Summer Transfer Window 2025/26

[SWLondon Saint]

59 minutes ago, Turkish said:

How do you know they have a higher ceiling? For every young, hungry, guaranteed to improver that does indeed improve there are 10 that dont. We've gambled on two of them already this window, they might go onto both be great but there is every chance they also might not. In the words of Dave Merrington what Saints dont want to do is have a squad full of them.

Well, we don't know what Fellows ceiling is, but no PL club has decided to take a punt yet, which says they don't think so, and if his price really is £15m+ he would be one of the most expensive in-Championship transfers which shows a great deal of confidence he is PL quality.

No-one is suggesting we go in with a squad full of unknown gambles, but the fact is we already have a bunch of 'established and proven' championship level quality players. So it probably does make sense for us to be a bit riskier.

[S-Clarke]

1 hour ago, hypochondriac said:

You need a mix for my money. What we need either way are some new players. Some of the so called proven Championship players we have are in my view irretrievably tainted by last year. The likes of BBD and Armstrong probably don't want to be here. 

Yeah this is how I see it too, I don't have a problem with signing these up and coming unproven kids, but they've got to be backed up with some established players too.

We did that last time out in the Champ in the form of loans, so we can do it. Charles for £12m and then Downes on loan for e.g is the exact balance we should be aiming for.

Where we got it wrong was in the 22/23 window under Ralph. We just went too far with unproven kids, neglecting the need for quality established players around them (I can't count AMN as a quality established player). And for all that splurge, we got 1 good player out of it (Lavia) who was sold anyway shortly after as we were relegated. All rather pointless.

[Saint_lambden]

As per I said on here a couple of weeks ago, Jack Rosser confirming that we may shift on Smallbone and Aribo has interest too. 

Romeu has still been training with Barcelona even though he's not in their plans so doubt the story about him being at our training ground this week. Sounds like when he visited in Girona a few weeks ago he chatted with Spors, Bitcon and Still very informally about his next move but nothing more as he was waiting on his contract situation with Barca to be resolved. 

Asked my POC about Fellows - there's still an interest in him even since Martin left but nothing formal at this stage. Would likely cost around £20m mark. 

Number 10 still a priority, then x2 wingers and a central midfielder (or two depending on outgoings of WS/JA) and a 3rd senior GK to compete with Bazunu. 

[hypochondriac]

4 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

Yeah this is how I see it too, I don't have a problem with signing these up and coming unproven kids, but they've got to be backed up with some established players too.

We did that last time out in the Champ in the form of loans, so we can do it. Charles for £12m and then Downes on loan for e.g is the exact balance we should be aiming for.

Where we got it wrong was in the 22/23 window under Ralph. We just went too far with unproven kids, neglecting the need for quality established players around them (I can't count AMN as a quality established player). And for all that splurge, we got 1 good player out of it (Lavia) who was sold anyway shortly after as we were relegated. All rather pointless.

Yep. Maybe someone like Fellows and theb a more established prem player on loan like Brooks would be good. 

[DT]

11 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

No one has said that at all. We don't know the plans, we don't even know if he's linked, it's just an opinion based on past windows that we prefer young/unproven, rather than the big fee established ones.

I don't think they've even bid, so it's a bit far to suggest they're baulking at paying it based on zero evidence that we're actually interested. It's all hypothetical.

Hence my use of the word 'if'

[hypochondriac]

4 minutes ago, Saint_lambden said:

As per I said on here a couple of weeks ago, Jack Rosser confirming that we may shift on Smallbone and Aribo has interest too. 

Romeu has still been training with Barcelona even though he's not in their plans so doubt the story about him being at our training ground this week. Sounds like when he visited in Girona a few weeks ago he chatted with Spors, Bitcon and Still very informally about his next move but nothing more as he was waiting on his contract situation with Barca to be resolved. 

Asked my POC about Fellows - there's still an interest in him even since Martin left but nothing formal at this stage. Would likely cost around £20m mark. 

Number 10 still a priority, then x2 wingers and a central midfielder (or two depending on outgoings of WS/JA) and a 3rd senior GK to compete with Bazunu. 

Music to my ears if true. 

[hypochondriac]

Also if true that aligns with what I'd like us to get in. Four midfielders and a GK is exactly what we need as we don't need any more strikers or defenders. 

[S-Clarke]

6 minutes ago, Saint_lambden said:

As per I said on here a couple of weeks ago, Jack Rosser confirming that we may shift on Smallbone and Aribo has interest too. 

Romeu has still been training with Barcelona even though he's not in their plans so doubt the story about him being at our training ground this week. Sounds like when he visited in Girona a few weeks ago he chatted with Spors, Bitcon and Still very informally about his next move but nothing more as he was waiting on his contract situation with Barca to be resolved. 

Asked my POC about Fellows - there's still an interest in him even since Martin left but nothing formal at this stage. Would likely cost around £20m mark. 

Number 10 still a priority, then x2 wingers and a central midfielder (or two depending on outgoings of WS/JA) and a 3rd senior GK to compete with Bazunu. 

That all sounds great. All very quiet on the Fernandes front in terms of 'specific' interest though, do the club have expectations that he will stay - and if he does, will they then go for 2x 10's do you think?

All the noise at the moment is around Dibling, no much around Mateus.

[hypochondriac]

2 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

That all sounds great. All very quiet on the Fernandes front in terms of 'specific' interest though, do the club have expectations that he will stay - and if he does, will they then go for 2x 10's do you think?

All the noise at the moment is around Dibling, no much around Mateus.

If Fernandes and Aribo go then that would be inevitable surely? Probably at least one as a loan. 

[Gloucester Saint]

5 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Also if true that aligns with what I'd like us to get in. Four midfielders and a GK is exactly what we need as we don't need any more strikers or defenders. 

CM who is first team ready makes sense to rotate over 46 games as Charles and Downes will get bookings and injuries. Aribo very likely to move still and increasingly Smallbone. At his age he needs/wants to be starting and a mid-level to lower Champ club is his best route. He can’t play in a two for a promotion-chasing outfit, we know that, and he’d be back up to at least one #10 signing even in a three. He won’t be allowed to run his last 12 months down either if the club can help it and no sign he’s been offered a new deal.

Edited 19 hours ago by Gloucester Saint

[S-Clarke]

2 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

CM who is first team ready makes sense to rotate over 46 games as Charles and Downes will get bookings and injuries. Aribo very likely to move still and increasingly Smallbone. At his age he needs/wants to be starting and a mid-level to lower Champ club is his best route. He can’t play in a two for a promotion-chasing outfit, we know that, and he’d be back up to at least one #10 signing even in a three. He won’t be allowed to run his last 12 months down either if the club can help it and no sign he’s been offered a new deal.

Early days, but at least it seems we don't have a club/manager/coaches blowing smoke up mediocre players arses anymore.

Jack Stephens the only blot, but Still wasn't overly committing on Bazunu and with the news that Smallbone may be off it is suggesting the club are looking deeper than has been before.

I hope so anyway. There's so much to do and only a few weeks.

[Rebel]

That will be Matt Ryan as competition for Bazunu then.

Even if we kept one or both of Aribo and Smallbone we still need defensive midfield cover for Downes and Charles - Jon Varane at QPR would be my pick for a player who is Championship hardened. 

But I am guessing we need to get rid of at least one of Aribo or Smallbone and their wages first before signing another midfielder. 

 

 

 

[gio1saints]

I think Sesay and hope possibly Sanda will play this season - certainly cup games - but depending on injuries and suspensions league games also.

Sesay has done very well in preseason and he may be a surprise starter v Wrexham if Flynn is not quite ready. I’m delighted we have two 18 year olds that able to play. 

If Will and Joe and Mateus leave ( all possibles) certainly in short term Sesay is going to get minutes and I hope he does- and thrives. It’s not inconceivable that Sanda is tried as a DCM also. 

[Toussaint]

I haven't read all of the above posts so don't know if this is new info, Echo reporting ...   Dibling training away from squad with exit talks ongoing

[saintant]

47 minutes ago, Saint_lambden said:

As per I said on here a couple of weeks ago, Jack Rosser confirming that we may shift on Smallbone and Aribo has interest too. 

Romeu has still been training with Barcelona even though he's not in their plans so doubt the story about him being at our training ground this week. Sounds like when he visited in Girona a few weeks ago he chatted with Spors, Bitcon and Still very informally about his next move but nothing more as he was waiting on his contract situation with Barca to be resolved. 

Asked my POC about Fellows - there's still an interest in him even since Martin left but nothing formal at this stage. Would likely cost around £20m mark. 

Number 10 still a priority, then x2 wingers and a central midfielder (or two depending on outgoings of WS/JA) and a 3rd senior GK to compete with Bazunu. 

No way is any Championship club going to stump up £20m for Fellows.

[chownie20]

25 minutes ago, saintant said:

No way is any Championship club going to stump up £20m for Fellows.

It's like paying £20m for Harwood Bellis, Jack Clarke, Jacob Greaves, Philogene - all championship players and great if you want to yo-yo, but £20m on players like that is probably just a demonstration of having zero scouting network beyond the sides you've come across.

[SWLondon Saint]

13 minutes ago, chownie20 said:

It's like paying £20m for Harwood Bellis, Jack Clarke, Jacob Greaves, Philogene - all championship players and great if you want to yo-yo, but £20m on players like that is probably just a demonstration of having zero scouting network beyond the sides you've come across.

This kind of ties in with what I was saying - £15m to £20m is a absolute ton of money in the championship and you're paying it for an 'established championship player' so the price is massively inflated.

[hypochondriac]

50 minutes ago, saintant said:

No way is any Championship club going to stump up £20m for Fellows.

Didn't Ipswich agree 20 million for Hackney?

[Graziano94]

Rumoured Saints target Idrissa Gueye on his way to West Ham for €15m

[revolution saint]

7 minutes ago, Graziano94 said:

Rumoured Saints target Idrissa Gueye on his way to West Ham for €15m

Another one we probably looked at before deciding on Downs.  I guess that's a relatively inexpensive punt for a premier league club but still feels a bit over priced - only really played in League 2 in France since January.

[Willo of Whiteley]

Tom Fellows didn’t look all that in the games we played against West Brom two years ago 😅

He’ll fit right in

[Give it to Ron]

16 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

Tom Fellows didn’t look all that in the games we played against West Brom two years ago 😅

He’ll fit right in

So you are basing an opinion based on 2 games we were really good in? Yeah he’s crap then!

[ally_uk]

So say if we sold Dibs for 40 million+ and are reluctant to splash 20 million on Fellows or a similar player, what is the actual point of trying to compete..... 

[beatlesaint]

3 minutes ago, ally_uk said:

So say if we sold Dibs for 40 million+ and are reluctant to splash 20 million on Fellows or a similar player, what is the actual point of trying to compete..... 

they can’t be naive enough to not realise if clubs know you have money then the price isn’t coming down too often. Can they?

[hypochondriac]

8 minutes ago, ally_uk said:

So say if we sold Dibs for 40 million+ and are reluctant to splash 20 million on Fellows or a similar player, what is the actual point of trying to compete..... 

Why dont we discuss that possibility when it actually happens?

[Doctoroncall]

2 hours ago, Saint_lambden said:

As per I said on here a couple of weeks ago, Jack Rosser confirming that we may shift on Smallbone and Aribo has interest too. 

Romeu has still been training with Barcelona even though he's not in their plans so doubt the story about him being at our training ground this week. Sounds like when he visited in Girona a few weeks ago he chatted with Spors, Bitcon and Still very informally about his next move but nothing more as he was waiting on his contract situation with Barca to be resolved. 

Asked my POC about Fellows - there's still an interest in him even since Martin left but nothing formal at this stage. Would likely cost around £20m mark. 

Number 10 still a priority, then x2 wingers and a central midfielder (or two depending on outgoings of WS/JA) and a 3rd senior GK to compete with Bazunu. 

That’s a nice plan. Just need to see if SR actually succeed and the players brought in are more Fernandes than Airbo.

[vectraman]

28 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Why dont we discuss that possibility when it actually happens?

As Everton have signed Dewsbury-hall from Chelsea for ~£24 million that may not now happen I’m guessing?

[Matthew Le God]

4 minutes ago, vectraman said:

As Everton have signed Dewsbury-hall from Chelsea for ~£24 million that may not now happen I’m guessing?

They do not play in the same role/position. It isn't one or the other, they want both.

[Willo of Whiteley]

1 hour ago, Give it to Ron said:

So you are basing an opinion based on 2 games we were really good in? Yeah he’s crap then!

I’m also basing it on the fact that 99% of the fan base said how average our defence was two years ago, how many goals we conceded and how we didn’t sign good enough players for the Premier League.

If he couldn’t hack it playing against us four times that season then what benefit is he? Has he kicked on since then? Especially if we’re looking to go up again, surely we want better players?

[Willo of Whiteley]

13 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

They do not play in the same role/position. It isn't one or the other, they want both.

Unfortunately, they might not be able to spend the same amount or more money for every position.

Hope this helps.

[hypochondriac]

Just now, Willo of Whiteley said:

I’m also basing it on the fact that 99% of the fan base said how average our defence was two years ago, how many goals we conceded and how we didn’t sign good enough players for the Premier League.

If he couldn’t hack it playing against us four times that season then what benefit is he? Has he kicked on since then? Especially if we’re looking to go up again, surely we want better players?

The stats would suggest yes. What would you suggest? Premier league players aren't going to sign for a championship team. 

[Willo of Whiteley]

I’m purely suggesting that if we want to be going for promotion then we need to be targeting the better players, or certainly ones that are capable of making the step up 😄

[hypochondriac]

4 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

I’m purely suggesting that if we want to be going for promotion then we need to be targeting the better players, or certainly ones that are capable of making the step up 😄

I would say there aren't many other realistic names playing for other Championship teams that would be better suited to making the step up. 

[wild-saint]

17 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

I would say there aren't many other realistic names playing for other Championship teams that would be better suited to making the step up. 

Hamer at Shef United? 

[hypochondriac]

2 minutes ago, wild-saint said:

Hamer at Shef United? 

Agreed but the chances of united selling to a direct rival? 

[Golac's Cunning Stunts]

5 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Agreed but the chances of united selling to a direct rival? 

not happening and not much incentive for the player to go either

On another note, Dibling has just liked an EFC related Instagram post about them getting Grealish on loan. Why do players about to leave their club do that?

Edited 15 hours ago by Golac's Cunning Stunts

[Disco Stu]

9 minutes ago, Golac's Cunning Stunts said:

not happening and not much incentive for the player to go either

On another note, Dibling has just liked an EFC related Instagram post about them getting Grealish on loan. Why do players about to leave their club do that?

I always assumed he was a Grealish fanboy given the socks thing.

[Give it to Ron]

59 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

I’m purely suggesting that if we want to be going for promotion then we need to be targeting the better players, or certainly ones that are capable of making the step up 😄

Based on 2 games that’s generous of you - why do you think he won’t step up what’s his weaknesses?anyway this is based on footyinsider  which is shit

Edited 14 hours ago by Give it to Ron

[bangkoksaint]

24 minutes ago, Golac's Cunning Stunts said:

not happening and not much incentive for the player to go either

On another note, Dibling has just liked an EFC related Instagram post about them getting Grealish on loan. Why do players about to leave their club do that?

I bet he doesn’t know he has. It‘ll be his agent or ‘media machine’. The only high profile person who I think does actually do some of his own posts is Trump and I base that solely on how divisive some of his are!!

[Chez]

3 hours ago, hypochondriac said:

Didn't Ipswich agree 20 million for Hackney?

Personally Id be happy to spend that on Hackney, who I think could make the step up to the PL, but not sure Fellows can.

[Turkish]

1 hour ago, Golac's Cunning Stunts said:

not happening and not much incentive for the player to go either

On another note, Dibling has just liked an EFC related Instagram post about them getting Grealish on loan. Why do players about to leave their club do that?

Because they’re thick 

[Chez]

1 hour ago, hypochondriac said:

I would say there aren't many other realistic names playing for other Championship teams that would be better suited to making the step up. 

I preferred Gassama to Fellows and he was available for a lot less money. Fellows' game looks pretty good. Not sure he is going to make an impact in the PL. If that is the case, you can spend £20m on him.

[Chez]

3 hours ago, chownie20 said:

It's like paying £20m for Harwood Bellis, Jack Clarke, Jacob Greaves, Philogene - all championship players and great if you want to yo-yo, but £20m on players like that is probably just a demonstration of having zero scouting network beyond the sides you've come across.

Spending £20m on them because they have shined in the championship and you think they can do it in the PL is fine, but spending £20m on them to get you out of the division. Not sure about that.

[SWLondon Saint]

1 hour ago, hypochondriac said:

I would say there aren't many other realistic names playing for other Championship teams that would be better suited to making the step up. 

The problem is those players are always incredibly overvalued and I reckon it'd be incredibly hard to stay up buying top Championship talent. Look at how much Leeds' players went for last season after we beat them, and sure, some of them are young, but if we'd added any of, say, Gray £25-30m, Rutter £40m, or Summerville £25m we'd have gotten absolutely nowhere fast.

[woodsaint1]

36 minutes ago, Chez said:

Spending £20m on them because they have shined in the championship and you think they can do it in the PL is fine, but spending £20m on them to get you out of the division. Not sure about that.

This is key for us in the summer and January windows. While we all hoped we would have made more signings by now, at least we're not buying Championship level players for the sake of it like last time - Fraser, BBD, Manning, Rothwell and Stewart all come to mind. It is more difficult persuading PL level players to join when we're in the Championship, but that should be our focus

[jamesfp1]

Any decent rumours?

[hypochondriac]

11 hours ago, woodsaint1 said:

This is key for us in the summer and January windows. While we all hoped we would have made more signings by now, at least we're not buying Championship level players for the sake of it like last time - Fraser, BBD, Manning, Rothwell and Stewart all come to mind. It is more difficult persuading PL level players to join when we're in the Championship, but that should be our focus

But we didn't sign any of them in the championship apart from Manning. 

[Dman]

20 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

But we didn't sign any of them in the championship apart from Manning. 

Aye..? They all signed for us in the championship, other than BBD...

[beatlesaint]

39 minutes ago, jamesfp1 said:

Any decent rumours?

It’s the forum on Solent tonight isn’t it? Among the price of beer and investment in the women’s team questions surely someone will ask the question about new signings?

[ally_uk]

" Sports Republic stop facking about and get some talent in sharpish " 

Knowing us, some melt will stand up as ask about the decor in the gents toilets, or why the symmetry of blades of grass are not up to scratch....

Need someone with some bollocks to ask direct questions.