Summer Transfer Window 2025/26

[Matthew Le God]

36 minutes ago, RedArmy said:

Shows you can make it through Plymouths academy yeah. 
 

We signed him aged 17. 

He played for our academy teams aswell.

[wild-saint]

4 hours ago, coalman said:

There's also one player who is likely to have a rush of blood and make a poor decision during a high pressure situation. I don't want the player who so casually passed across the box in the friendly the other day, got sent off for hair pulling and abused officials to the extent his ban was extended to be giving team talks.

While he's fine as a squad player in the Championship we shouldn't be building a team around his captaincy.

Id quite happily him risk a red card by smashing through the back of a pimply player leaving her in a crumpled heap to be honest. Gets the juices flowing in a South coast derby. 

[BarryVenisonsHair]

The obsession with Jack Stephens not being good enough is bordering on unhealthy with some people. He has never been a top player but consider this, were Franny Benali and Jason Dodd top players? No, not really, but they were still an important part of the team. I'd rather somebody like Stephens who actually cares about the club play for us than the plethora of players in recent years who don't give a shit. 

[Hayling Saint]

Totally agree

[Badger]

2 hours ago, BarryVenisonsHair said:

The obsession with Jack Stephens not being good enough is bordering on unhealthy with some people. He has never been a top player but consider this, were Franny Benali and Jason Dodd top players? No, not really, but they were still an important part of the team. I'd rather somebody like Stephens who actually cares about the club play for us than the plethora of players in recent years who don't give a shit. 

I’d go along with this. 

The contract extension wasn’t great news but Saints have form for this.

There are more critical issues to address than Jack Stephens remaining at the club. Stephens or Bazunu, I know which name I least want to see on the team sheet next season. 

Edited 3 hours ago by Badger

[Sparkkyy]

23 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

He played for our academy teams aswell.

Are you claiming him as our own? That’s embarrassing. Of all the players to claim 

[BarryVenisonsHair]

6 minutes ago, Badger said:

I’d go along with this. 

The contract extension wasn’t great news but Saints have form for this.

There are more critical issues to address than Jack Stephens remaining at the club. Stephen’s or Bazunu, I know which name I least want to see on the team sheet next season. 

Totally. Our squad may not be perfect, hopefully we will get some quality additions but for me, the main questions for this window are can/will we keep Ramsdale? and if not, who will be the replacement as an out and out Number 1?. Bazunu could do with another loan, as I'm sure no club will buy him due to his contract and McCarthy is fine as a back up or injury stop gap in the Championship but nothing more. 

Edited 5 hours ago by BarryVenisonsHair

[Saint Matty 76]

No issue with Stephens being our 4th choice CB in the Championship.

Anything other than those circumstances is always a bit of a worry.

Absolutely echo that the biggest problem is if the club deem Bazunu a good enough option next year.

[Lee On Solent Saint]

5 minutes ago, Badger said:

I’d go along with this. 

The contract extension wasn’t great news but Saints have form for this.

There are more critical issues to address than Jack Stephens remaining at the club. Stephen’s or Bazunu, I know which name I least want to see on the team sheet next season. 

I think, certainly from my point of view anyway, the extension was totally unnecssary. The situation could have been reviewed at the end of the season. Ultimately we didn't need to sign him up for another three years. 

[Badger]

4 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

I think, certainly from my point of view anyway, the extension was totally unnecssary. The situation could have been reviewed at the end of the season. Ultimately we didn't need to sign him up for another three years. 

Don’t disagree but it’s not the most crucial thing this summer. 

[Matthew Le God]

11 minutes ago, Sparkkyy said:

Are you claiming him as our own? That’s embarrassing. Of all the players to claim 

He is partially. He played for our academy under 18 team. Obviously Plymouth played a significantly bigger part in his early career.

[S-Clarke]

2 hours ago, Chez said:

I think the consensus on here is, keep Ramsdale if possible, if not, get someone else in.

However, we cant sign anyone until Ramsdale goes...and when he does, we will still be faced with that problem of having two extremely well paid keepers on the books that we can't shift. Can the club afford to pay a similarly large wage to a third keeper whilst in the championship...and can they attract a keeper in the championship that is going to be good enough to play at the higher level on promotion?

The championship is littered with really average (to worse) keepers. If you are half decent, you are one of the three keepers each PL club has rather than in this godforsaken league.

You'd have to say that Bazunu even struggles to get into average keepers for this level - in fact he was the worst in the league the last time out. Last time out I'd have had relegated keepers in our team instead of Bazunu (the rotherham guy for a start)

Like you say, the expectation should be that we sell Ramsdale (if we do) and we bring in a full first team replacement. If the club play the line of being content with what we have, and looking for a third choice, then they've utterly screwed up all over again.

Hopefully Ramsdale stays, not beyond the realms really. Nothing can be advanced if he's coming to Spain!

[Lee On Solent Saint]

19 minutes ago, Badger said:

Don’t disagree but it’s not the most crucial thing this summer. 

Agreed it isn't. But if we do gain promotion then the end of the coming season would have been the ideal opportunity to say thanks Jack, off you go on a free transfer. 

[Sparkkyy]

14 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

He is partially. He played for our academy under 18 team. Obviously Plymouth played a significantly bigger part in his early career.

Oh well that’s good then. Is this something we should be proud of as Southampton fans? Embarrassing 

[S-Clarke]

4 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

Agreed it isn't. But if we do gain promotion then the end of the coming season would have been the ideal opportunity to say thanks Jack, off you go on a free transfer. 

The 3 year contract does make that difficult though, it would have made more sense for him to leave on a blaze of glory once we'd won promotion and sign up to Plymouth on a freebie next year to return 'home'. 

But even if we do go up, we'd struggle to shift him on the wages he'd be on - so automatically he bloats a potential PL team as he can't offer anything at that level.

That's why I kinda wanted to see us ditch some of the bloat this summer, some of the guys we know can't do it at the PL level (not all of them, Armstrong will be useful for us this year) but there are a fair few more who just add pointless bloat in the PL and will limit our movement to evolve if they're still hanging on next year with big wages.

Edited 5 hours ago by S-Clarke

[saintant]

1 hour ago, BarryVenisonsHair said:

The obsession with Jack Stephens not being good enough is bordering on unhealthy with some people. He has never been a top player but consider this, were Franny Benali and Jason Dodd top players? No, not really, but they were still an important part of the team. I'd rather somebody like Stephens who actually cares about the club play for us than the plethora of players in recent years who don't give a shit. 

Jason Dodd was a very good full back. Franny had his limitations but was a level above Stephens albeit in a different position.

[saintant]

1 hour ago, Badger said:

I’d go along with this. 

The contract extension wasn’t great news but Saints have form for this.

There are more critical issues to address than Jack Stephens remaining at the club. Stephen’s or Bazunu, I know which name I least want to see on the team sheet next season. 

Both 🙂

[goneawol]

1 hour ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

I think, certainly from my point of view anyway, the extension was totally unnecessary. The situation could have been reviewed at the end of the season. Ultimately we didn't need to sign him up for another three years. 

Maybe the new contract removes the Shoehorn clause.

[Chez]

37 minutes ago, saintant said:

Franny had his limitations but was a level above Stephens albeit in a different position.

no he wasn't. 

[John B]

41 minutes ago, saintant said:

Jason Dodd was a very good full back. Franny had his limitations but was a level above Stephens albeit in a different position.

Stephens is a better all round footballer than Benali Dodd was pretty slow from what I remember

The teams that Dodd  and Benali played against were far inferior than those Stephens played against

[CB Fry]

6 minutes ago, John B said:

The teams that Dodd  and Benali played against were far inferior than those Stephens played against

How did you work that out when they played against Ferguson's United, Keegan's Newcastle and Wenger's Invincibles among others.

[John B]

9 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

How did you work that out when they played against Ferguson's United, Keegan's Newcastle and Wenger's Invincibles among others.

Clearly there were good teams twenty years ago but in general the standard of the PL has improved in that time do you not agree

[Matthew Le God]

16 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

How did you work that out when they played against Ferguson's United, Keegan's Newcastle and Wenger's Invincibles among others.

We lost most of the time vs them. Plus, you've only listed the top teams. The league overall now is of a higher quality. Teams in the bottom half in the 1990s were dreadful in comparison with the players' current Premier League bottom half teams buy.

[CB Fry]

7 minutes ago, John B said:

Clearly there were good teams twenty years ago but in general the standard of the PL has improved in that time do you not agree

I think its a daft thing to say.

I dont think today's Jack Stephens parachuted into the 1995 Premier League would be some world beater, no.

Like it or not Dodd and (to a slightly lesser extent) Benali played for seasons at the highest level. Many SFC managers came and went with their own full back signings but players like Dodd regained/kept their place.

Jack Stephens at any level on any measure is nowhere near that.

Edited 3 hours ago by CB Fry

[CB Fry]

1 minute ago, Matthew Le God said:

We lost most of the time vs them. Plus, you've only listed the top teams. The league overall now is of a higher quality. Teams in the bottom half in the 1990s were dreadful in comparison with the players' current Premier League bottom half teams buy.

The brilliant thing about last years Premier League season was simply how breathtaking Palace, Fulham, Leicester and West Ham were. Astonishing.

[Matthew Le God]

10 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

The brilliant thing about last years Premier League season was simply how breathtaking Palace, Fulham, Leicester and West Ham were. Astonishing.

Take a look at bottom half teams in the 1990s. Those squads don't hold up to those in the current Premier League. They were dreadful in comparison. Most of the players wouldn't be good enough to be top-flight players in 2025.

[Barsiem]

If Frannie played for Saints today he'd be absolutely slaughtered by the usual suspects on here...  

[Matthew Le God]

1 minute ago, Barsiem said:

If Frannie played for Saints today he'd be absolutely slaughtered by the usual suspects on here...  

Not on attitude. But he'd be out of his depth in terms of ability in the 2025 Premier League, even during his prime years.

[VectisSaint]

3 hours ago, Matthew Le God said:

He played for our academy teams aswell.

He played for the U18s (one academy team), but it's a hell of a stretch to say he is a (Saints) Academy product. He had already played in the League for Plymouth.

[Matthew Le God]

Just now, VectisSaint said:

He played for the U18s (one academy team), but it's a hell of a stretch to say he is a (Saints) Academy product. He had already played in the League for Plymouth.

Which is why I said...

Quote

He is partially. He played for our academy under 18 team. Obviously Plymouth played a significantly bigger part in his early career.

 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

9 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

Which is why I said...

 

The big Plymouth/ Southampton question involving Jack is, would he associate the Mayflower with Plymouth or, like you, thinks it should be on the Southampton badge. 🙂

[Lighthouse]

58 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

The brilliant thing about last years Premier League season was simply how breathtaking Palace, Fulham, Leicester and West Ham were. Astonishing.

They’d all be top six in the nineties.

[Toussaint]

2 hours ago, saintant said:

Jason Dodd was a very good full back. Franny had his limitations but was a level above Stephens albeit in a different position.

I loved Frannie but he was punching well above his weight playing top flight football. 

[Golac's Cunning Stunts]

3 minutes ago, Toussaint said:

I loved Frannie but he was punching well above his weight playing top flight football. 

Stephens doesn't punch above his weight though. He's shit and plays that way.

[bugenhagen]

My biggest problem with Stephens, the armband and the new contract is that we end up in a situation where two (or three) defenders are playing better than him, and we start to change players or tactics to get our captain on the field. That is my fear.

I never had that feeling with Dodd (or Frannie).

[Wade Garrett]

Slow day on the transfer from then.  What a load of absolute bollocks.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

9 hours ago, gio1saints said:

FWIW to those bemused at JS contract extension.
1. Club Captain for a reason. 

2. Experienced academy product and a winner at this level. Shows you can make it through the Academy. 

3. When he last renewed his wage was c £35kpw. I’m not certain if that included the relegation cut clause - but if not it means he would be on 40%-50% of that in this last year ie c£14k-£17.5kpw. 

4. He (or his agent) negotiated a three year contract NOT got given and I’m certain with his age, experience etc he would be looking for at least that £14-£17.5kpw figure. If not more. How much more? 
 

(5) Otherwise-he gets a free transfer to practically any other Championship Club for a likely same or bigger wage plus a sign on bonus. 
(6) Try recruiting someone with his age credentials experience know how etc and pay them to baby sit a load of young players -plus be captain - it’s not easy it’s not cheap it takes time and oh btw probably a transfer fee is involved and higher wages.The only player close is Jan- and he’s leaving. 

(7) Bin JS anyway cos he’s rubbish? Why? Cutting out nose to spite our face  He is Someone who, if THB stays if Wood stays Quarshie RE and  Sanda turn out good will prob be on the bench all season? And be a happy team player. 
 

You just will not get find or get that package all that easy. Keeping JS in context was a very easy decision for Still and Spors. Get promoted he may even be sold at a profit for those of you still on the ££ issue. 
 

 

Good points Gio. It's a mixed bag for me.

We get a versatile, at least or at most depending on your mileage, Championship player. He's not currently first choice, so should we have been more ruthless? 

There was a while where we were desperate to get in a centre half. Since then, we've had a succession of more talented, and far less useful players, than Jack. For example Salisu, ABK, DCC etc.

SR might have found talent. But we ended up with a fractured, relegated dressing room of want aways when we first went down. I think the club have looked at that and wanted someone, who can play a part but is a club oriented attitude setter, in the dressing room. As you say Gio, you know exactly what you're getting with Jack.

We've had Walcott back, and Adam is still there to sell tourist maps of Liverpool. Jack will be an influence in the dressing room.

Jack being a leader isn't a vast compliment in a squad that should have been staging a multiny at being sent out to get beat every week. Successive seasons of making our players system drones, continues to bite. Had we a squad of very motivated players, perhaps this wouldn't be necessary. But we clearly don't.

We've no idea how many players SR will look to shift this summer, or those that want away. For me, Jack's behind Bedders and THB. We'll need to see how he competes against Quarshie and Edwards and then Wood, Taylor and Sanda. Jack can fill in elsewhere too, although there's plenty of faces there as well. But we'll have to wait until the end of the window, to see where he sits in the pecking order. The more inexperienced the players we have left, the more influence he will have. It seems a bit odd to have this one sewn up, while we have so many. But I get the feeling the club will be moving through some players in this, and windows to come. 

SR seem determined to continue with paying as low an individual wage as possible. I'm sure the contract suits both. We're still looking at up and coming players or players with something to prove. SR look to pay around top Championship wages for PL talented players. The goal being to make a profit, rather than build determinedly towards something like Europe. Recruitment hasn't been good enough to see how they would invest repeated profits. They set themselves up for a fall, by failing to reinforce key positions.

Jack is a decent Championship player, there to teach the others in the dressing room, while getting some minutes. As you say Gio, there's nothing stopping him wanting a move on the future or going out on loan. Although, this deal seems to suit both parties.

Is it the move of a club driven to succeed at a higher level? No, it's not. But then SR want to succeed through player trading. And that shapes their expectations and planning.

 

[bpsaint]

4 hours ago, BarryVenisonsHair said:

The obsession with Jack Stephens not being good enough is bordering on unhealthy with some people. He has never been a top player but consider this, were Franny Benali and Jason Dodd top players? No, not really, but they were still an important part of the team. I'd rather somebody like Stephens who actually cares about the club play for us than the plethora of players in recent years who don't give a shit. 

I’m with you on Frannie, but Dodd was a much higher level than JS will ever be.

[madge]

4 hours ago, BarryVenisonsHair said:

The obsession with Jack Stephens not being good enough is bordering on unhealthy with some people. He has never been a top player but consider this, were Franny Benali and Jason Dodd top players? No, not really, but they were still an important part of the team. I'd rather somebody like Stephens who actually cares about the club play for us than the plethora of players in recent years who don't give a shit. 

The thing about Dodd was that he was pretty much first choice under various managers.. and racked 100’s of premier league appearances. He was miles better than benali or Stephen’s 

[benjii]

4 hours ago, BarryVenisonsHair said:

The obsession with Jack Stephens not being good enough is bordering on unhealthy with some people. He has never been a top player but consider this, were Franny Benali and Jason Dodd top players? No, not really, but they were still an important part of the team. I'd rather somebody like Stephens who actually cares about the club play for us than the plethora of players in recent years who don't give a shit. 

Dodd was. He was class.

[Matthew Le God]

2 hours ago, VectisSaint said:

He played for the U18s (one academy team), but it's a hell of a stretch to say he is a (Saints) Academy product. He had already played in the League for Plymouth.

The u21s/u23s Saints team that he played for is also an academy team

[Tauro]

Stop being a bell end

[sledger]

have a feeling still doesnt suffer fools gladly and will be ruthless