Summer Transfer Window 2025/26

[LuckyNumber7]

36 minutes ago, Saint Matty 76 said:

Couple more links to Lennon Miller of Motherwell this morning.

Can't say I've ever seen him myself but I know a Rangers fan who seems to think he's the next big player from Scotland.

Yes please. Have a mate who's a Celtic fan and has been raving about him for the last two years.

[Turkish]

Just now, Chez said:

The big clubs have been cherry picking the best players for I don't know how long. They have everything sewn up.

Bit of shame Forrest don't get one more season where they add to what they have and see if they can really break into the big time. The window of opportunity seems to be almost non existent for "smaller' clubs. Maybe they can emulate us and sign some new talent that sees them do even better - far from easy though. The good news for them is that they tied down their entire back four to decent contracts. Aina was bloody brilliant last year, but I guess at 28 he's a year or so too old for the biggest clubs to want to invest £50m in him? 

It's always been the case, one of my earliest football memories was Steve Williams leaving us to go to Arsenal despite us having been a better team for several years, the naive child in my couldn't believe that a player would leave us for a club further down the league. 

At least back then though smaller clubs had a chance us, Forest, Ipswich holding our own at the top for a while, even Watford finished second one year i think and got to the FA cup final the year we finished second. Soon as anyone shows any promise these days one of the big clubs hoover them up and that even goes down to kids with 16 year olds being poached by the big clubs making academies pretty pointless 

[Turkish]

7 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

It's what PSR has done sadly. It's just hindering the lesser teams, it's created the most uneven playing field I've ever seen, when supposedly it was supposed to make it fairer - but I think they all knew what they were doing when PSR came in tbh. The smaller clubs have to hire accountants to work out what % of this % they can spend, but the bigger teams just get stronger as it's all based on commercial revenue and income. (or they can sell off parts of their organisation to themselves to make money - I mean wtf?)

I don't really know what the way out from this is, but for promoted sites they simply have no chance. You can spend upwards of £200m and probably still go down on 20 odd points. The PL is broken and PSR has done it.

i remember when it came in, or Financial Fair Play it was called then and lots of people were excited that it would level things up, it was pretty clear though that all it was doing was pull up the drawbridge. There would be no chance of a wealthy owner buying a smaller club and let them challenge the elite. It's actually been worse than could be imagined.

[Chez]

11 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

It's always been a thing, but like you say the window of opportunity is now smaller. 6 months to a year of your best players from a good season, pretty much all you'll get from them. No chance to build a team, no chance to evolve a squad - not without stupid money or the ability to fudge the books by selling parts of the club to yourself to get over PSR hurdles.

Forest did overachieve last season, so ideally they'd have used this window to fill some gaps and add more quality to the existing - but they won't get the chance to do that, as the focus will be on just trying to stand still.

PSR, FFP and all that rubbish has ruined football as we know it basically.

I wonder if PSR was not about, whether they would have still sold the two wingers - the money was decent and the players will no doubt have wanted the moves. 

[S-Clarke]

2 minutes ago, Turkish said:

i remember when it came in, or Financial Fair Play it was called then and lots of people were excited that it would level things up, it was pretty clear though that all it was doing was pull up the drawbridge. There would be no chance of a wealthy owner buying a smaller club and let them challenge the elite. It's actually been worse than could be imagined.

And the cynic in me tells me that's exactly what the 'powers that be' wanted.

[Chez]

13 minutes ago, LuckyNumber7 said:

Yes please. Have a mate who's a Celtic fan and has been raving about him for the last two years.

That sounds promising. Celtic normally hoover up all the 'local' talent, so when they don't want them, it make me nervous.

[Saint_lambden]

44 minutes ago, davefizzy14 said:

Yes please

I know for a fact that we were very interested when Russell Martin/Darren Mowbray were here and he was scouted several times, but for whatever reason we never pursued it further. As others have said, a bit of a surprise he's not already been hoovered up by Celtic or Rangers 

[revolution saint]

I might be missing something but couldn't see much to get too worked up over with Lennon Miller: 

 

[gio1saints]

48 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

It's what PSR has done sadly. It's just hindering the lesser teams, it's created the most uneven playing field I've ever seen, when supposedly it was supposed to make it fairer - but I think they all knew what they were doing when PSR came in tbh. The smaller clubs have to hire accountants to work out what % of this % they can spend, but the bigger teams just get stronger as it's all based on commercial revenue and income. (or they can sell off parts of their organisation to themselves to make money - I mean wtf?)

I don't really know what the way out from this is, but for promoted sites they simply have no chance. You can spend upwards of £200m and probably still go down on 20 odd points. The PL is broken and PSR has done it.

Yes yes yes. it’s a joke of a situation. 

SR aim to carve out a living from the hinterland between the championship and the EPL. Trying to be top half competitive in the EPL is a very fast way to go broke basically.
 

When you know your team is not competing for titles or trophies anymore it’s like a dose of smelling salts, we try to pretend we are competing but that’s simply only the facade of competing ~ not in reality - reminds me of a line from Goldings Lord of the Flies :

” Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy.”

 

It sucks. Pretend I don’t know it, is how I still bother to follow Saints ~ that plus they are in my heart whatever. The EPL, it’s NOT a competition.  

 

Edited 6 hours ago by gio1saints

[Saint86]

34 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

And the cynic in me tells me that's exactly what the 'powers that be' wanted.

What do you mean the cycnic in you? Its fucking obvious that this is how all these rules have been designed. Started with Uefa getting concerned at the power of the premier league, then you've got a bunch of foreign owners in this country that want to protect their assets and try to stay at the top table. Whether by design or opportunity, all the big clubs / owners across europe have in parallel devised a system that entrenches existing financial disparities between clubs and gives increased competitive weight to commercial incomes for established brands - they then set about introducing more and more competitions aimed at shuffling funds away to only the select few clubs that qualify for them (world club cup, rejigged champions league, conference league etc), and if an upstart club dares to challenge the elites by qualifying for these, PSR and the increased fixture congestion essentially ensures that they cannot build a team to compete on multiple fronts for that season - and so they then drop off in the league and then have to gut their squad to meet the arbitrary 3year spending limits. Its a fucking brutal fixed game - and there is no point even crying about it in the premier league - if British clubs don't comply with UEFA rules they can't play in europe.

If you wanted to design a system that protected the established rich clubs and limited competition - it would look pretty similar to this. One day though, it will all come crashing down, because it is unsustainable, and they're killing the goose that was competitive exciting football.

Edited 6 hours ago by Saint86

[Ted Bates Statue]

4 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

” Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy.”

 

It sucks. Pretend I don’t know it is how I still bother to follow Saints that plus they are in my heart whatever. 

 

So that's why Hasenhuttl cried after the Liverpool match. 

Edited 6 hours ago by Ted Bates Statue

[gio1saints]

Not that Ralph Ted! 
The apex of SR’s ambition is promotion /not relegation to League 1, and >17th EPL the following year or year after tops.
The system may throw us a bone if we are lucky - A cup run to make us feel it’s proper but otherwise, over the long term, and continuing my classic literature theme, to quote George Orwell from 1984:

If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face—for ever.”
 

[SW11_Saint]

On 31/03/2025 at 11:27, skintsaint said:

Something strange about these players being linked with better moves. Had high hopes for him at the start of the season but seems to have just taken up Basketball since being here.

High hoops surely? 

[lambtiss]

1 hour ago, gio1saints said:

Not that Ralph Ted! 
The apex of SR’s ambition is promotion /not relegation to League 1, and >17th EPL the following year or year after tops.
The system may throw us a bone if we are lucky - A cup run to make us feel it’s proper but otherwise, over the long term, and continuing my classic literature theme, to quote George Orwell from 1984:

If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face—for ever.”
 

Perhaps you are a masochist?

[Saint_lambden]

We've been persuing Eduard Spertsyan (Armenian attacking midfielder at Krasnodar) but he wants to play European football so that's a bit of a dead end sadly. We didn't make a bid as wanted to establish if it was go-er first. A shame because he's a superb player but probably a bit too ambitious. 

[Saint86]

15 minutes ago, Saint_lambden said:

We've been persuing Eduard Spertsyan (Armenian attacking midfielder at Krasnodar) but he wants to play European football so that's a bit of a dead end sadly. We didn't make a bid as wanted to establish if it was go-er first. A shame because he's a superb player but probably a bit too ambitious. 

Haven't kept up with him as the russian league has totally and utterly dropped off my radar. But about 2-3 years ago he was a fantastic player in the russian league a very good prospect for bigger things - he was certainly one of those I was expecting to have made the move to a champions league / top Europa league club. Encouraging if that is at least the standard of player we're looking at, even if it's a shame we won't be getting him.

 

 

 

Edited 4 hours ago by Saint86

[trousers]

11 minutes ago, Saint_lambden said:

We've been persuing Eduard Spertsyan (Armenian attacking midfielder at Krasnodar) but he wants to play European football so that's a bit of a dead end sadly. We didn't make a bid as wanted to establish if it was go-er first. A shame because he's a superb player but probably a bit too ambitious. 

Apologies for trotting out the forum's most annoying question but do forgive me... 

Source? 😁

 

[Forester]

I still think we will make some further sales or loans out, but am pleased to see that Still sees this largely as a retention window given quality we have for this level, rather than Premier League.

The other factor I think Saints will consider is whether any of Rambo, THB, Fernandes or Dibbling are likely to FALL in value in a year’s time if we don’t go up.  I would have thought not, other than injury.  And so unless someone offers really big money we aren’t in any kind of hurry.

[Gloucester Saint]

2 hours ago, Saint86 said:

What do you mean the cycnic in you? Its fucking obvious that this is how all these rules have been designed. Started with Uefa getting concerned at the power of the premier league, then you've got a bunch of foreign owners in this country that want to protect their assets and try to stay at the top table. Whether by design or opportunity, all the big clubs / owners across europe have in parallel devised a system that entrenches existing financial disparities between clubs and gives increased competitive weight to commercial incomes for established brands - they then set about introducing more and more competitions aimed at shuffling funds away to only the select few clubs that qualify for them (world club cup, rejigged champions league, conference league etc), and if an upstart club dares to challenge the elites by qualifying for these, PSR and the increased fixture congestion essentially ensures that they cannot build a team to compete on multiple fronts for that season - and so they then drop off in the league and then have to gut their squad to meet the arbitrary 3year spending limits. Its a fucking brutal fixed game - and there is no point even crying about it in the premier league - if British clubs don't comply with UEFA rules they can't play in europe.

If you wanted to design a system that protected the established rich clubs and limited competition - it would look pretty similar to this. One day though, it will all come crashing down, because it is unsustainable, and they're killing the goose that was competitive exciting football.

Leicester winning the PL and us finish top six in 2015/16 was never going to be allowed to happen again.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

2 hours ago, gio1saints said:

When you know your team is not competing for titles or trophies anymore it’s like a dose of smelling salts, we try to pretend we are competing but that’s simply only the facade of competing ~ not in reality - reminds me of a line from Goldings Lord of the Flies :

” Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy.”

 

It sucks. Pretend I don’t know it, is how I still bother to follow Saints ~ that plus they are in my heart whatever. The EPL, it’s NOT a competition.  

 

 

2 hours ago, Ted Bates Statue said:

So that's why Hasenhuttl cried after the Liverpool match. 

Ralph also cried when HR sacked him for referring to someone repeatedly as "Piggy"

[SuperSAINT]

Source:

 

[Dusic]

Every window there are always curveballs too....

Charlea only has 2years left on his deal. Were we to get a decent (PL) offer for him I wouldn't be overly suprised if he isn't here in September.

Edwards is another interesting one. Imagine after his loan at QPR he will want to be starting games - where will be he on the pecking order at Saints? Hard to tell, but Stephens will be a starter, we just bought Quarshie, Wood is there too and slim chance THB is around too. Thats before thinking of Kayi Sanda (who I imagine will go on loan). Edwards will be back later in pre season which makes it harder for him, would also not be overly suprised if he went too.

[SuperSAINT]

3 minutes ago, Dusic said:

Every window there are always curveballs too....

Charlea only has 2years left on his deal. Were we to get a decent (PL) offer for him I wouldn't be overly suprised if he isn't here in September.

Edwards is another interesting one. Imagine after his loan at QPR he will want to be starting games - where will be he on the pecking order at Saints? Hard to tell, but Stephens will be a starter, we just bought Quarshie, Wood is there too and slim chance THB is around too. Thats before thinking of Kayi Sanda (who I imagine will go on loan). Edwards will be back later in pre season which makes it harder for him, would also not be overly suprised if he went too.

Presumably when the Leicester sales start, I would assume Ronnie Edwards would be up there on their shopping list since his QPR coach just rocked up there.

[Saint86]

2 minutes ago, SuperSAINT said:

Presumably when the Leicester sales start, I would assume Ronnie Edwards would be up there on their shopping list since his QPR coach just rocked up there.

Keiran Maguire recently described QPR as the best run club in the championship - because they've been ticking a long with "f'all" spend.

It seems pretty obvious Leicester have money issues given the delayed sacking of rvn, and the fact that the new manager has to pay his own release clause at QPR. He would be the perfect fit for a club who have no money to spend... Proven track record of delivering on a shoestring at this level.

None of that paints a picture of Leicester being able to afford our players if we want to hold on to them.

[chivvy]

4 hours ago, trousers said:

Was once dubbed "the new Harry Kane"... https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/who-is-jamie-donley-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-tottenham-striker-at-the-centre-of-an-international-battle-between-northern-ireland-and-england/40949191.html

Excuse my curiosity but are you asking about him because of some intel you've heard about him possibly being scouted by ourselves? Just seems a bit of a random player to mention otherwise... cheers!

Saw his numbers and age and thought I'd research a bit more..  but didn't want to go all out and say he's great when I've not seen him in action.  He looks technically very good albeit on you tube..

 

 

[SuperSAINT]

3 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

Keiran Maguire recently described QPR as the best run club in the championship - because they've been ticking a long with "f'all" spend.

It seems pretty obvious Leicester have money issues given the delayed sacking of rvn, and the fact that the new manager has to pay his own release clause at QPR. He would be the perfect fit for a club who have no money to spend... Proven track record of delivering on a shoestring at this level.

None of that paints a picture of Leicester being able to afford our players if we want to hold on to them.

Yeah, but Leicester have made a habit of moonwalking along legal challenges and the rules of the game for the last few seasons.

[gio1saints]

2 hours ago, lambtiss said:

Perhaps you are a masochist?

Not quite. Melodramatic certainly though 😁. Italian DNA m’lud. 🇮🇹

[Sevvy]

All these rumours about players coming to saints,

We might need a stewards enquiry,    I'll get my coat 

[Chez]

1 hour ago, Saint_lambden said:

We've been persuing Eduard Spertsyan (Armenian attacking midfielder at Krasnodar) but he wants to play European football so that's a bit of a dead end sadly. We didn't make a bid as wanted to establish if it was go-er first. A shame because he's a superb player but probably a bit too ambitious. 

Looks a good player, but like you say, maybe beyond a championship side.  Unless we are talking champions league, I'd of thought biggest wage offer would win. Join a team for UEFA football and they could be out after a few games...and then you have three and half years with that club.  

[Badger]

2 hours ago, Saint_lambden said:

We've been persuing Eduard Spertsyan (Armenian attacking midfielder at Krasnodar) but he wants to play European football so that's a bit of a dead end sadly. We didn't make a bid as wanted to establish if it was go-er first. A shame because he's a superb player but probably a bit too ambitious. 

Two questions on this, isn’t there still an embargo on doing business with Russian clubs? And would we get a work permit for him ? 

[Badger]

4 hours ago, Saint_lambden said:

I know for a fact that we were very interested when Russell Martin/Darren Mowbray were here and he was scouted several times, but for whatever reason we never pursued it further. As others have said, a bit of a surprise he's not already been hoovered up by Celtic or Rangers 

What I’ve seen of him (only clips on tv and YouTube) he looks like a player who is creative and likes to go forward. So not an RM type player.

Not sure we’d be in for him whilst we have Dibling and Fernandes. 

I expect he’ll have better offers than Championship, or that he and his Dad will think such a move is beneath where he should be. 

[Toadhall Saint]

4 hours ago, Saint86 said:

What do you mean the cycnic in you? Its fucking obvious that this is how all these rules have been designed. Started with Uefa getting concerned at the power of the premier league, then you've got a bunch of foreign owners in this country that want to protect their assets and try to stay at the top table. Whether by design or opportunity, all the big clubs / owners across europe have in parallel devised a system that entrenches existing financial disparities between clubs and gives increased competitive weight to commercial incomes for established brands - they then set about introducing more and more competitions aimed at shuffling funds away to only the select few clubs that qualify for them (world club cup, rejigged champions league, conference league etc), and if an upstart club dares to challenge the elites by qualifying for these, PSR and the increased fixture congestion essentially ensures that they cannot build a team to compete on multiple fronts for that season - and so they then drop off in the league and then have to gut their squad to meet the arbitrary 3year spending limits. Its a fucking brutal fixed game - and there is no point even crying about it in the premier league - if British clubs don't comply with UEFA rules they can't play in europe.

If you wanted to design a system that protected the established rich clubs and limited competition - it would look pretty similar to this. One day though, it will all come crashing down, because it is unsustainable, and they're killing the goose that was competitive exciting football.

Look up G14 allegedly no long around.

[Saint NL]

KWP to Turkey, a weird move for him. Wish him all the best.

[disconnect]

17 minutes ago, Saint NL said:

KWP to Turkey, a weird move for him. Wish him all the best.

Actually confirmed? Would've thought anyone from mid table down would've given him a contract and that'd be much more appealing than moving to Turkey. He Operates well on both sides and would be a very useful squad player, particularly if teams are serious about Europe and cups. Someone like Palace, West Ham, Brentford etc all relatively local and would give him a good contract. 

[Fabrice29]

1 minute ago, disconnect said:

Actually confirmed? Would've thought anyone from mid table down would've given him a contract and that'd be much more appealing than moving to Turkey. He Operates well on both sides and would be a very useful squad player, particularly if teams are serious about Europe and cups. Someone like Palace, West Ham, Brentford etc all relatively local and would give him a good contract. 

Why?

[Saint_lambden]

1 hour ago, Badger said:

Two questions on this, isn’t there still an embargo on doing business with Russian clubs? And would we get a work permit for him ? 

No and yes I would assume, otherwise we surely wouldn’t bother negotiating.

We were ready to send a significant bid to Krasnodar but Spertsyan said no so it went no further.