Summer Transfer Window 2025/26

[Chez]

8 hours ago, CSA96 said:

Positional rival to Damion Downs at USA level is moving to Derby - has been starting games in the Gold Cup, with Downs coming off the bench

 

Will be interesting to see how he goes. Our scouting team will have no excuses if he shines more than Downs, assuming he signs.

[goodymatt]

2 minutes ago, Chez said:

Will be interesting to see how he goes. Our scouting team will have no excuses if he shines more than Downs, assuming he signs.

Derby have also signed Carlton Morris from Luton, who is probably expecting to be their main striker. Perhaps they are going 2 up top, not too sure on Eustace formation at Derby.

[Chez]

12 hours ago, Danbert said:

"Things are heating up for Adriano Bertaccini! Coventry, Norwich, and Southampton have made enquiries with the player’s entourage, no direct contact with STVV yet.

"Anderlecht are not out of the running yet. Asking price: £6-7m."

He really seems to know where the net is, but Im not entirely sure he has top level touch etc. The Downs noise seems louder.

[disconnect]

2 minutes ago, Chez said:

Will be interesting to see how he goes. Our scouting team will have no excuses if he shines more than Downs, assuming he signs.

6 goals in 16 MLS matches is probably around equal or slightly worse than what Downs has done in Bundesliga 2 (at a younger age), but 5 goals in 9 caps for USA is pretty decent (against mostly rubbish opponents). Let’s see!

[Chez]

6 minutes ago, goodymatt said:

Derby have also signed Carlton Morris from Luton, who is probably expecting to be their main striker. Perhaps they are going 2 up top, not too sure on Eustace formation at Derby.

Watched a few videos of Agyamang and wasn't terribly impressed. He's tall, but I don't see a PL player there.

[sockeye]

13 hours ago, Danbert said:

"Things are heating up for Adriano Bertaccini! Coventry, Norwich, and Southampton have made enquiries with the player’s entourage, no direct contact with STVV yet.

"Anderlecht are not out of the running yet. Asking price: £6-7m."

Potential Armstrong replacement?

[leesaint88]

18 minutes ago, Chez said:

Watched a few videos of Agyamang and wasn't terribly impressed. He's tall, but I don't see a PL player there.

Seems pretty similar to Morris. Strange that they've signed two very similar players.

[Chez]

12 minutes ago, sockeye said:

Potential Armstrong replacement?

Assuming we buy Downs, would Armstrong need replacing if Archer remains?

[goodymatt]

1 minute ago, Chez said:

Assuming we buy Downs, would Armstrong need replacing if Archer remains?

Looks like Downs fee agreed now at €8m. If we are 2 up top then I’d like to keep all 4. Downs and Stewart vying for one spot, Archer and Armstrong for the other. Not sure if Archer or Armstrong would accept being on the bench though. I think we will put our trust in Archer and Armstrong might push for a move. 

I’d prefer our default to be 4-2-3-1 but not sure that gives room for either Archer or Armstrong. We have proven players at this level but what formation are we going to be playing?

[Dusic]

https://www.expressen.se/sport/fotboll/forre-aik-backen-joe-mendes-aktuell-for-flytt/

Suggests we are in for RB Joe Mendes amongst other clubs.

Have been a few links to RBs this window so would assume it is a position we are targetting which surely means either Bree (only a year left and surely no extension) or Sugawara (more likely perhaps) will go.

[SuperSAINT]

9 hours ago, CSA96 said:

Positional rival to Damion Downs at USA level is moving to Derby - has been starting games in the Gold Cup, with Downs coming off the bench

 

Not kept tabs on Derby - that is some serious cash for them, right? 

[Rebel]

I get the feeling we are going to sign more the one striker this summer - a tall centre forward and an inside forward.  Which suggests to me that Armstrong and BBD will probably be the ones that are going to leave - although I would happily swap out all of our strikers (Stewart, BBD, Archer and Armstrong) this summer.

And if we are chasing a new right back I would probably cash in on Bree with a year left - and keep Sugwara.  Firstly I think Suga will be great in the Championship and secondly keeping him will help Matsuki and Takoaka settle in.  Also with one eye on replacing Suga if/when we go back up to the Premier League.

At the moment our transfer strategy does seem to be following our normal line of buying young players with potential and more 'importantly' resale value - but I think we could do with a bit of maturity and leadership on the pitch if we are going to push for promotion.  I'd like to see us add a few players in the their mid to late twenties to the squad at least.  

[revolution saint]

44 minutes ago, Chez said:

Assuming we buy Downs, would Armstrong need replacing if Archer remains?

I guess it depends how we see Armstrong - if it's as a central striker then no, I think we'd be happy to stick with what we've got with Archer being the obvious person to step up. 

If it's as a right side of a three or a more conventional wide player then I think we probably would get someone else in.  We've got a few who can play that role with Dibling being the obvious but doubtful he'll be here in September and after that I guess we're looking at Aribo or even Edozie?  

[gecko]

52 minutes ago, Rebel said:

And if we are chasing a new right back I would probably cash in on Bree with a year left - and keep Sugwara.  Firstly I think Suga will be great in the Championship and secondly keeping him will help Matsuki and Takoaka settle in.  Also with one eye on replacing Suga if/when we go back up to the Premier League.

iirc, Still likes a lot of crosses into the box too. And for all Sugawara's obvious shortcomings defensively, he did seem to put a decent ball into the box consistently.

Nothing against Bree, but I'd be surprised to see Sugawara be the one that goes

[sockeye]

1 hour ago, Chez said:

Assuming we buy Downs, would Armstrong need replacing if Archer remains?

Only the version of Armstrong who isn't a centre striker. I think our wings could do with a bit of fluffing up perhaps but I think we'll be okay in the middle.

[goodymatt]

 

[sockeye]

4 minutes ago, goodymatt said:

 

He's a good kid. I don't know if he'll ever be suitable for the physicality of the English leagues, so I believe the best case scenario is that he absolutely smashes it this season and a La Liga side picks him up next summer.

[benjii]

-------------Stewart/DD--------------

Arch/Edoz---Fernandes---Dibling/Arma

---------Charles---Downes---------

Well/Man-----CB--CB----RB

Looks pretty good.

Need to figure out who is coming and going at CB, RB and GK and I'd like some more competition for Charles, but the rest of the squad is quite stacked (subject to departures).

The above doesnt mention Robinson, Smallbone, Aribo, Fraser or BBD.

 

[Midfield_General]

12 minutes ago, benjii said:

-------------Stewart/DD--------------

Arch/Edoz---Fernandes---Dibling/Arma

---------Charles---Downes---------

Well/Man-----CB--CB----RB

Looks pretty good.

Need to figure out who is coming and going at CB, RB and GK and I'd like some more competition for Charles, but the rest of the squad is quite stacked (subject to departures).

The above doesnt mention Robinson, Smallbone, Aribo, Fraser or BBD.

 

If Fernandes and Dibling both stay then we really would have no excuse not to be challenging for the league. I think it’s rather unlikely but we can hope 🤞

[gio1saints]

19 minutes ago, benjii said:

-------------Stewart/DD--------------

Arch/Edoz---Fernandes---Dibling/Arma

---------Charles---Downes---------

Well/Man-----CB--CB----RB

Looks pretty good.

Need to figure out who is coming and going at CB, RB and GK and I'd like some more competition for Charles, but the rest of the squad is quite stacked (subject to departures).

The above doesnt mention Robinson, Smallbone, Aribo, Fraser or BBD.

 

Do you think we will start with Gav in goals again? 
IF AM is the starting gk v Wrexham would mean Gavin will probably want to go out on loan to get playing time…And so we’d need another goalie- in which case I’d like a new starting #1 imo - not another reserve whilst we wait to see if Gav gets better. We know what AM brings and it’s plenty good enough for the Championship so I’m fairly calm about the situation but overall I can sense a new #1 incoming later in window somehow…

Edited 4 hours ago by gio1saints

[saintant]

1 minute ago, gio1saints said:

Do you think we will start with Gav in goals again? 
IF AM is the starting gk v Wrexham would mean Gavin will probably want to go out on loan to get playing time…And so we’d need another goalie- in which case I’d like a new starting #1 imo - not another reserve whilst we wait to see if Gav gets better. We know what AM brings and it’s plenty good enough for the Championship so I’m fairly calm about the situation but overall I can see a new #1 incoming later in window somehow…

Assuming Ramsdale goes we will need a new number one goalkeeper as Gav and AM are not good enough if we are expecting to mount a promotion challenge. Can't afford to carry a weak keeper as will cost too many points.

[Matthew Le God]

2 minutes ago, saintant said:

 Gav and AM are not good enough if we are expecting to mount a promotion challenge.

They were our keepers when we were promoted.

[Saint Matty 76]

2 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

They were our keepers when we were promoted.

One has played about 2 games since and the other had an ACL injury followed by a shit loan in Belgium.

Not much need for trying to be clever this time, don't you think?

[Verbal]

6 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

They were our keepers when we were promoted.

Despite the number of goals conceded. Teams as low as 18th (QPR) conceded fewer.

[coalman]

8 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

They were our keepers when we were promoted.

Correlation and causality aren't the same thing.

[Badger]

16 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

They were our keepers when we were promoted.

But could still be improved on. 

[Sheaf Saint]

23 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

They were our keepers when we were promoted.

So they're good enough to get us into a playoff spot, but not for automatic promotion.

Glad we cleared that up.

[Matthew Le God]

21 minutes ago, Verbal said:

Despite the number of goals conceded. Teams as low as 18th (QPR) conceded fewer.

Not solely a keepers fault, the team as a whole defends against the ball. Plus the style of play played a big part in the number we conceded.

[Badger]

Just now, Matthew Le God said:

Not solely a keepers fault, the team as a whole defends against the ball. Plus the style of play played a big part in the number we conceded.

It did, but so did not being able to get down to low shots especially to the GK's left.

[Badger]

On 02/07/2025 at 15:05, Saint_lambden said:

Sunderland about to sign Petrovic (GK) from Chelsea. I wonder if that will lead us to stepping up our interest in Anthony Patterson who's been linked with us the past couple of transfer windows. Would represent pure profit from a PSR point of view for them and he's likely now to be back-up there which - at 25 - I doubt he would want. 

 

Would prefer Johnannsen , who would probably cost less as well.

[sockeye]

36 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

They were our keepers when we were promoted.

The league is much stronger at the top end than when we were promoted.

[Saint86]

13 minutes ago, sockeye said:

The league is much stronger at the top end than when we were promoted.

I just can't agree with that.

Leicester are in turmoil and won't challenge for the title/automatics imo. Regardless of whether they get a PSR sanction its hanging over them, and they still have PSR spend limits which are certainly limiting them based on the whole RVN sacking saga.

Sheffield united are not a recently relegated team so they're squad is weaker already, and they're in a state of total flux in changing managers and style - all of which comes right after losing the playoff final to a team they finished well clear of in the league.

Birmingham have the momentum, a decent team, and bags of money - I can see them being the biggest threat to ourselves and Ipswich for the automatics.

Just can't see 4 teams running away with it with the competitiveness we saw in 23/24.

Edited 3 hours ago by Saint86

[Midfield_General]

18 minutes ago, Badger said:

It did, but so did not being able to get down to low shots especially to the GK's left.

And right.

And high to the left, and high to the right. 

And don't forget the straight ones. 

[saintant]

54 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

They were our keepers when we were promoted.

Presumably you'd be happy with them as our number one and two this season then? 

[davefizzy14]

2 hours ago, goodymatt said:

 

Good luck to Juan 😀 hope he gets valuable gametime.

 

[macca155]

2 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

I just can't agree with that.

Leicester are in turmoil and won't challenge for the title/automatics imo.

Sheffield united are not a recently relegated team and they're in a state of total flux in changing managers and style - all right after losing the playoff final to a team they finished well clear of in the league.

Birmingham have the momentum, a decent team, and bags of money - I can see them being the biggest threat to ourselves and Ipswich for the automatics.

Just can't see 4 teams running away with it with the competitiveness we saw in 23/24.

Nothing wrong with your reasoning and I've thought the same myself. However there may be a bit of wishful thinking going on.

I doubt Leicester will be that much of a basket case, and the usual subjects of WBA, Coventry, Mibblesborough, Blackburn, Bristol and Norwich will add to the threat from Utd, Birmingham, Wrexham, and Ipswich.

Not to mention perennial disrupters like Millwall, QPR, Portsmouth, and for us probably Charlton.

It is an incredibly tough and competitive league, and I can't wait to enjoy football again.

Resilience and squad depth will count. My worry is that almost certainly there will be some welcome, and unwelcome, departures as the squad is still way too big. That could derail things a little.

[Matthew Le God]

20 minutes ago, saintant said:

Presumably you'd be happy with them as our number one and two this season then? 

I'd prefer if we had better. Ideally we'd keep Ramsdale, but I doubt that will happen.

[trousers]

The view from the "Keep it Simple" camp....

Would you swap Bazunu and/or McCarthy with keeper(s) from any other Championship club(s)?

No? Keep them

Yes? Replace them

Piece of piss this "Ensure our squad is one of the best in the division" malarkey...

Edited 2 hours ago by trousers

[Chez]

29 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

I'd prefer if we had better. Ideally we'd keep Ramsdale, but I doubt that will happen.

Likewise.
You are probably a good man to ask for the best (valuable)/biggest named players to stay with a relegated club?  Sander Berge, KWP in recent times. Going back there was Barton/Kevin Nolan/Alan Smith at Newcastle, and further back Michael Carrick/Defoe (for half a season). Not too many player 'easily good enough for the Prem' seem to stick around.

[Chez]

13 minutes ago, trousers said:

The view from the "Keep it Simple" camp....

Would you swap Bazunu and/or McCarthy with keeper(s) from any other Championship club(s)?

No? Keep them

Yes? Replace them

Piece of piss this "Ensure our squad is one of the best in the division" malarkey...

Not sure, as I don't know championship keepers, but if there are better, how to do we offload the two we have? That part os not piece of piss. No one is taking McCarthy off our hands and he has zero reason to depart while we are paying him a decent wage.

[Saint86]

1 hour ago, macca155 said:

Nothing wrong with your reasoning and I've thought the same myself. However there may be a bit of wishful thinking going on.

I doubt Leicester will be that much of a basket case, and the usual subjects of WBA, Coventry, Mibblesborough, Blackburn, Bristol and Norwich will add to the threat from Utd, Birmingham, Wrexham, and Ipswich.

Not to mention perennial disrupters like Millwall, QPR, Portsmouth, and for us probably Charlton.

It is an incredibly tough and competitive league, and I can't wait to enjoy football again.

Resilience and squad depth will count. My worry is that almost certainly there will be some welcome, and unwelcome, departures as the squad is still way too big. That could derail things a little.

I know what you mean, but i just can't see any sides outside of the obvious ones being in with a serious chance of automatics (i.e., Ipswich, Leicester, Saints, Blades, Brum). I'm not concerning myself for playoffs as i consider something to have gone very wrong if we're worrying about scraping playoffs (famous last words? 😋).

Of the others, I guess Coventry under Lampard were looking very decent at times, but they did fall away in the playoffs and I just don't think they have the squad depth for a sustained challenge.

I see the risk factor for us will be how well Still adapts to the league and turning around the morale at the club, and whether he really is the mustard tactically. First 11 wise, i think we have the potential to have a very decent side. Similarly we really shouldn't be struggling for squad depth (as you allude to).

The obvious risk factor for Ipswich is that its a different challenge for Mckenna this time around - i.e., can he turn around their squad morale and get back to winning ways, and also - does he have the drive to do it all again with them having already done it and when he's being linked with bigger jobs already?

Leicester have Ipswich/our issues and then all their off field worries to sort out as well. Plus their squad is a bit of a mess and needs work - and they still have no manager, a disinterested owner, and financial constraints.

As for other disrupters. Think there are some unfortunate Southampton specific tie ups in the league this season (Selles and Sheffield, Jones at Charlton, and obviously that lot down the road) - and its saints so i always expect us to fluff our lines in those types of situations.

Edited 2 hours ago by Saint86

[trousers]

20 minutes ago, Chez said:

Not sure, as I don't know championship keepers, but if there are better, how to do we offload the two we have? That part os not piece of piss. No one is taking McCarthy off our hands and he has zero reason to depart while we are paying him a decent wage.

What'll be more cost effective in the long run? Not getting in better players because we don't want to pay the sub-standard players we can't shift or getting in better players regardless and cover the garden leave pay retrospectively with a fraction of the premier league riches upon promotion...?

We've got financial clout (in this division) so let's exploit it, rather than settle for second best.

Or maybe I'm just too much of a simpleton

Edited 1 hour ago by trousers

[Chez]

21 minutes ago, trousers said:

What'll be more cost effective in the long run? Not getting in better players because we don't want to pay the sub-standard players we can't shift or getting in better players regardless and cover the garden leave pay retrospectively with a fraction of the premier league riches upon promotion...?

We've got financial clout (in this division) so let's exploit it, rather than settle for second best.

Or maybe I'm just too much of a simpleton

We will have a budget to be within and a need to cut the wage bill. Even if we are signing three players before selling, player sales will dictate what we can do in the GK position. But Ramsdale out, new number 1 in (possibly on serious dough), and keep the other two as second and third choices would work. 

[Weston Super Saint]

1 hour ago, trousers said:

The view from the "Keep it Simple" camp....

Would you swap Bazunu with keeper(s) from any other Championship club(s)?

 

I'd swap him for an under 12's keeper that can catch in a hearbeat.

[Midfield_General]

3 minutes ago, Chez said:

We will have a budget to be within and a need to cut the wage bill. Even if we are signing three players before selling, player sales will dictate what we can do in the GK position. But Ramsdale out, new number 1 in (possibly on serious dough), and keep the other two as second and third choices would work. 

Macca's ony got a year left, and at his stage of his career no-one else will be matching his wages even with a relegation cut, so I very much doubt he'll be going anywhere. As you say, if we get a proper new number 1, Macca's absolutely fine as second/ third choice until his contract expires next year. 

[Saint Mikey]

47 minutes ago, Chez said:

Likewise.
You are probably a good man to ask for the best (valuable)/biggest named players to stay with a relegated club?  Sander Berge, KWP in recent times. Going back there was Barton/Kevin Nolan/Alan Smith at Newcastle, and further back Michael Carrick/Defoe (for half a season). Not too many player 'easily good enough for the Prem' seem to stick around.

That Newcastle team also kept hold of Colloccini who was a current Argentinean international - which I though was mental at the time. Leicester kept hold of Vardy, but age played a big part there. 

Can't think of too many other examples though.

[hypochondriac]

1 minute ago, Saint Mikey said:

That Newcastle team also kept hold of Colloccini who was a current Argentinean international - which I though was mental at the time. Leicester kept hold of Vardy, but age played a big part there. 

Can't think of too many other examples though.

Villa? 

[Bobsmith]

1 hour ago, Chez said:

Not sure, as I don't know championship keepers, but if there are better, how to do we offload the two we have? That part os not piece of piss. No one is taking McCarthy off our hands and he has zero reason to depart while we are paying him a decent wage.

McCarthy is perfectly adequate backup for the championship and stepped up when needed at this level previously. Plus we're not longer playing russell martin keepball each week. Bazunu on the other hand is terrible and needs to go. Worst GK in Prem, Champ and probably the french league last season too. 

[skintsaint]

On 30/06/2025 at 11:34, skintsaint said:

Surprised we haven't looked at Agyemang either.

Looks like off to Derby thats why....

[Verbal]

3 hours ago, Matthew Le God said:

Not solely a keepers fault, the team as a whole defends against the ball. Plus the style of play played a big part in the number we conceded.

So you haven't seen GB's stats for the 23-24 season?