Summer Transfer Window 2025/26

[S-Clarke]

5 minutes ago, SWLondon Saint said:

I think they messed up with the midfield today. Sesay should be on the bench regularly this season already, I liked what I've seen of him so far, good motor and willing to chase down and do the dirty stuff. Both Charles and Downes seem to do the 'make one attempt to win it or foul', which is the 'can't be arsed to run back alongside and jockey someone off the ball' approach, which when you miss the tackle and the foul means your defence is horribly exposed.

The midfield was a bit of a kicker today, definitely. But Sessay was involved in the u21's last night, so he couldn't be with us as well. If anything, when Downes is not available and obviously Smallbone is offski, we could do with maybe 1 extra in there. (even though we got Jander)

[Harry_SFC]

10 minutes ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

Is that not Caspar's job?

He's the Fernandes replacement 

[ErwinK1961]

10 minutes ago, jamesfp1 said:

We need a big fat DM

Have said it for ages. The midfield (before Fernandes left) was made up of all the same type of midfielders. No creativity and no defensive protection.

Azaz is a good start, but we still lack a proper DM. Jander looks a great player, but not sure he’s going to give us the defensive element we really need.

[SWLondon Saint]

2 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

The midfield was a bit of a kicker today, definitely. But Sessay was involved in the u21's last night, so he couldn't be with us as well. If anything, when Downes is not available and obviously Smallbone is offski, we could do with maybe 1 extra in there. (even though we got Jander)

Yeah, I know - honestly think he should be looked on as a first team player, not in the u21s, I think he's looked the part so far. Of course he'll mess up at some stage, he's a kid, but we needed his physicality today.

[MarkSFC]

4 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

He's the Fernandes replacement 

Not really sure he is. I think he is one of the 2 CM, as he can play the defensive role and the box to box role. Azaz is more fernades replacement. 

[skintsaint]

5 minutes ago, ErwinK1961 said:

but we still lack a proper DM.

Someone like Bangoura from Belgium would be nice.

[Harry_SFC]

10 minutes ago, MarkSFC said:

Not really sure he is. I think he is one of the 2 CM, as he can play the defensive role and the box to box role. Azaz is more fernades replacement. 

We were after a 10 regardless of whether Fernandes left or not. 

[Patches O Houlihan]

Just now, Harry_SFC said:

We were after a 10 regardless of whether Fernandes left or not. 

So if we have Downes, Charles, Fernandes, Azaz and a Striker playing how are we going to fit in a DM too?!

[Harry_SFC]

1 minute ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

So if we have Downes, Charles, Fernandes, Azaz and a Striker playing how are we going to fit in a DM too?!

I'm talking about replacing Downes 

[SNSUN]

Assuming Jelert is done, IMO we need one more left winger/AM and I think we need another CM as I mentioned during the game. 2 signings to make the squad whole.

Ship out Aribo, Edozie, Smallbone, Bree and BBD. 5 out.

Yes we need upgrades in a few positions but that will have to do until January.

[Willo of Whiteley]

3 minutes ago, SNSUN said:

Assuming Jelert is done, IMO we need one more left winger/AM and I think we need another CM as I mentioned during the game. 2 signings to make the squad whole.

Ship out Aribo, Edozie, Smallbone, Bree and BBD. 5 out.

Yes we need upgrades in a few positions but that will have to do until January.

I think Edozie, Brereton-Diaz and Aribo will all leave on loan. Their wages will be a stumbling block.

[Wade Garrett]

3 hours ago, Sheaf Saint said:

Honestly, despite his limitations, I would promote McCarthy to be first choice. He made 3 or 4 good saves against Norwich in midweek and kept a clean sheet. One of the shots he saved was virtually identical to the second one we conceded against Stoke last week, and he made it look like a routine save.

It was a routine save.  I agree with you, McCarthy is better than Bazunu.

[Patches O Houlihan]

8 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

I'm talking about replacing Downes 

If we play 4-3-3 then the front 3 are two wingers and a striker. 

If the midfield three includes Azaz as a creative 10 then surely that mean Charles + Downs/DM both need to sit in, rather than roaming as box to box types as they have been. Or else we need to sign 1 big solid lump to hold the fort alone, and Charles & Downs are interchangeable in the box to box role.

[revolution saint]

11 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

The midfield was a bit of a kicker today, definitely. But Sessay was involved in the u21's last night, so he couldn't be with us as well. If anything, when Downes is not available and obviously Smallbone is offski, we could do with maybe 1 extra in there. (even though we got Jander)

I thought the midfield was the issue today and I'm not sure we draw if Downes plays.  Personally I'd have played Manning in midfield and had Charlie Taylor at left wing back.  Manning has played midfield before (think that's what he started out as at QPR).  Manning would probably have done a better job than Robinson at any rate who I thought had a terrible game.  I like Robinson a lot but today asked a lot of him.

A lot of the midfield problems are self imposed though.  I know we're looking to move on Aribo but he'd have been fine today.  

Edited yesterday at 06:34 by revolution saint

[Football Special]

55 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

The midfield was a bit of a kicker today, definitely. But Sessay was involved in the u21's last night, so he couldn't be with us as well. If anything, when Downes is not available and obviously Smallbone is offski, we could do with maybe 1 extra in there. (even though we got Jander)

Should have stuck Aribo on the bench really, if we're paying him might as well use him 

[bpsaint]

Despite our activity yesterday the side is still lacking a really solid spine (GK, CB,CM, ST).

I really hope there’s some surprises in store between now and Tuesday else it’s going to be a long season.

[Willo of Whiteley]

4 minutes ago, bpsaint said:

Despite our activity yesterday the side is still lacking a really solid spine (GK, CB,CM, ST).

I really hope there’s some surprises in store between now and Tuesday else it’s going to be a long season.

We signed a crap goalkeeper on loan to be third choice.

Only a ridiculous offer for THB will mean he leaves, and Jack Stephens must be part of every squad.

We signed two CMs, and we’ve signed. ST.

I agree we need a physical backbone, but it just won’t happen.

[Fabrice29]

9 minutes ago, bpsaint said:

Despite our activity yesterday the side is still lacking a really solid spine (GK, CB,CM, ST).

I really hope there’s some surprises in store between now and Tuesday else it’s going to be a long season.

We're currently playing 3 CB's and have two on the bench and supposedly want to end up playing even less CB's so no we're not lacking a CB. Nor are we lacking CM's, we've signed one who couldn't play today and also have two others who for fitness/transfer reasons we haven't usedyet so unless they both leave we're fine there too. 4 strikers and playing only one up front too. So really cant agree with you here at all. Time to get the best out of the plethora of options we have rather than thinking everything is solved with more transfers, different formations, new managers.

Edited Saturday at 20:29 by Fabrice29

[Harry_SFC]

12 minutes ago, bpsaint said:

Despite our activity yesterday the side is still lacking a really solid spine (GK, CB,CM, ST).

I really hope there’s some surprises in store between now and Tuesday else it’s going to be a long season.

I think it's fairly obvious that after Jelert we will only be signing players if others are leaving. Alfie House and Adam Blackmore hinted at LW and CM if BBD, Edozie, Smallbone and Aribo move on. 

[Appy]

2 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

I think it's fairly obvious that after Jelert we will only be signing players if others are leaving. Alfie House and Adam Blackmore hinted at LW and CM if BBD, Edozie, Smallbone and Aribo move on. 

Fingers crossed, if they don’t go, it’s really been a waste not at least attempting to use them. 

[Football Special]

16 minutes ago, bpsaint said:

Despite our activity yesterday the side is still lacking a really solid spine (GK, CB,CM, ST).

I really hope there’s some surprises in store between now and Tuesday else it’s going to be a long season.

Was having same discussion today about lack of strong spine, just seems neglected 

GK - lost Ramsdale gained Norwich joker 

CD - lost Bednarek and ABK , gained Quarshie  

CM - losing Aribo, Fernandes, gaining German u21 nipper 

ST - lost Tall Paul, gained Downs 

 

[trousers]

1 hour ago, SWLondon Saint said:

I think they messed up with the midfield today. Sesay should be on the bench regularly

Yep, not having a defensive midfielder on the bench was a major cock up. That's not just hindsight, it's surely a must when you've got 9 slots to fill on the bench. Whoever made the decision to play Sesay in an U21 game rather than include him in the squad ballsed up big time. 

[Fabrice29]

22 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Was having same discussion today about lack of strong spine, just seems neglected 

GK - lost Ramsdale gained Norwich joker 

CD - lost Bednarek and ABK , gained Quarshie  and Edwards

CM - losing Aribo, Fernandes, gaining German u21 nipper and Charles

ST - lost Tall Paul, gained Downs and Azaz (or you can put him above if you like)

 

Fixed.

[Andy Hill]

Be realistic - we are not getting promoted with the current defence and GK.

[Eagle778]

2 minutes ago, Andy Hill said:

Be realistic - we are not getting promoted with the current defence and GK.

Agree it will take a few windows to build a strong 11

Edited Saturday at 21:10 by Eagle778

[ally_uk]

Need a Romeu type experienced destroyer of a def Mid, anyone we can loan? 

And another left winger or play Edozie if he stays. 

[Whitey Grandad]

20 minutes ago, Eagle778 said:

Agree it will take a few windows to build a strong 11

I'm still on Windows 10 😁

[Smirking_Saint]

50 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Was having same discussion today about lack of strong spine, just seems neglected 

GK - lost Ramsdale gained Norwich joker 

CD - lost Bednarek and ABK , gained Quarshie  

CM - losing Aribo, Fernandes, gaining German u21 nipper 

ST - lost Tall Paul, gained Downs 

 

You mean to say we got relegated and they’re managed squad got worse ?

Thats absolutely mental

[trousers]

18 minutes ago, ally_uk said:

Need a Romeu type experienced destroyer of a def Mid, anyone we can loan? 

The man himself, perhaps...? 

[ErwinK1961]

Dom Ballard on a permanent to Leyton Orient by looks of it. Good luck to him, hope he kicks on and has a good career.

[Maggie May]

1 hour ago, Football Special said:

Was having same discussion today about lack of strong spine, just seems neglected 

GK - lost Ramsdale gained Norwich joker 

CD - lost Bednarek and ABK , gained Quarshie  

CM - losing Aribo, Fernandes, gaining German u21 nipper 

ST - lost Tall Paul, gained Downs 

 

Ramsdale and Fernandes are big losses - but obvious ones.

The rest were dreadful and we won’t miss them. 

[SaintNewForest]

27 minutes ago, ErwinK1961 said:

Dom Ballard on a permanent to Leyton Orient by looks of it. Good luck to him, hope he kicks on and has a good career.

Significant sell on clause as well..

[Bewildered]

42 minutes ago, trousers said:

The man himself, perhaps...? 

Could do a lot worse on a free, though maybe he will think he can still do a job in La Liga.

 

[Football Special]

7 hours ago, Smirking_Saint said:

You mean to say we got relegated and they’re managed squad got worse ?

Thats absolutely mental

You'd have thought Sports Republic turning us into a midtable championship side would wipe the smirk off your face, seems not. 

Fact is we lack balance, spine of the team continues to be weak

 

[Matthew Le God]

9 hours ago, ally_uk said:

Need a Romeu type experienced destroyer of a def Mid, anyone we can loan? 

 

8 hours ago, trousers said:

The man himself, perhaps...? 

Can't loan a player who isn't at a club 🙃

[Patches O Houlihan]

1 hour ago, Football Special said:

You'd have thought Sports Republic turning us into a midtable championship side would wipe the smirk off your face, seems not. 

Fact is we lack balance, spine of the team continues to be weak

 

BUT If

* Shay Charles develops his game

* Azaz really clicks

* Quashie improves his ball playing

* Ross Stewart comes good

Then we would have a bit of that spine back. 

Clearly it is an if. But having been relegated with a huge squad of mostly also rans its asking a lot to completely transform the side in one window.

We went up two years ago by scoring lots of goals with a manager who couldn't organise a defence, and a young Baz.

Whilst I still have concerns with Baz, goalkeepers tend to improve with age, and I reckon Still will form a more solid defence than Martin did. Our side is now on average a bit taller/bigger/faster now than it was in the PL I think.

[gio1saints]

11 hours ago, revolution saint said:

I thought the midfield was the issue today and I'm not sure we draw if Downes plays.  Personally I'd have played Manning in midfield and had Charlie Taylor at left wing back.  Manning has played midfield before (think that's what he started out as at QPR).  Manning would probably have done a better job than Robinson at any rate who I thought had a terrible game.  I like Robinson a lot but today asked a lot of him.

A lot of the midfield problems are self imposed though.  I know we're looking to move on Aribo but he'd have been fine today.  

Good ideas. I’m sure Will assessed them all and maybe his heart not head made the decision- we all want Jay on the pitch after all! 

Jay being dropped then put back in at last minute must have had an impact on his inexperienced head. Slotting Taylor back in at LB and pushing Manning up into MF away from home was a viable - but less attacking alternative. 
 

Joe is going but he certainly would have had the experience and discipline to do what Will might have told him to do in MF also. 

Overall - Downes swop should have been as close to a like for like as possible. Lack of squad depth for his position may have cost us two points yesterday accordingly. 
 

Next week, with Jander onboard, we will have sorted that.
 

I’ve got mixed feelings about Flynn Downes. One of them is he is one of the best if not the best in this league at doing what he does. But the other is that if Jander replaces him Saints will be about to enter a more direct service/ forward propelling midfield era  - and that could be exciting after over two years plus of  ball recycling…dilemma! 

Edited yesterday at 07:36 by gio1saints

[Saints-1994]

Some good business done so far but yesterday was glaringly obvious we need a decent ST - someone in the Sargent mould.

Stewart might well become it, but I question whether he’ll be able to play 2 games a week, let alone 3. Downs just isn’t it and needs to develop hugely. Archer was okay yesterday, and clearly a finisher, but doesn’t get involved in build up enough for me to lead the line. 
Armstrong needs to be sold (Rangers anyone?) as his motivation has gone - similar to how Dwight Gayle lost it after the realisation they’ll never be better than the Championship. Unless he’s now going to be behind Fellows (imagine he’s a top earner so not really feasible) and personally prefer Fraser. 

Edited yesterday at 08:33 by Saints-1994

[Hopper]

I thought Downs did OK yesterday in the limited involvment he had. I do still think there's a player there, I remember Sargent taking a while to find his footing at Norwich and I don't doubt it's gonna take Downs a bit to get there too but he has all of the tools and I think his positional play has been generally very good. He seems to find good pockets of space.

Scienza for me is a must. Jay had a poor game yesterday. Not his fault but we can't expect the nipper to hold down that left wing position.

Ultimately if we can get Jelert and Scienza in. Shift a few out and bring in a couple of last minute loans I think we're going to be in a good spot.

ST/CDM in on low risk loan perhaps?

Edited yesterday at 08:53 by Hopper

[S-Clarke]

11 hours ago, ErwinK1961 said:

Dom Ballard on a permanent to Leyton Orient by looks of it. Good luck to him, hope he kicks on and has a good career.

Agreed, hope he has a good career. The injury hit him at a really unfortunate time.

I'll be interested to see how he does at Leyton Orient.

[lambtiss]

33 minutes ago, Saints-1994 said:

Some good business done so far but yesterday was glaringly obvious we need a decent ST - someone in the Sargent mould.

Stewart might well become it, but I question whether he’ll be able to play 2 games a week, let alone 3. Downs just isn’t it and needs to develop hugely. Archer was okay yesterday, and clearly a finisher, but doesn’t get involved in build up enough for me to lead the line. 
 

I totally agree,  I have been saying this for weeks. The immediate response is how difficult it is to get a strong leader of the line, who also scores goals. But, if you look at the goalscoring table, Sargent (always mentioned as a possible target) has 5 in 4, Carlton Morris *(4 in 4) and Keiffer Moore (3 in 4). None of these would have taken a genius to identify, but we have still gone for a relative unknown in this league (Downs) to shadow someone with a diabolical fitness record, who still isn't being picked as a starter, which makes you wonder how he will build his fitness up.

[S-Clarke]

Just now, lambtiss said:

I totally agree,  I have been saying this for weeks. The immediate response is how difficult it is to get a strong leader of the line, who also scores goals. But, if you look at the goalscoring table, Sargent (always mentioned as a possible target) has 5 in 4, Carlton Morris *(4 in 4) and Keiffer Moore (3 in 4). None of these would have taken a genius to identify, but we have still gone for a relative unknown in this league (Downs) to shadow someone with a diabolical fitness record, who still isn't being picked as a starter, which makes you wonder how he will build his fitness up.

How I'd argue that is Sargent, who we are all clamouring for right now, was signed from a 2.Bundesliga club with a similar rep to that of Downs and was actually quite a joke figure for Norwich in their PL season, their fans hated him. It took him time to settle, but he has at this level - not sure if he'll ever be a PL player though.

We aren't in a position to buy Sargent now, we don't have the money to splurge £20m+ on a player, so we went and looked at Downs as someone who could become that level. It's a risk but it's how we operate and that isn't ever going to change due to our lack of financial power.

We need to find the Sargent before he goes to Norwich, or the Mbeumo, Wisa, Tony etc before they go to Brentford - that's the market we're operating in.

[lambtiss]

Just now, S-Clarke said:

How I'd argue that is Sargent, who we are all clamouring for right now, was signed from a 2.Bundesliga club with a similar rep to that of Downs and was actually quite a joke figure for Norwich in their PL season, their fans hated him. It took him time to settle, but he has at this level - not sure if he'll ever be a PL player though.

We aren't in a position to buy Sargent now, we don't have the money to splurge £20m+ on a player, so we went and looked at Downs as someone who could become that level. It's a risk but it's how we operate and that isn't ever going to change due to our lack of financial power.

We need to find the Sargent before he goes to Norwich, or the Mbeumo, Wisa, Tony etc before they go to Brentford - that's the market we're operating in.

Sargent isn't the only option, but we could have afforded him if we were more serious about promotion at the first attempt. We could have bought Keiffer Moore for a fraction of the cost; but we have gambled on somoene who won't be ready for a while, if ever. Plain daft.

[S-Clarke]

3 minutes ago, lambtiss said:

Sargent isn't the only option, but we could have afforded him if we were more serious about promotion at the first attempt. We could have bought Keiffer Moore for a fraction of the cost; but we have gambled on somoene who won't be ready for a while, if ever. Plain daft.

Norwich want between £20-25m, even Wolfsburg baulked at that. We're not spending that on a player at this level and we never will. 

 

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, S-Clarke said:

Norwich want between £20-25m, even Wolfsburg baulked at that. We're not spending that on a player at this level and we never will. 

 

Kieffer Moore was there for the taking 

[S-Clarke]

1 minute ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Kieffer Moore was there for the taking 

A lot of clamouring for a player who hasn't scored double figures at this level since 2019, and is now 33, and cost Wrexham £3.5m. 

Not really the sort as a club we'd go for, let's be honest. He's scored a couple of goals to start the season but generally, these days, he's a bog average journey man striker and I'd hope the club target better than him.

[SotonianWill]

5 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Kieffer Moore was there for the taking 

Bishop?

[Appy]

6 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Kieffer Moore was there for the taking 

Yep and thank god we didn’t bother. 

[Gloucester Saint]

1 minute ago, SotonianWill said:

Bishop?

The next game is definitely one to bash the Bishop in, and their other nine outfield players as well.

[Hopper]

4 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Kieffer Moore was there for the taking 

The same Keifer Moore who scored 6 in 30 last season? Hindsight is a wonderful thing. I'd much prefer we take a punt on a high potential player like Downs than sink money on a 33 year old who's hardly been prolific at this level or any other.