Summer Transfer Window 2025/26

[Chez]

1 hour ago, CSA96 said:

https://twitter.com/africafoot_com/status/1945195410026578368?s=46&t=f0hgNyKSvvOD5qjGLJhsXQ

https://foot-africa.com/en/news/southampton-want-to-sign-morlaye-sylla-will-the-deal-go-through-799436/

[CB Fry]

This transfer window is getting Sylla and Sylla.

[Lighthouse]

1 hour ago, Saint_lambden said:

We’ve offered a contract to Morlaye Sylla who was most recently at Portuguese Premier League side Arouca but now available on a free as his contract expired. 
 

Versatile, can play across the midfield but most common on the left wing. 

It'll be a black day for the club if we sign him.

[Bakovnetski]

1 hour ago, Saint NL said:

Never heard of him, so here's a summary

 

Morlaye Sylla (born 27 July 1998) is a Guinean international footballer who plays as a midfielder for Arouca and the Guinea national team.

 

Morlaye Sylla

Personal information

Date of birth

27 July 1998 (age 26)

Place of birth

Conakry, Guinea

Height

1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)

Position(s)

Midfielder

 

 

 

 

At 5'7" he's not exactly the kind of physique that cuts it in the Championship, let alone the PL.

[Saint86]

1 hour ago, Farmer Saint said:

Goztepe/Valenciennes

Can't see him leaving the Portuguese top flight to play in the French non league.

[Verbal]

1 hour ago, CB Fry said:

This transfer window is getting Sylla and Sylla.

Don't worry, I've dealt with this. You will never hear from CB Fry again. 

[Maggie May]

4 hours ago, Saint NL said:

Never heard of him, so here's a summary

 

Morlaye Sylla (born 27 July 1998) is a Guinean international footballer who plays as a midfielder for Arouca and the Guinea national team.

 

Morlaye Sylla

Personal information

Date of birth

27 July 1998 (age 26)

Place of birth

Conakry, Guinea

Height

1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)

Position(s)

Midfielder

 

 

 

 

I really like the look of this guy. A great bit of business on a free transfer, too. 

[Wade Garrett]

6 hours ago, Maggie May said:

I really like the look of this guy. A great bit of business on a free transfer, too. 

It is if he replaces Smallbone.  Hopefully he’s not Fernandes replacement, that would be terrible.

[Oldandtired]

With the caveat that I don’t keep up with world football so could not say who the next Messi is going to be, on the face of it we seem to be aiming lower and lower in our transfer targeting, with perhaps more obscure players popping up on the radar.

Either it’s genius born of incredible knowledge of who’s available and their skills / assets, or we’re getting desperate. I suppose time will tell.

[coalman]

10 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

It'll be a black day for the club if we sign him.

We'd have to be blind to ignore his potential. Set the transfer date.

[Badger]

6 minutes ago, Oldandtired said:

With the caveat that I don’t keep up with world football so could not say who the next Messi is going to be, on the face of it we seem to be aiming lower and lower in our transfer targeting, with perhaps more obscure players popping up on the radar.

Either it’s genius born of incredible knowledge of who’s available and their skills / assets, or we’re getting desperate. I suppose time will tell.

Have to wonder how we dredge some of them up. We went from chasing James Madison to Elyonoussi in one transfer window. We’re now it seems going from an Armenian bloke, who someone suggests is now being courted by PSG, to this character - out of contract is he ?- from a Portuguese club we’ve never heard of. 

[Badger]

7 minutes ago, coalman said:

We'd have to be blind to ignore his potential. Set the transfer date.

Talk of potential, he’s 27 soon, not an age where you’d sign as one for the future. One for Goztepe perhaps. 

(Perhaps there’s an aspect of your post I’ve missed. Apologies if so). 

[Wade Garrett]

I was hoping there was something in the Lewis O’Brien rumours.  But it seems that the new scouting team are trying to be as clever bollocks as the old team.

Relatively early days, but it seems same old same old.

[Dan Johnson]

12 hours ago, Saint_lambden said:

We’ve offered a contract to Morlaye Sylla who was most recently at Portuguese Premier League side Arouca but now available on a free as his contract expired. 
 

Versatile, can play across the midfield but most common on the left wing. 

Never heard of him but he's played nearly a 100 games in the Portuguese top flight over the last 3 seasons, so he has pedigree.

He played nearly all games in the 22/23 season when Arouca finished 5th (Arouca qualified for Europe)
He played nearly all games in the 23/24 season when Arouca finished 7th, also played 2 games in europe
He played nearly all games last season, when Arouca finished 12th.

37 caps for Guinea and 8 goals too

 

Edited 2 hours ago by Dan Johnson

[Willo of Whiteley]

I find it bizarre, you’d think if a club was serious about going back up you’d be going for players that are fringe Premier League or high Championship etc.

Look at Leeds with Dan James, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Roden etc.

Saints being linked with pretty much every player that no ones heard of. Of course some of it will be paper talk, but who really knew who Quarshie or Downs were six weeks ago?

It feels a little bit like trying to be clever again. We have all seen how that turned out.

[coalman]

15 minutes ago, Badger said:

Talk of potential, he’s 27 soon, not an age where you’d sign as one for the future. One for Goztepe perhaps. 

(Perhaps there’s an aspect of your post I’ve missed. Apologies if so). 

If an apology is due it should probably be heading your way.

Edited 2 hours ago by coalman

[Turkish]

5 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

I find it bizarre, you’d think if a club was serious about going back up you’d be going for players that are fringe Premier League or high Championship etc.

Look at Leeds with Dan James, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Roden etc.

Saints being linked with pretty much every player that no ones heard of. Of course some of it will be paper talk, but who really knew who Quarshie or Downs were six weeks ago?

It feels a little bit like trying to be clever again. We have all seen how that turned out.

Careful, you'll upset the wallys on here with their who needs experience mantras. 

 

[AlexLaw76]

He sound shyte 

[trousers]

18 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

I find it bizarre, you’d think if a club was serious about going back up you’d be going for players that are fringe Premier League or high Championship etc.

Look at Leeds with Dan James, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Roden etc.

Saints being linked with pretty much every player that no ones heard of. Of course some of it will be paper talk, but who really knew who Quarshie or Downs were six weeks ago?

It feels a little bit like trying to be clever again. We have all seen how that turned out.

Indeed. Dragan has said in interviews that they have learned from past mistakes... waiting patiently to see actual evidence of that....

("But who do YOU think we should sign? Blah, blah, blah...") 

[Saint_lambden]

14 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Careful, you'll upset the wallys on here with their who needs experience mantras. 

 

Our current squad literally has over 2,000 Championship appearances between them. 

[trousers]

1 minute ago, Saint_lambden said:

Our current squad literally has over 2,000 Championship appearances between them. 

Why would that stop you wanting even more...?

[hypochondriac]

2 minutes ago, trousers said:

Why would that stop you wanting even more...?

We need experience AND a squad refresh given the events of last season and because we want to change our style of play. 

[S-Clarke]

Just now, hypochondriac said:

We need experience AND a squad refresh given the events of last season and because we want to change our style of play. 

Yeah exactly, some of our existing 'experience' needs to be cycled out and replaced with 'new' experience. There are plays in the mix who are really done here, they probably know it as well.

We used the loan market well last time to give us the 'experience' at this level, be interesting to see if we go that way this year.

[Midfield_General]

I’m waiting until the end of the window to make a judgement. Signs are slightly concerning so far, but I’m telling myself that the proper signings will come in the last few weeks once we’ve got the money from our big sales, the big sides are fully restocked and need to shift out their fringe players who we can swoop in for, etc. 

That’s what I’m telling myself 😓

[Miltonaggro]

12 hours ago, Saint_lambden said:

We’ve offered a contract to Morlaye Sylla who was most recently at Portuguese Premier League side Arouca but now available on a free as his contract expired. 
 

Versatile, can play across the midfield but most common on the left wing. 

Would be an odd one to be honest with Still's apparent preference for athleticism and dynamism.  I've seen Sylla play as a central midfielder and bullied against Casa Pia, Fonte at 40 had him on toast, he's about 5ft 6ins and 10 stone.  His career is three average seasons for the Portuguese equivalent of Ross County. 

[BARCELONASAINT]

Its fantastic that we have sold out all the tickets for the first home game of the season, incredible when you think about what performances we put up with last season. I just hope we really have a team to be excited about come kick off . At present it does feel very underwhelming and i can only hope we have targets lined up that will only be released once bigger teams have their replacements in. I must admit being linked to players no one has ever heard off is doing nothing for my confidence.

[hypochondriac]

2 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

Yeah exactly, some of our existing 'experience' needs to be cycled out and replaced with 'new' experience. There are plays in the mix who are really done here, they probably know it as well.

We used the loan market well last time to give us the 'experience' at this level, be interesting to see if we go that way this year.

Do Leeds or Burnley have any players not good enough for the prem worth pinching? Might be a good place to start. 

[Miltonaggro]

8 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

I’m waiting until the end of the window to make a judgement. Signs are slightly concerning so far, but I’m telling myself that the proper signings will come in the last few weeks once we’ve got the money from our big sales, the big sides are fully restocked and need to shift out their fringe players who we can swoop in for, etc. 

That’s what I’m telling myself 😓

Same.

[S-Clarke]

1 minute ago, hypochondriac said:

Do Leeds or Burnley have any players not good enough for the prem worth pinching? Might be a good place to start. 

He's not a Leeds player now, but they had Manor Solomon on loan from Spurs last season. He was really good for them on the left wing, a winger with an end product to him.

He returned to Spurs and I've not heard any more about him in terms of moving elsewhere, I guess Frank wanted to have a look - but he's someone I'd be tempted to take. 

We'll see similar to our last Champ season I think, the bigger/better loans will become available towards the end of the window. Ryan Fraser/THB/Downes were all towards the end I think - maybe THB/Fraser more so.

[hypochondriac]

2 minutes ago, BARCELONASAINT said:

Its fantastic that we have sold out all the tickets for the first home game of the season, incredible when you think about what performances we put up with last season. I just hope we really have a team to be excited about come kick off . At present it does feel very underwhelming and i can only hope we have targets lined up that will only be released once bigger teams have their replacements in. I must admit being linked to players no one has ever heard off is doing nothing for my confidence.

I'm fine with unearthing a few hidden gems. I must be honest and say that I don't feel like we have made moves yet that show we mean business this year. An awful lot is going to hinge on how many of Downes, THB, Dibling, Fernandes and Ramsdale we keep. Hypothetically if we kept most of them I can live with the window being quite quiet and maybe just bringing in a few players with some potential. 

[saintant]

57 minutes ago, BARCELONASAINT said:

Its fantastic that we have sold out all the tickets for the first home game of the season, incredible when you think about what performances we put up with last season. I just hope we really have a team to be excited about come kick off . At present it does feel very underwhelming and i can only hope we have targets lined up that will only be released once bigger teams have their replacements in. I must admit being linked to players no one has ever heard off is doing nothing for my confidence.

Isn't it likely that Will Still wants to see the players in these early friendlies to allow him to assess if and how they might fit into his preferred systems? This leaves plenty of time left in the current transfer window to allow those he doesn't want to find new clubs and for him to bring in a few fresh faces he thinks will improve what is needed. Then there is obviously the question of the futures of the better players such as Ramsdale, Fernandes, Bednarek, THB and Dibbling. In terms of the window and how our eventual squad might look it is very early days.

Edited 41 minutes ago by saintant

[hypochondriac]

4 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

He's not a Leeds player now, but they had Manor Solomon on loan from Spurs last season. He was really good for them on the left wing, a winger with an end product to him.

He returned to Spurs and I've not heard any more about him in terms of moving elsewhere, I guess Frank wanted to have a look - but he's someone I'd be tempted to take. 

We'll see similar to our last Champ season I think, the bigger/better loans will become available towards the end of the window. Ryan Fraser/THB/Downes were all towards the end I think - maybe THB/Fraser more so.

Good suggestion that's the kind of info I like to see on here. Maybe if we sell Edozie we will go for him. 

[benjii]

Don't think he'll get a lorra lorra goals.

[S-Clarke]

6 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Good suggestion that's the kind of info I like to see on here. Maybe if we sell Edozie we will go for him. 

Bit more info, sounds like it's in limbo as he wants to try and impress Frank.

Leeds United have a Manor Solomon decision to make

Adam Underwood and the transfer team have a decision to make regarding Solomon. New Spurs boss Frank is keen to take a look at Solomon, but there is every chance he decides not to keep the winger.

Especially, with Kudus signed and Son Heung-min likely to stay despite interest in the Spurs captain. So, Spurs may end up choosing to sell and Leeds are said to be waiting in the wings to sign the Spurs man.

However, it is now a month until the opener on August 18 against Everton and Leeds need to decide if they are going to take a risk and wait for Solomon to possibly be available, or sign a replacement.

Leeds are said to have made a bid for Nice star Jeremie Boga, with Sunderland and Trabzonspor also interested in the Ivory Coast ace. One to watch but it seems like Solomon would rather stay at Spurs.

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

26 minutes ago, BARCELONASAINT said:

It’s fantastic that we have sold out all the tickets for the first home game of the season, incredible when you think about what performances we put up with last season.

Not sure where you’re getting your information but there’s loads left, particularly either side of the aways. Northam has just about sold out, just one or two single seats left but plenty elsewhere.

Probably pick up once it goes to General Sale (members window right now)

[Fabrice29]

1 hour ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

I find it bizarre, you’d think if a club was serious about going back up you’d be going for players that are fringe Premier League or high Championship etc.

Look at Leeds with Dan James, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Roden etc.

Saints being linked with pretty much every player that no ones heard of. Of course some of it will be paper talk, but who really knew who Quarshie or Downs were six weeks ago?

It feels a little bit like trying to be clever again. We have all seen how that turned out.

We have a whole squad of these ffs 😂

The desire for us to sign someone now that you’ll be concluding isn’t good enough for the PL and needs replacing if we go up is off the charts on here. 

[ally_uk]

I’d reserve judgment until the end of the window.

The squad’s bloated and in need of serious trimming,
but as it stands, we’ve got a team capable of pushing for promotion.

The key decisions, as I see it, revolve around what we do with Ramsdale, Bellis, Dibling, and Fernandes.

A winger and a creative midfielder would definitely strengthen us,

but do we really need to spend silly money on both?

Or do we play it smart, bring in a couple of loans,

and save the serious spending for if we get promoted?

I like the look of Robinson and Matsuki,

so maybe we don’t need to spend big or bring in more reinforcements.

We might already have what we need.

 

[Give it to Ron]

10 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

We have a whole squad of these ffs 😂

The desire for us to sign someone now that you’ll be concluding isn’t good enough for the PL and needs replacing if we go up is off the charts on here. 

Also Dan James just signed a 4 year contract at Leeds so doubt looking to sell him.

[Midfield_General]

51 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

He's not a Leeds player now, but they had Manor Solomon on loan from Spurs last season. He was really good for them on the left wing, a winger with an end product to him.

He returned to Spurs and I've not heard any more about him in terms of moving elsewhere, I guess Frank wanted to have a look - but he's someone I'd be tempted to take. 

We'll see similar to our last Champ season I think, the bigger/better loans will become available towards the end of the window. Ryan Fraser/THB/Downes were all towards the end I think - maybe THB/Fraser more so.

Last time we were preparing for the Championship it went: 

1st July: Manning (Perm)

6th July: Lumley (Perm)

12th July: Charles (Perm) 

 

Unspecified date in July/ August: Stewart (Perm)

21st August: Downes (Loan)

25th August: THB (Loan)

25th August: Fraser (Loan)

25th August: Holgate (Loan)

 

So we got a few cheap perms in early and then the two 'big' signings, Downes and THB, both came towards the end of the window and were both loans, with Stewart somewhere between the two (and let's just forget about Holgate shall we).

Different management and recruitment team now of course, but from what we've seen so far, we may definitely be following a similar pattern. Let's hope so. 

 

Edited 43 minutes ago by Midfield_General

[Saint Fan CaM]

7 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

Last time we were preparing for the Championship it went: 

1st July: Manning (Perm)

6th July: Lumley (Perm)

12th July: Charles (Perm) 

 

Unspecified date in July/ August: Stewart (Perm)

21st August: Downes (Loan)

25th August: THB (Loan)

25th August: Holgate (Loan)

 

So we got a few cheap perms in early and then the two 'big' signings, Downes and THB, both came towards the end of the window and were both loans, with Stewart somewhere between the two (and let's just forget about Holgate shall we).

Different management and recruitment team now of course, but from what we've seen so far, we may definitely be following a similar pattern. Let's hope so. 

 

There’s an important factor missing from that analysis - the timing of outgoings. It also doesn’t factor in the need to refresh the worst performing squad in PL history - i.e. was the previous post-PL seasons window as in need of a refresh as it is now?

[LuckyNumber7]

1 hour ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

I find it bizarre, you’d think if a club was serious about going back up you’d be going for players that are fringe Premier League or high Championship etc.

Look at Leeds with Dan James, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Roden etc.

Saints being linked with pretty much every player that no ones heard of. Of course some of it will be paper talk, but who really knew who Quarshie or Downs were six weeks ago?

It feels a little bit like trying to be clever again. We have all seen how that turned out.

The trouble is, even players like those you mention cost relatively big money these days. Why is it on this forum that if people have never heard of someone, it must mean they're crap and Saints are being 'clever'? What do people think scouts are for? Clubs like Saints absolutely have to be clever in the transfer market.

I know nothing about this guy and if he signs and turns out to be crap then fair enough. But we had the same crap when Fernandes was linked last year. Were we trying to be 'clever' then?

Besides, most of the bigger deals happen at the end of the window. I'm sure we'll sign one or two more known quantities then, but we already have plenty in our ranks.

 

[saintant]

Just now, Saint Fan CaM said:

There’s an important factor missing from that analysis - the timing of outgoings. It also doesn’t factor in the need to refresh the worst performing squad in PL history - i.e. was the previous post-PL seasons window as in need of a refresh as it is now?

I don't believe the current squad needs massive refreshing other than trying to clear out some of the deadwood (which wont be easy). We have a good nucleus of players well capable of performing excellently in the Championship. There will be comings and goings but lots of time to manage things well provided Will Still, Spors and his team approach it sensibly - no reason so far to think they wont with over a month to go.

[Midfield_General]

9 minutes ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

There’s an important factor missing from that analysis - the timing of outgoings. It also doesn’t factor in the need to refresh the worst performing squad in PL history - i.e. was the previous post-PL seasons window as in need of a refresh as it is now?

Yeah, it wasn't really meant to be an analysis, just a list of dates when we brought people in. You're right though.