Summer Transfer Window 2025/26

[Gloucester Saint]

2 hours ago, BARCELONASAINT said:

I would expect to see all 6 of those leave by the end of the week

Forgot that Les Reed would have signed Will Smallbone as an academy player so probably kept an eye on him and been a suggestion to Parkinson if they came up.

[EBS1980]

1 hour ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

Finn Azaz strikers me more of a “desperate signing” rather than one we were actively targeting.

Sure, his stats are ok but it doesn’t scream “well planned” and “we wanted him all along”. If we did we would’ve bid for him at the start of summer.

So what makes it a desperate signing?! 
what does scream well planned? 
 

I would say a player who has returned 20+ assists/goals in each of the last two seasons in the league we are in and only being 24 is a good move.

[benjii]

1 hour ago, AlexLaw76 said:

i think Azaz will be a superb signing, assuming we play him properly. 

Sweeping in front of a back 5.

[Gloucester Saint]

29 minutes ago, Chez said:

why don't they just come direct to us for our rejects. BBD and Taylor seem ideal for them.

BBD would probably cost less now than the £10m option they had at the end of his loan. 

[Saint Billy]

2 hours ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

Finn Azaz strikers me more of a “desperate signing” rather than one we were actively targeting.

Sure, his stats are ok but it doesn’t scream “well planned” and “we wanted him all along”. If we did we would’ve bid for him at the start of summer.

It could be worse as we normally buy players with shite stats.

[Gloucester Saint]

Just now, Saint Billy said:

It could be worse as we normally buy players with shite stats.

And/or injured long-term.

[markr27]

A chap at work (Bristol City fan) suggested Saints should take a punt on Josh Brownhill, ex City and Burnley on a free.
"Low risk but quite old" - he's 29 according to wiki.

[trousers]

28 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

Struggle to make it up on here.

One moment we've got fans are pissing and moaning that sports republic try to be to clever and target potential / quality on a budget or with unknown reputation, and instead demanding we sign proven quality at champ level.

The next moment there is an outcry over potentially signing a very good champ level player with a proven track record of 20+ goals/assists per season 😅.

Keep it up guys, if nothing else the group despair is both therapeutic and entertaining.

I've only seen one poster turn their nose up at Azaz... Maybe there are more that I've missed..... I get that it's natural for people to highlight the opinion of the vocal minority to try and emphasise a point, but calling it an "outcry" is stretching the reality somewhat... even Batman is happy with him... now that's more worthy of being highlighted, surely...   

Edited Tuesday at 12:45 by trousers

[Dman]

Just now, markr27 said:

A chap at work (Bristol City fan) suggested Saints should take a punt on Josh Brownhill, ex City and Burnley on a free.
"Low risk but quite old" - he's 29 according to wiki.

I mean, signing Brownhill would hardly be taking a punt. 

You'd assume that he'll end up in the PL, but he is exactly the sort of player we should be in the market for.... which is why it wont happen. 

[lambtiss]

36 minutes ago, Ivan Katalinic's 'tache said:

New bid expected for Finn Azaz?

https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/southampton-fresh-transfer-bid-middlesbrough-finn-azaz/

FFS, Get on with it Saints. We've still got other positions to fill 

[S-Clarke]

2 minutes ago, Dman said:

I mean, signing Brownhill would hardly be taking a punt. 

You'd assume that he'll end up in the PL, but he is exactly the sort of player we should be in the market for.... which is why it wont happen. 

I find it odd that he hasn't landed anywhere yet. Surley he rejected Burnley's contract offer on the expectation that he'd get a better club, it just hasn't materialised yet.

He got 18 goals from CM in the Champ last year, so it's not like he's squad fodder. He'd be an instant upgrade on Downes or Charles in terms of that style of CM.

It would make sense - dump Smallbone, bring in Brownhill, but as it makes sense it won't happen.

[ErwinK1961]

5 minutes ago, Dman said:

I mean, signing Brownhill would hardly be taking a punt. 

You'd assume that he'll end up in the PL, but he is exactly the sort of player we should be in the market for.... which is why it wont happen. 

 

1 minute ago, S-Clarke said:

I find it odd that he hasn't landed anywhere yet. Surley he rejected Burnley's contract offer on the expectation that he'd get a better club, it just hasn't materialised yet.

He got 18 goals from CM in the Champ last year, so it's not like he's squad fodder. He'd be an instant upgrade on Downes or Charles in terms of that style of CM.

It would make sense - dump Smallbone, bring in Brownhill, but as it makes sense it won't happen.

It won’t happen because he wants a move to a premier league club and an extortionate signing on fee.

[2Morrow]

Brownhill would want to be top paid player leaving Burnley on a free. 

If prem clubs are turning their nose up at his demands, we should be too.

He will end up at West ham, Everton post deadline as a panic free

[Toussaint]

34 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

Struggle to make it up on here.

One moment we've got fans are pissing and moaning that sports republic try to be to clever and target potential / quality on a budget or with unknown reputation, and instead demanding we sign proven quality at champ level.

The next moment there is an outcry over potentially signing a very good champ level player with a proven track record of 20+ goals/assists per season 😅.

Keep it up guys, if nothing else the group despair is both therapeutic and entertaining.

an outcry?

[Gloucester Saint]

4 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

I find it odd that he hasn't landed anywhere yet. Surley he rejected Burnley's contract offer on the expectation that he'd get a better club, it just hasn't materialised yet.

He got 18 goals from CM in the Champ last year, so it's not like he's squad fodder. He'd be an instant upgrade on Downes or Charles in terms of that style of CM.

It would make sense - dump Smallbone, bring in Brownhill, but as it makes sense it won't happen.

His signing on fee deterred Everton and West Ham. Given they’ve both made signings since in that area that ship sailed but I reckon Brum after the window, 

[Dman]

4 minutes ago, ErwinK1961 said:

 

It won’t happen because he wants a move to a premier league club and an extortionate signing on fee.

It wont be anywhere near as high as what it would cost if he was still at a club and a fraction of what we'll receive for Fernandes.. 

[SWLondon Saint]

Just now, 2Morrow said:

Brownhill would want to be top paid player leaving Burnley on a free. 

If prem clubs are turning their nose up at his demands, we should be too.

He will end up at West ham, Everton post deadline as a panic free

Yep, that's the smart money bet, West Ham in particular, which will piss their fans off no end. He almost certainly wants better than Burnley and feels he's too good for the champ so there's zero chance he's signing for us. Honestly don't know why people think this is some kind of easy, no brainer signing.

[Baz Fl]

2 hours ago, Doctoroncall said:

You have the numbers the wrong way round for Downs. Initial fee is £6.8m. 

Yes, it still doesn’t make him a first team player yet. 
 

My mistake, still not great or encouraging reading from a club that claims to want to gain promotion. Surely if they are serious about getting back up. Our window so far is tragic. 

[Matthew Le God]

1 minute ago, Baz Fl said:

My mistake, still not great or encouraging reading from a club that claims to want to gain promotion. Surely if they are serious about getting back up. Our window so far is tragic. 

Keeping Fernandes (so far) is a huge positive.

[Disco Stu]

8 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

Keeping Fernandes (so far) is a huge positive.

Don't go making any judgements until the window's over...

[Matthew Le God]

Just now, Disco Stu said:

Don't go making any judgements until the window's over...

Which is why I said 'so far'.

Quote

West Ham are looking for a No 8 but have encountered frustration in their pursuit of Southampton’s Mateus Fernandes. Southampton have an excellent chance of keeping Fernandes after raising funds through the sale of Tyler Dibling to Everton.

West Ham may be forced to move to other targets, including Feyernoord’s Quinten Timber. They are monitoring Ajax’s Kenneth Taylor, Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney, Rennes’ Djaoui Cissé, Torino’s Ivan Ilic and Werder Bremen’s Romano Schmid.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/aug/26/west-ham-soungoutou-magassa-advanced-talks-to-buy-monaco-midfielder-20m-deal

[UpweySaint]

12 minutes ago, Dman said:

It wont be anywhere near as high as what it would cost if he was still at a club and a fraction of what we'll receive for Fernandes.. 

true. He may have his sights higher but if the bigger clubs don’t come calling I wonder just how much he is asking as a signing fee? An unlikely one but stranger things have happened…

[Farmer Saint]

5 minutes ago, Disco Stu said:

Don't go making any judgements until the window's over...

That works both ways though.

[trousers]

16 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

Keeping Fernandes (so far) is a huge positive.

Assuming he doesn't get hacked off for effectively blocking a move back to the Premier League of course...

Caveat: He strikes me as the sort of character who wouldn't throw a strop but it's not unheard of. If we keep him AND his head's in the right place then, yep, a big positive 👍🏻

Edited Tuesday at 13:13 by trousers

[Wade Garrett]

Wouldn’t any player on a free want a signing-on fee?

Would Ben Mee or Danny Ings want a signing-on fee?

I suppose the only players that wouldn’t would be shite ones that are grateful for a contract, so more likely with our clever-bollocks recruitment.

[S-Clarke]

Just now, trousers said:

Assuming he doesn't get hacked off for effectively blocking a move back to the Premier League of course 

Caveat: He strikes me as the sort of character who wouldn't throw a strop but it's not unheard of. If we keep him AND his head's in the right place then, yep, a big positive 👍🏻

He reminds me of KWP in that sense, I think he'd more than happily get his head down and crack on if a club didn't match his valuation. That's why there's been less noise around this one IMO, whereas Dibling was constant - he clearly wanted out.

[trousers]

Just now, S-Clarke said:

He reminds me of KWP in that sense, I think he'd more than happily get his head down and crack on if a club didn't match his valuation. That's why there's been less noise around this one IMO, whereas Dibling was constant - he clearly wanted out.

Yep, if one goes and one stays, I'm much happier this way around than t'other 👍🏻

[Sparkkyy]

26 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

Keeping Fernandes (so far) is a huge positive.

I believe the word you were looking for is retaining. Glad to assist.

[SWLondon Saint]

18 minutes ago, UpweySaint said:

true. He may have his sights higher but if the bigger clubs don’t come calling I wonder just how much he is asking as a signing fee? An unlikely one but stranger things have happened…

If he doesn't get the Prem interest he wants then it's possible, but I doubt it'd happen till the absolute last moment in the window, or even after if he's a free agent. Depending on how good his agent is he could also move overseas if he's the adventurous type.

[S-Clarke]

11 minutes ago, trousers said:

Yep, if one goes and one stays, I'm much happier this way around than t'other 👍🏻

I just hope we build a decent enough team to support him, as he's wasted in the squad as it is.

I'm being patient, but the next few days are going to have to be epic at this point. More Roesrlev level signings out of the blue required.

[gio1saints]

Josh Brownhill would only come to Saints as a last resort. If £45k pw at Burnley is inadequate….God knows what he wants paying ….In any case im certain some lower/mid EPL clubs will have him down as a late in window option before he even deigns to consider us. 

Arguably He is worth it with his track record and free agent status - but he does not feel like an SR kind of recruit to me. 

[Verbal]

1 hour ago, benjii said:

Sweeping in front of a back 5.

Sorry, after this Twilight Zone of a window I'm no longer capable of detecting sarcasm.

[S-Clarke]

Just now, gio1saints said:

but he does not feel like an SR kind of recruit to me. 

Is that because he's a sensible signing, but with no huge future sell on/upsale?

[Mr Brightside]

 

[Dman]

Just now, Mr Brightside said:

 

One thing you can't knock from this window is the ability to shift deadwood. We should end up with a much smaller squad, which is one win at least. 

[benjii]

2 minutes ago, Mr Brightside said:

 

"Analysing"

 

🤪

[tdmickey3]

2 minutes ago, Mr Brightside said:

 

Is the taxi booked to take him there

[Lee On Solent Saint]

2 minutes ago, Mr Brightside said:

 

I'd be quite happy to help him analyse those options. Wouldn't even charge a fee.

[Turkish]

4 minutes ago, Mr Brightside said:

 

*fills up car with petrol*

[tdmickey3]

Just now, Lee On Solent Saint said:

I'd be quite happy to help him analyse those options. Wouldn't even charge a fee.

I have done it and all of them are perfect for him....now just fuck off   sorry best wishes for where ever yo go

[ErwinK1961]

5 minutes ago, Mr Brightside said:

 

Hopefully he can analyse them quicker then he can make decisions on the football pitch.

[trousers]

7 minutes ago, Mr Brightside said:

 

[benjii]

8 minutes ago, Verbal said:

Sorry, after this Twilight Zone of a window I'm no longer capable of detecting sarcasm.

We need to work on our passing channels in and around the Twilight Zone.

Edited Tuesday at 13:49 by benjii

[Chez]

32 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

Wouldn’t any player on a free want a signing-on fee?

Would Ben Mee or Danny Ings want a signing-on fee?

I suppose the only players that wouldn’t would be shite ones that are grateful for a contract, so more likely with our clever-bollocks recruitment.

want and get are obviously two different things.

Ultimately, the x years on x wages etc. is probably what matters most, but if the player has a sizeable tax bill or gambling debt, that signing on fee might be more desirable.

[iansums]

Assuming he leaves, my abiding memory of BBD (and not his fault BTW) was seeing him hugging the left touch line whilst AA did the same on the opposite wing, against Forest. I've never seen two strikers so far apart, it was lunacy.

[Osvaldorama]

8 minutes ago, Mr Brightside said:

 

But worrying. If he’s aiming to leave, he’ll probably miss the target 

[Fitzhugh Fella]

I must admit the gallows humour on here is helping me navigate this most stressful and underwhelming (so far) of windows!

[Chez]

8 minutes ago, benjii said:

"Analysing"

 

🤪

What is football without analytics these days?

[benjii]

3 minutes ago, iansums said:

Assuming he leaves, my abiding memory of BBD (and not his fault BTW) was seeing him hugging the left touch line whilst AA did the same on the opposite wing, against Forest. I've never seen two strikers so far apart, it was lunacy.

For me it will the back heel he tried to do at Dean Court.

[Doctoroncall]

9 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

Is that because he's a sensible signing, but with no huge future sell on/upsale?

Maybe sensible, but costly and doesn’t want to come to Saints.

I can see players like Stanley Mills, Issac Price which SR need to keep tabs on but have missed out on.