all come off.

Got a feeling Russell Martin will be reunited with his love, Downes, before the window 'slams' shut and that wouldn't be a tragedy. Really like the look of Sesay so far, and the new German sounds okay.

But we do need a better keeper. Can't quite see the reasoning behind Long, and Bazanu is still not right. Also, we need to ship out Armstrong as he is atrocious. We need a good striker to latch onto the more creative midfield we seem to be assembling for the Champ. Dibling and Fernandes were always going to go and we got good money for them so plaudits where due.

[Chez]

2 minutes ago, Sir Ralph said:

If they do sign him it seems like he would be a back up winger behind Robinson and Fellows possibly? If he has a good work rate you can understand why Still would want him with the high pressing game but at a lesser cost.

Does BBD and/or Armstrong need to depart for us to sign another winger?

[Saint Scott]

24 minutes ago, Convict Colony said:

I no longer wish him well - confirmed by alfie

"Matty fernandes travelled to West Ham without Southamptons permission yesterday. 

Club contacted West Ham, West Ham denied it, although saints had seen photos of him at the training ground."

Edited yesterday at 11:55 by Saint Scott

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

3 minutes ago, saintant said:

Yeah, I just get the feeling they could develop into a decent pair. Archer is nothing without a partner from what I've seen. Could play them a bit like we did Adams and Armstrong. A lot will depend on Stewart being able to stay fit so, assuming we don't sign another centre forward, it'll be a gamble unless Downs makes rapid progress.

I'm hoping Archer and Stewart can do well together too. I would like to see them closer together than they were at Norwich but given who we've signed today, they won't have to go chasing balls out wide anymore and instead can work on the distribution coming to them.

[TheSoundman]

2 minutes ago, DT said:

I think the ins and outs are pretty good business today if they all come off.

Got a feeling Russell Martin will be reunited with his love, Downes, before the window 'slams' shut and that wouldn't be a tragedy. Really like the look of Sesay so far, and the new German sounds okay.

But we do need a better keeper. Can't quite see the reasoning behind Long, and Bazanu is still not right. Also, we need to ship out Armstrong as he is atrocious. We need a good striker to latch onto the more creative midfield we seem to be assembling for the Champ. Dibling and Fernandes were always going to go and we got good money for them so plaudits where due.

Can't see the Rangers board backing him with that sort of money, £15m plus. No Europe income either.  His days are numbered anyway, I expect they're already sounding out replacements. Anyway, that's for another thread (my bad).

[Sir Ralph]

1 minute ago, Chez said:

Does BBD and/or Armstrong need to depart for us to sign another winger?

BBD needs to go regardless. Suppose it depends how Still wants to play. If you want 'proper' wingers to supply the forwards I dont think Armstrong is that. I suspect he will change formation over the season but we will only have two out and out wingers - Fellows and Robinson - so I could understand getting one more to cover absences

[Chez]

2 minutes ago, lambtiss said:

That's our biggest vulnerability in my opinion (apart from goalkeeper). 

Stewart looks to have the ability but cannot be relied upon at all. Downs just doesn't look ready.

at some point Stewart's injury problems are going to be in the past. He looks fit and ready to go now. Downs must have shown something more than we have seen so far. A little more patience with both maybe?

[saintant]

1 hour ago, TheSoundman said:

I'm not sure how much of an improvement we're getting on quality with all these ins and outs (although I hope at least some).

BUT, we've had a shit defeatist attitude for several seasons and a shit system drilled into the players by RM. The more players with that scar tissue we can ship out and replace with new ones the better.

My feeling is that this is a proper rebuild to get us a team to play under Will Still. It is starting to really take shape if the reported deals get done. Far better to develop a team that fits together than what we had last year which was two stars in Fernandes and Dibling (the latter of which did little for the team) and the rest were just a mix of generally poor players. This feels like we are resetting and heading in the right direction - that's my hope anyway.

[stfrancisofbenali]

17 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

Signing a player based on seeing one game isn't a good idea

It was the only time I'd seen him live (before Stoke last weekend) and he was as good as everyone said he was.

[Chez]

1 minute ago, Sir Ralph said:

BBD needs to go regardless. Suppose it depends how Still wants to play. If you want 'proper' wingers to supply the forwards I dont think Armstrong is that. I suspect he will change formation over the season but we will only have two out and out wingers - Fellows and Robinson - so I could understand getting one more to cover absences

Agreed. BBD to go. Armstrong possibly to stay, so we have four strikers. Seems a lot, but with al th4e sibs you can do these days, maybe not.

Is Fraser not seen as an out and out winger? All he ever used to do was make runs straight down the line and cross the ball. Or does Still want wingers that come inside and shoot - which is the norm these days? 

[Sir Ralph]

Just now, Chez said:

Agreed. BBD to go. Armstrong possibly to stay, so we have four strikers. Seems a lot, but with al th4e sibs you can do these days, maybe not.

Is Fraser not seen as an out and out winger? All he ever used to do was make runs straight down the line and cross the ball. Or does Still want wingers that come inside and shoot - which is the norm these days? 

True - forgot about him. On that basis maybe the Lens guy isn’t needed. It does appear that Still might see Fraser as more of a central midfielder particularly with age?

[saintant]

1 hour ago, Turkish said:

that cant be true

Nah, did he break his leg in training yesterday 🙂

[goodymatt]

11 minutes ago, Chez said:

Where'd he get that Jander fee from? 

Think it was reported as €12m over in Germany.

[Chez]

5 minutes ago, TheSoundman said:

Can't see the Rangers board backing him with that sort of money, £15m plus. No Europe income either.  His days are numbered anyway, I expect they're already sounding out replacements. Anyway, that's for another thread (my bad).

They have spent about that in total this summer. £15m is beyond them. Would we sell for £10m if we had a good replacement? It's not going to happen.

[Danbert]

7 minutes ago, Sir Ralph said:

BBD needs to go regardless. Suppose it depends how Still wants to play. If you want 'proper' wingers to supply the forwards I dont think Armstrong is that. I suspect he will change formation over the season but we will only have two out and out wingers - Fellows and Robinson - so I could understand getting one more to cover absences

And Fraser, surely 

[Sir Ralph]

Just now, Danbert said:

And Fraser, surely 

Agreed 

[Hopper]

Get Scienza over the line and it's a great reshape up top for me.

[Chez]

2 minutes ago, goodymatt said:

Think it was reported as €12m over in Germany.

Cheers. That would be 13th biggest fee ever paid for a Bundesliga 2 player.

[saintant]

39 minutes ago, HarvSFC said:

Bazunu

Roerslev - Harwood-Bellis - Stephens - Manning

Charles - Downes (Jander could take Downes' position)

Fellows - Azaz - Robinson

Archer (Hopefully Azaz and Fellows can bring him into the game more than the current lot)

Isn't a bad team at all. Toss up between Archer and Stewart for the striker. Stewart provides more in open play, but Archer provides more goals if given a chance.

Then you've got Fraser, Stewart, Armstrong, Downs and Matsuki as attacking depth and we all know about the plethora of centre-backs. Bree and Taylor also fine backup options for this level.

 

Archer up front on his own is not going to work from what I've seen.

[Chez]

1 minute ago, Hopper said:

Get Scienza over the line and it's a great reshape up top for me.

do like how the three players all enjoy having the ball, Jander especially. Scienza is another. Players that dribble and draw players to them - Lallana/Dibling types. We have had far too many players that can only pass first time. A bit more flair is needed. Hopefully we are getting that. Excitement...at last.

[goodymatt]

4 minutes ago, Chez said:

Cheers. That would be 13th biggest fee ever paid for a Bundesliga 2 player.

He does seem to have a good reputation and plays for the German u21s. You’d think that fee will be inclusive of add ons. I’m sure that we will see the figures reported by UK journalists soon.

[Dman]

1 minute ago, saintant said:

Archer up front on his own is not going to work from what I've seen.

We've never seen him with a bit of quality in behind him though. We finally have that. 

[BARCELONASAINT]

Now i'm starting to feel a bit optimistic about the season. If all the current deals go through i think we will be in a good place. If i'm being greedy i would love to see a striker come in and i mean one that is proven at this level and WANTS to be here.

Very disappointed to lose MF but if there is any truth to the rumour he travelled to West Ham without Saints permission then all respect for him has totally gone!

[Matthew Le God]

1 minute ago, saintant said:

Archer up front on his own is not going to work from what I've seen.

Have we seen him there in a 4231? With three attacking players supporting him (Fellow, Azaz & Robinson) he'd have more support than in some of the other systems we've used.  Especially if Finn Azaz is close by in the number 10 role.

[beatlesaint]

3 minutes ago, saintant said:

Archer up front on his own is not going to work from what I've seen.

Agreed. I thought he looked a different player in a 2 with Stewart the other night.

[Patrick Bateman]

Just now, beatlesaint said:

Agreed. I thought he looked a different player in a 2 with Stewart the other night.

He did, I thought they looked a comfortable front 2

[EBS1980]

1 hour ago, Saint Scott said:

The media team have got their work cut out in the Arcade today

It’s it’s not a night version and references to ghosts for Casper Jander I’ll be disappointed 

[gecko]

41 minutes ago, coalman said:

So used to getting our fifth desperation choice(s) over the line at the 11th hour after a string of public links. Soertysan aside, this is all very unSaintsy.

Careful, or this will be hailed as another "10/10 window" - we're only just shifting the last of the previous 10/10 purchases

[Harry_SFC]

6 minutes ago, beatlesaint said:

Agreed. I thought he looked a different player in a 2 with Stewart the other night.

Problem is it's hard to play 2 up top without playing 3/5 at the back. 4-4-2 leaves you very exposed in the middle. 

[saintant]

39 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

I don't think we'll sign another centre back. We have five good enough for the Championship (after a promotion, it wouldn't be). That is when additions will be needed.

Signing a player based on seeing one game isn't a good idea.

Was there no other footage of him in action available? - asking for a friend.

[davefizzy14]

Jander sounds hugely exciting. Got a lot of positive reports on him. Obviously getting deals done for Azaz and Fellows is quality.

[Matthew Le God]

2 minutes ago, saintant said:

Was there no other footage of him in action available? - asking for a friend.

Read it in the context of what my post was replying to.

[Doctoroncall]

21 minutes ago, Chez said:

Agreed. BBD to go. Armstrong possibly to stay, so we have four strikers. Seems a lot, but with al th4e sibs you can do these days, maybe not.

Is Fraser not seen as an out and out winger? All he ever used to do was make runs straight down the line and cross the ball. Or does Still want wingers that come inside and shoot - which is the norm these days? 

Combination so it keeps defenders guessing and different ways to play. 
 

Fraser has been a bright spark so far in a testing start to the season. It would be odd to see him go unless it’s a wage saving situation. 

[HarvSFC]

15 minutes ago, saintant said:

Archer up front on his own is not going to work from what I've seen.

Agree with this. I just don't know who drops out of the 11 to accommodate two up top. So, the hope is that Azaz and Archer can build up a link. Azaz playing through balls through to Archer, etc and a bit more end ball quality on the right in Fellows could also help. For Dibling's talents, he wasn't the best creator.

[Crouchie's Lawyer]

I personally think Downs will come good. He can clearly finish looking at his goal in pre season. I know he has missed a couple of 'sitters' but every striker has that in them. He was just unfortunate that two came in quick succession right at the start of his career with us. The first "assist" miss for Stephens goal was a ball which was drilled in so not the easiest and it still went in anyway so I am not bothered about that one. The other one was worse but if you have been watching him, he is making some good runs along the defensive line which have just been ignored. I've seem him do that 3-4 times and been yelling at the TV to play the ball through the defensive line for his run but they never did. Better players behind him who will make that kind of pass could play to his strengths. He made a decent pass to BBDonkey on Tuesday night too which should have been an assist if it arrived to anyone else too. He has only played a handful of games and is in a new team, new system and getting acclimatised to new surroundings. I'll reserve judgement of him until the end of the season but looking at those runs he has been making, I do think he will come good with better service.

 

Yes, I'd love a new number 9 who is a beast and hits the ground running but you either pay an arm and a leg for those and they would normally be in the Prem anyway or you risk it with someone who has done it abroad in the hope they do it here (Tall Paul anyone). I don't see us trying for a new number 9 unless BBD and Arma both go. Even then that would leave us with Archer, Loch Ness Drogba and Downs who could all play there so a fourth could be deemed overkill.

[Matthew Le God]

This'll be interesting...

 

[HarvSFC]

Just seen that Rangers have agreed a deal for Bojan Miovski, remember him? And are looking to get Chermiti on loan from Everton. So, doesn't look like there will be any potential reunions.

[Farmer Saint]

31 minutes ago, Chez said:

Cheers. That would be 13th biggest fee ever paid for a Bundesliga 2 player.

Fucking stat!

[saintant]

23 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

Have we seen him there in a 4231? With three attacking players supporting him (Fellow, Azaz & Robinson) he'd have more support than in some of the other systems we've used.  Especially if Finn Azaz is close by in the number 10 role.

Fair point.

[ant]

If all of these transfers come off (and it's sounding strangely promising!) we alone will have seen a pretty huge turnover of playing staff since the Wrexham match - let alone the rest of the clubs in the division.

It's becoming ever more ridiculous that the window shuts over 3 weeks into the season.

[Verbal]

50 minutes ago, TheSoundman said:

Can't see the Rangers board backing him with that sort of money, £15m plus. No Europe income either.  His days are numbered anyway, I expect they're already sounding out replacements. Anyway, that's for another thread (my bad).

No, do go on. Schadenfreude is best enjoyed across several threads.

[Osvaldorama]

Sounds like Still has very little input into the transfer dealings at all from that press conference 

[Bakovnetski]

https://www.footballinsider247.com/exclusive-psv-make-move-to-sign-southamptons-cameron-archer/

PSV in for Archer

[suewhistle]

55 minutes ago, DT said:

Can't quite see the reasoning behind Long,

I think it could be that our existing third keeper is a youngster and that we'd rather have him getting actual game time rather than sitting on the bench if/when one of the first two choices is injured.

[Matthew Le God]

1 minute ago, Osvaldorama said:

Sounds like Still has very little input into the transfer dealings at all from that press conference 

He won't be negotiating them, but he'll be involved in the selection of targets.

[LordHester]

Just now, Matthew Le God said:

He won't be negotiating them, but he'll be involved in the selection of targets.

Plus playing down his involvement is a useful way of deflecting questions in press conferences.

[Saint NL]

2 minutes ago, Bakovnetski said:

https://www.footballinsider247.com/exclusive-psv-make-move-to-sign-southamptons-cameron-archer/

PSV in for Archer

I did NOT see that coming 😂

 

[Chez]

3 minutes ago, Osvaldorama said:

Sounds like Still has very little input into the transfer dealings at all from that press conference 

Agreed. He's the head coach and works with what is given to him. He'll have some input into the attributes of players he wants, how much beyond that, I'm not sure. Pretty normal these days. 

[Turkish]

14 minutes ago, Farmer Saint said:

Fucking stat!

Up there with our 3rd biggest transfer fee ever to a French league 2 club. Owned by us.