January Transfer Window

[Matthew Le God]

36 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

We spent a lot of money under SR in the Premier League. The issue wasn't spending money, the issue was what the money was spent on!

 

34 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

It’s very simple.

I wouldn’t trust them to spend the money wisely.

Also you cannot say they spent the money eighteen months ago. Taking Downes and THB out of the occasion we spent money on Aaron Ramsdale and peanuts on everyone else (Sugawara, Brereton-Diaz, Fraser, Edwards).

The picked peanuts players at a time where it was time to invest.

I didn't say it was spent well as the bit in bold states. But the total amount spent was significantly large. It was mainly spent on rubbish players for the level.

[Chez]

20 minutes ago, benali-shorts said:

I wonder if the timeline was that Baz turned down a new contract pre Xmas so we told him we’d be seeking a new keeper in January window to force him out / recoup some of his fee? 

Maybe. My guess is we offered average championship money in the summer. His agent said no and has been searching for a new gig since then. We were probably talking to Peretz about a summer move, but brought things forward as soon as Stoke called us asking about Baz. Not entirely sure why Baz accepted the move. Maybe he didn't feel wanted here, which is strange seeing as he was first choice. It would be good to understand how this move happened. I was away at the time, did Alfie House offer any insight?

[saintant]

5 hours ago, Chez said:

Was Peretz signed to avoid relegation then?

No, he was signed because those running the club finally accepted that Bazunu will never make a goalkeeper.

[Gloucester Saint]

2 minutes ago, saintant said:

No, he was signed because those running the club finally accepted that Bazunu will never make a goalkeeper.

We hope so anyway…

[benali-shorts]

21 minutes ago, Chez said:

Maybe. My guess is we offered average championship money in the summer. His agent said no and has been searching for a new gig since then. We were probably talking to Peretz about a summer move, but brought things forward as soon as Stoke called us asking about Baz. Not entirely sure why Baz accepted the move. Maybe he didn't feel wanted here, which is strange seeing as he was first choice. It would be good to understand how this move happened. I was away at the time, did Alfie House offer any insight?

Definitely plausible. Nothing from House. 

[Osvaldorama]

1 hour ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

I think the problem is that even if SR did the unthinkable and made some shrewd signings, and we did get promoted; we’ll come straight back down.

We aren’t ever doing a Forest or a Sunderland and buying our way to stay up in the Premier League.

Agreed. I also have absolutely zero faith that they are able to make 1 good signing, let alone 3 or 4. 

 

We basically need new owners at this point. The club is in free fall until they go. 

[vectraman]

1 hour ago, pingpong said:

Just a note to the posters above who think baz should have signed a new contract because noone will want him and making comments about sholing etc. and he'll never do better than us: he's moved to a club higher than us in the league, a jump of 7 places in the league in fact. It's hardly a downward move for him.

Let’s wait and see how he gets on at Stoke, and if they want to buy him at the end of his loan spell…

[Lord Duckhunter]

4 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

There was definitely a contract offer on the table for Bazunu, 

How much a week was he going to give us? 

[Lord Duckhunter]

1 hour ago, pingpong said:

a jump of 7 places in the league in fact. 

Jump? 
Baz?

I think “tumble slightly upwards” of 7 places is more appropriate. 

 

 

Edited 23 hours ago by Lord Duckhunter

[Saint Scott]

1 hour ago, pingpong said:

Just a note to the posters above who think baz should have signed a new contract because noone will want him and making comments about sholing etc. and he'll never do better than us: he's moved to a club higher than us in the league, a jump of 7 places in the league in fact. It's hardly a downward move for him.

Gavin, your time would be better spent on the training ground than Saints Web. Enjoy those cold, windy evenings!

[Chez]

25 minutes ago, vectraman said:

Let’s wait and see how he gets on at Stoke, and if they want to buy him at the end of his loan spell…

Stoke are not spending £8m on him (or indeed anyone) in the summer, unless they get promoted. And if they do go up, their options will be much greater. Here's the largest fee they have spent on a player over the last 6 years:

20/21 Jacob Brown £2m
21/22 Sam Surridge £2.5m
22/23 Dwight Gayle free
23/24 Wouter Burger £5m
24/25 Bosun Lawal £2m
25/26 Tomas Rigo £3.5m
 

[SaintsRoyalty]

The real scary thing is that he’s already been out on loan to Standard Liege and was so bad they sent him back early.
 

The doubly scary thing is that they replaced him with a guy who is younger and shorter than Baz who went on the let in half the goals he did.

why on earth do people still think there is a chance he’s going to play well for Stoke?????? 

[Turkish]

3 minutes ago, SaintsRoyalty said:

The real scary thing is that he’s already been out on loan to Standard Liege and was so bad they sent him back early.
 

The doubly scary thing is that they replaced him with a guy who is younger and shorter than Baz who went on the let in half the goals he did.

why on earth do people still think there is a chance he’s going to play well for Stoke?????? 

He had a lot of bad luck at Liege, like he did with us, his luck will change at Stoke.

[S-Clarke]

5 minutes ago, SaintsRoyalty said:

The real scary thing is that he’s already been out on loan to Standard Liege and was so bad they sent him back early.
 

The doubly scary thing is that they replaced him with a guy who is younger and shorter than Baz who went on the let in half the goals he did.

why on earth do people still think there is a chance he’s going to play well for Stoke?????? 

To be fair to him, he did get injured towards the end of his loan - so it was cut short so he could rehab here.

But that loan was a bit naff all told. He only ended up there because they were managed by his former Man City youth coach.

[VectisSaint]

2 minutes ago, SaintsRoyalty said:

The real scary thing is that he’s already been out on loan to Standard Liege and was so bad they sent him back early.
 

 

Not sticking up for him, but his loan was terminated due to a knee injury. He may have been crap as well, conceded 15 in 8, but that wasn't the reason, from what I can see he played every game that he was available for (6 league games).

[Midfield_General]

5 hours ago, Chez said:

Maybe. My guess is we offered average championship money in the summer. His agent said no and has been searching for a new gig since then. We were probably talking to Peretz about a summer move, but brought things forward as soon as Stoke called us asking about Baz. Not entirely sure why Baz accepted the move. Maybe he didn't feel wanted here, which is strange seeing as he was first choice. It would be good to understand how this move happened. I was away at the time, did Alfie House offer any insight?

I reckon it was the other way round. Having been given yet another chance to come good, and after another 20-odd games proving yet again that he wasn't up to it, I think at the end of December Baz was told that he'd had his last opportunity and blown it, and that the club would be seeking a new number 1 in January who they would be expecting to come in as first choice e.g. Peretz. So basically, if you want to play any more this season then you're probably best off looking for a loan/ move. Which is what Tonda alluded to in his press conference when he used the phrase 'looking at options that are best for Gavin and the club' or whatever it was, which always means you're out. Baz would have said he wanted to play, so the club and his agent would have made other clubs aware, and Stoke needed a keeper because Johansson was injured, so hey presto, off he goes, that's the end of Stoke's chances of getting promoted, and he'll be back in June. Hopefully at that point we can sell him for good.

 

Edited 19 hours ago by Midfield_General

[Junkyard Dog]

He should do better at any club that dosen't keep passing the ball around near his goal pointlessly and back to him needlessly .

[Gloucester Saint]

1 hour ago, Turkish said:

He had a lot of bad luck at Liege, like he did with us, his luck will change at Stoke.

The ball-striking in the Jupiler League is ace as well, they call it the Jupiter League in that regard as some of the shots the keepers have to face are simply out of this world. 

[Sunnyside Saint]

 We've been adequately funded,the issue is really on the operational side, the funds have been badly spent, recruitment hasn't been up to the required standard from management to coaches to  playing staff. Its clear to all fans we are falling short in all decision making departments. We could and should be doing so much better, its really frustrating.

[Football Special]

 

[Chez]

1 hour ago, Midfield_General said:

I reckon it was the other way round. Having been given yet another chance to come good, and after 20-odd games simply proving yet again that he wasn't up to it, I think at the end of December Baz was told that he'd had his last opportunity and blown it, and that the club would be seeking a new number 1 in January who they would be expecting to come in as first choice e.g. Peretz. So basically, if you want to play any more this season then you're probably best off looking for a loan/ move. Which is what Tonda alluded to in his press conference when he used the phrase 'looking at options that are best for Gavin and the club' or whatever it was, which always means you're out. Baz would have said he wanted to play, so the club and his agent would have made other clubs aware, and Stoke needed a keeper because Johansson was injured, so hey presto, off he goes, that's the end of Stoke's chances of getting promoted, and he'll be back in June. Hopefully at that point we can sell him for good.

Yeah, I think your theory makes more sense. It had nothing to do with Baz and his contract situation and everything to do with improving the first team now. The manager/director of football obviously felt it was a position that could be strengthened, so they did exactly that.

I think this shows the club hasn't settled for mid table mediocrity, and they still think we can make a run for the play offs. 

[Ed Rooney]

38 minutes ago, Football Special said:

 

Seems like they have signed a player who’s strong, doesn’t stop running, isn’t shy in the tackle but is shit on the ball and shit in front of goal. 
 

Sounds like an upgrade to what we have 

[Football Special]

3 minutes ago, Ed Rooney said:

Seems like they have signed a player who’s strong, doesn’t stop running, isn’t shy in the tackle but is shit on the ball and shit in front of goal. 
 

Sounds like an upgrade to what we have 

Fair point, our equivalent would rob the keeper of the ball then turn back and pass it around our centre backs for a bit 

[saintant]

2 hours ago, Junkyard Dog said:

He should do better at any club that dosen't keep passing the ball around near his goal pointlessly and back to him needlessly .

Will that suddenly improve his total lack of positional sense?

[saintant]

1 hour ago, Sunnyside Saint said:

 We've been adequately funded,the issue is really on the operational side, the funds have been badly spent, recruitment hasn't been up to the required standard from management to coaches to  playing staff. Its clear to all fans we are falling short in all decision making departments. We could and should be doing so much better, its really frustrating.

We haven't been adequately funded. SR is trying to carefully balance the books so that incoming transfers more or less match outgoings. So it's the old player trading - nothing wrong with that if you're switched on you can do it and improve the squad. This lot clearly can't so the only way we'll improve is if they splash the big cash but that's not going to happen so we're stuck in this long period of inertia.

[saintant]

52 minutes ago, Football Special said:

 

How did he slip through our fingers? 🙂

[saintant]

27 minutes ago, Chez said:

Yeah, I think your theory makes more sense. It had nothing to do with Baz and his contract situation and everything to do with improving the first team now. The manager/director of football obviously felt it was a position that could be strengthened, so they did exactly that.

I think this shows the club hasn't settled for mid table mediocrity, and they still think we can make a run for the play offs. 

Their action, or lack of it, in the rest of the window will speak volumes because this current group of players have zero chance.

[suewhistle]

27 minutes ago, Junkyard Dog said:

He should do better at any club that dosen't keep passing the ball around near his goal pointlessly and back to him needlessly .

I think he's not very good, but it might at least increase his confidence!

It will also be interesting to see if having a new keeper behind them means our defence will actually be brave enough to leave the goal line and actually mark the opposition as well!

 

 

 

[disconnect]

12 minutes ago, saintant said:

Their action, or lack of it, in the rest of the window will speak volumes because this current group of players have zero chance.

... if continually played out of position, put in the wrong formation and generally not kill off games. 

[bangkoksaint]

18 minutes ago, saintant said:

How did he slip through our fingers? 🙂

Bad was on the transfer committee!

[Toussaint]

2 hours ago, Junkyard Dog said:

He should do better at any club that dosen't keep passing the ball around near his goal pointlessly and back to him needlessly .

Ability in passing around at the back was the main reason used to justify his selection. Whatever style of play his future team plays he will still have to do an awful lot of work on commanding his area and saving goals.

[Obstacle1]

4 hours ago, Junkyard Dog said:

He should do better at any club that dosen't keep passing the ball around near his goal pointlessly and back to him needlessly .

Thats one of the only things he seems to be able to handle as a goalkeeper though 

[LGTL]

3 hours ago, Football Special said:

 

The derby is going to be funny. Both fan bases simultaneously think they’re going to get stuffed. 

[BarberSaint]

5 hours ago, Midfield_General said:

I reckon it was the other way round. Having been given yet another chance to come good, and after another 20-odd games proving yet again that he wasn't up to it, I think at the end of December Baz was told that he'd had his last opportunity and blown it, and that the club would be seeking a new number 1 in January who they would be expecting to come in as first choice e.g. Peretz. So basically, if you want to play any more this season then you're probably best off looking for a loan/ move. Which is what Tonda alluded to in his press conference when he used the phrase 'looking at options that are best for Gavin and the club' or whatever it was, which always means you're out. Baz would have said he wanted to play, so the club and his agent would have made other clubs aware, and Stoke needed a keeper because Johansson was injured, so hey presto, off he goes, that's the end of Stoke's chances of getting promoted, and he'll be back in June. Hopefully at that point we can sell him for good.

 

Well at least he wants to play. 

 

Now all he has to do is learn how to do it.

[Costa del Solent]

 

4 hours ago, Football Special said:

 

It seems the poor lad also didn’t notice that he was holding the pen upside down 

[Starksj1995]

On 15/01/2026 at 16:28, Wade Garrett said:

I don’t think they give a shit.  We’re just a vehicle to trade players from.

No

chnace they want that idiot 

[Miltonaggro]

2 minutes ago, Costa del Solent said:

 

It seems the poor lad also didn’t notice that he was holding the pen upside down 

It’s a cry for help. 

[Badger]

7 minutes ago, Miltonaggro said:

It’s a cry for help. 

Desperately trying not to sign for them isn’t he ? 

[Osvaldorama]

4 hours ago, Football Special said:

 

Still better than Damion Downs 

[die Mannyschaft]

20 minutes ago, Osvaldorama said:

Still better than Damion Downs 

That's big worry how can skates find a better player than us.

[saintant]

1 hour ago, Costa del Solent said:

 

It seems the poor lad also didn’t notice that he was holding the pen upside down 

Quite fitting that his shirt is emblazoned with the words, 'University of Portsmouth' 

[goodymatt]

Going off the latest presser (10:30 embargo section) it sounds like Bree is going to be back at Saints for the rest of the season, might that help us play a back 4?

Also sounds like we will do some more business but not lots. Surely a striker at a minimum.

[woodsaint1]

https://gianlucadimarzio.com/inter-mlacic-16-gennaio-2026/

If we did somehow pull this off and he chose us over Inter, an 18 year CB is hardly what we need right now. But theres a few million for SR to make when we sell him on in 2/3 years

[Suhari]

6 hours ago, Costa del Solent said:

 

It seems the poor lad also didn’t notice that he was holding the pen upside down 

Trying to erase his own signature.

 

[SWLondon Saint]

8 hours ago, goodymatt said:

Going off the latest presser (10:30 embargo section) it sounds like Bree is going to be back at Saints for the rest of the season, might that help us play a back 4?

Also sounds like we will do some more business but not lots. Surely a striker at a minimum.

Yes, but ironically Bree would also be one of the best candidates to play as one of a back 3 as most decent 3CB teams usually play with one player who can push up when in possession. Back 4 Vs 5 just depends whether you want to force your winger / wingback to defend more or attack more and all the evidence so far is they're happy to have one of the best attacking wide players in the league spending most of his time defending...

[egg]

1 minute ago, SWLondon Saint said:

Yes, but ironically Bree would also be one of the best candidates to play as one of a back 3 as most decent 3CB teams usually play with one player who can push up when in possession. Back 4 Vs 5 just depends whether you want to force your winger / wingback to defend more or attack more and all the evidence so far is they're happy to have one of the best attacking wide players in the league spending most of his time defending...

Agreed, although I take the point you're replying to as well. Bree is a decent RB and would help us play a 4, and release Fellowes to play where he should be. The issue is that we don't have a LB good enough for a 4. 

[Harry_SFC]

17 minutes ago, egg said:

Agreed, although I take the point you're replying to as well. Bree is a decent RB and would help us play a 4, and release Fellowes to play where he should be. The issue is that we don't have a LB good enough for a 4. 

Is Jelert that bad? Could have him at left back, supposedly can play either side. 

[bugenhagen]

13 minutes ago, egg said:

Agreed, although I take the point you're replying to as well. Bree is a decent RB and would help us play a 4, and release Fellowes to play where he should be. The issue is that we don't have a LB good enough for a 4. 

I disagree. Manning and Wellington are poor, but let’s not make up excuses. Manning was no better or worse two seasons ago in a back four. If anything, limited fullbacks with poor positioning are less suited to play wingback.

It’s not like managers around the world are moving from a back four to a back five because they have poor fullbacks..,

[CB Fry]

Sorry if already posted. 18 year old kid. 

Odd story. Probably bollocks.

 

[Lighthouse]

That's a story which screams 'going to Inter but agent after a few more quid' to me.