Summer Transfer Window 2026

[Gloucester Saint]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cx2xp7gv09lo
‘Hi Marc,

Jack Stephens here.

Before you fly out to Madrid, could I drive up to London and have one last pull of your hair, just for old time’s sake?’

Edited yesterday at 17:07 by Gloucester Saint

[Holmes_and_Watson]

2 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cx2xp7gv09lo
‘Hi Marc,

Jack Stephens here.

Before you fly out to Madrid, could I drive up to London and have one last pull of your hair, just for old time’s sake’

Note to self: La Liga or the Simpsons to see Sideshow Bob and his whining, not the PL or the Simpsons.

[bangkoksaint]

2 hours ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Only Rodriguez who went to Lyon really. Rest are lower leagues at best (Doyle, Morgan) and most out of the game altogether.

I can see the temptation if they’re a parent that’s not had any sort of decent career themselves of hitting the jackpot but the tiny odds of making it professionally diminish to 0.00001% at the likes of City and Chelsea so you’re selling your son in essence. At very, very, very best you might end up in Champ or L1 at Pompey (John Swift) or Reading and even that’s a very long shot, sub-5%.

It’s an interesting angle but when you look at the chances of making it, it’s a real quandary as to whether to take the money. I don’t know what the figures are but potentially if dealt with/invested correctly it could be life changing. 

[Fabrice29]

1 hour ago, bangkoksaint said:

It’s an interesting angle but when you look at the chances of making it, it’s a real quandary as to whether to take the money. I don’t know what the figures are but potentially if dealt with/invested correctly it could be life changing. 

It isn’t just money and the material things. There’s plenty of footballing reasons to go to bigger clubs too.

[leesaint88]

14 hours ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Not just him, or one promising 14 year old either, Charlton have had 4 alone and Everton had one as well https://www.instagram.com/thetalenthunter/p/DZimV_kOAfM/

Greedy parents are the problem. Top 6 and specifically a couple of those clubs trying to get around the compensation system (they won’t be able to thankfully).

Each situation will have nuances but parents are so greedy now they’ll want Chelsea or City to put a nice wedge of cash their way, not for their kids. Sod what’s best for their lad’s development. 

Nailed it, but it's been going on for years and even we've been guilty of it. If a club promises to pay off the parent's mortgage and some, certainly they are going to push for the lad to end up in West London rather than the south coast..

[Pwoite]

12 hours ago, bangkoksaint said:

It’s an interesting angle but when you look at the chances of making it, it’s a real quandary as to whether to take the money. I don’t know what the figures are but potentially if dealt with/invested correctly it could be life changing. 

Yes, the chances of an eight year old, signed up, ever playing for that club’s first team are small, though probably better with us than a Chelsea, but I’m talking about the cream who have risen to the top at fifteen or sixteen. They’ve already defied the odds to get that far and be recognised, possibly getting international honours. It would be interesting to know how many British professionals across the top two divisions came from the Big Six academies, and how many moved to them, relatively late, and broke through.

[Chez]

On 13/06/2026 at 18:29, Willo of Whiteley said:

Jimmy-Jay Morgan linked with West Brom. That big money move to Chelsea was clearly worth it.

How he would be better off if he had stayed with us? In the last three years he has earned far more than he would have at Saints. A lot more. Since he left, he has got a fair bit of football under his belt and if he gets the move, will be in the same league we are.

 

[trousers]

 

 

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/26174255.southamptons-solak-assesses-much-positive-transfers-spors/

"Johannes and I can't be more different people in how he is and how I am, but we found a very good working relationship," Solak told the Daily Echo.

"Of course, when he came, the reason why we initially hired him was that I liked his presentation and what he wanted to do with the club.

"Then we had the experience of his first transfer window, and I felt it made sense. I remember he called me in the last hour of the last day of the window.

"He said, 'Dragan, we have this last hour to sign Scienza or not.' It was over the budget, so I had to say yes or no. I asked, 'Why do we need him?'

"Johannes explained, so I said, 'Yes, it's okay.' I am super glad I did, and that's the type of business he has brought, finding Scienza in Germany.

"Now everybody's like, 'Oh, he's a Premier League player.' Maybe he is, and he is probably, but how come nobody found him all these years there?

"Then, I really love Caspar Jander. You know, we have talked about his ability and everything. I think he's an incredible young player, incredible.

"I think he has an unbelievable career ahead of him. When you look at all of our signings, I'm super happy. We had one miss [Damion Downs], I think.

"But that's okay because still this miss looks like he can be good because all of his elements are good; we just don't see what is missing at the moment."

 

Edited 11 hours ago by trousers

[hypochondriac]

32 minutes ago, trousers said:

 

 

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/26174255.southamptons-solak-assesses-much-positive-transfers-spors/

"Johannes and I can't be more different people in how he is and how I am, but we found a very good working relationship," Solak told the Daily Echo.

"Of course, when he came, the reason why we initially hired him was that I liked his presentation and what he wanted to do with the club.

"Then we had the experience of his first transfer window, and I felt it made sense. I remember he called me in the last hour of the last day of the window.

"He said, 'Dragan, we have this last hour to sign Scienza or not.' It was over the budget, so I had to say yes or no. I asked, 'Why do we need him?'

"Johannes explained, so I said, 'Yes, it's okay.' I am super glad I did, and that's the type of business he has brought, finding Scienza in Germany.

"Now everybody's like, 'Oh, he's a Premier League player.' Maybe he is, and he is probably, but how come nobody found him all these years there?

"Then, I really love Caspar Jander. You know, we have talked about his ability and everything. I think he's an incredible young player, incredible.

"I think he has an unbelievable career ahead of him. When you look at all of our signings, I'm super happy. We had one miss [Damion Downs], I think.

"But that's okay because still this miss looks like he can be good because all of his elements are good; we just don't see what is missing at the moment."

 

I get what he means. Downs does have a lot of good attributes, he just can't seem to have any affect on games. I don't know whether it's a mentality thing or something like that. Every time he has played he's just completely anonymous. 

[Dan Johnson]

6 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

I get what he means. Downs does have a lot of good attributes, he just can't seem to have any affect on games. I don't know whether it's a mentality thing or something like that. Every time he has played he's just completely anonymous. 

He has, although I was really excited based on his first appearance in a friendly last summer, scored a great goal and thought we’d made a great signing.

Been completely abject since, let’s hope it’s a confidence issue and not an ability issue and we see him come good next season.

 

[macca155]

6 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

I get what he means. Downs does have a lot of good attributes, he just can't seem to have any affect on games. I don't know whether it's a mentality thing or something like that. Every time he has played he's just completely anonymous. 

I agree very similar to Mara in that respect. Bottom line though is that he was out of his depth and needs a loan somewhere equivalent to L1 or L2.

However we've plenty of youngsters who are ready for that sort of loan. I just can't see a future for him.

Considering the money paid for him and the goals Ballard is scoring, a bollock was dropped there.

[Toadhall Saint]

15 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

I get what he means. Downs does have a lot of good attributes, he just can't seem to have any affect on games. I don't know whether it's a mentality thing or something like that. Every time he has played he's just completely anonymous. 

He’s seems too chilled out to me - compare him to CL who just wants to make a difference or make things happen he has drive. DD doesn’t he swans about expecting everyone else to make that difference.

[revolution saint]

52 minutes ago, trousers said:

 

 

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/26174255.southamptons-solak-assesses-much-positive-transfers-spors/

"Johannes and I can't be more different people in how he is and how I am, but we found a very good working relationship," Solak told the Daily Echo.

"Of course, when he came, the reason why we initially hired him was that I liked his presentation and what he wanted to do with the club.

"Then we had the experience of his first transfer window, and I felt it made sense. I remember he called me in the last hour of the last day of the window.

"He said, 'Dragan, we have this last hour to sign Scienza or not.' It was over the budget, so I had to say yes or no. I asked, 'Why do we need him?'

"Johannes explained, so I said, 'Yes, it's okay.' I am super glad I did, and that's the type of business he has brought, finding Scienza in Germany.

"Now everybody's like, 'Oh, he's a Premier League player.' Maybe he is, and he is probably, but how come nobody found him all these years there?

"Then, I really love Caspar Jander. You know, we have talked about his ability and everything. I think he's an incredible young player, incredible.

"I think he has an unbelievable career ahead of him. When you look at all of our signings, I'm super happy. We had one miss [Damion Downs], I think.

"But that's okay because still this miss looks like he can be good because all of his elements are good; we just don't see what is missing at the moment."

 

Not all the transfers were hits for various reasons.  Roerslev was unlucky with injuries but didn't do too much when he was fit, Jelert likewise didn't make the contribution they probably hoped for, Quarshie was maybe bought with one eye on the future but didn't exactly set the world alight, Bree was allowed to go out on loan and the Romeu signing (albeit on a free) was something they probably wouldn't do again.   

I think Spors has done a good job, especially in January, and getting both Larin and Peretz signed up this early is very good work but singling out Damion Downs seems a little harsh despite him being the most obvious under performer.  Downs is still young and should have the physical attributes to be able to handle the championship but will really need to change his game and impose himself if he's going to be a success.

[Chez]

45 minutes ago, Dan Johnson said:

He has, although I was really excited based on his first appearance in a friendly last summer, scored a great goal and thought we’d made a great signing.

Been completely abject since, let’s hope it’s a confidence issue and not an ability issue and we see him come good next season.

Confidence is massive, especially with strikers. If a player loses it, then do they have the mentality to regain it? It can take a while, perhaps requiring a move and a step down in level perhaps. Clubs usually just don't have the time to wait for a player to find his feet again. No sure if his loan helped him. If he isn't smashing the ball in left right nd centre in pre season training, then you have to ask when will it happen? 

[Tamesaint]

Wasn't there some story about AA continuously taking the piss out of DD due  to his Wrexham miss on the  opening day?

If true no wonder his confidence is shot.

 

[Chez]

28 minutes ago, revolution saint said:

Not all the transfers were hits for various reasons.  Roerslev was unlucky with injuries but didn't do too much when he was fit, Jelert likewise didn't make the contribution they probably hoped for, Quarshie was maybe bought with one eye on the future but didn't exactly set the world alight, Bree was allowed to go out on loan and the Romeu signing (albeit on a free) was something they probably wouldn't do again.   

 

I agree. Roeslev didn't impress me at all. Very average. And he got a four year contract. That seems too long to me. His agent has got a great deal there. Jelert was no where near good enough IMO. Not sure who scouted him, but what did they see? As much as we needed a young CB with the physical attributes, Quarshie didn't look the most assured with the ball in the full games we could watch online prior to his signing. He could still come good, but I suspect we will see a few horrible errors along the way. 

[Lord Duckhunter]

41 minutes ago, Tamesaint said:

Wasn't there some story about AA continuously taking the piss out of DD due  to his Wrexham miss on the  opening day?

If true no wonder his confidence is shot.

 

Fuck me, what’ll be next, Keith Richards taking the piss out of someone fucked up on drugs. 

[Chez]

1 hour ago, Tamesaint said:

Wasn't there some story about AA continuously taking the piss out of DD due  to his Wrexham miss on the  opening day?

If true no wonder his confidence is shot.

 

we are talking about a guy that has managed to make it in professional football. You don't disintegrate because Adam failed at the the top level Armstrong ribs you on Monday becuase you missed a sitter.

[Challenger]

2 hours ago, Tamesaint said:

Wasn't there some story about AA continuously taking the piss out of DD due  to his Wrexham miss on the  opening day?

If true no wonder his confidence is shot.

 

Here's me thinking Downs was a shite player and it turns out it was Adam Armstrong,s fault all along.

[SWLondon Saint]

 

2 hours ago, Tamesaint said:

Wasn't there some story about AA continuously taking the piss out of DD due  to his Wrexham miss on the  opening day?

If true no wonder his confidence is shot.

 

You'd hope he'd have a bit more confidence about him than that. It did feel like the mood about the squad improved after AA left but that could equally be because Larin and Peretz are better communicators too.

Quarshie I think has potential. The cup game against Liverpool I thought he was really excellent, stayed on his feet and had the speed and power to cope with their forwards. Obviously some dodgy moments too, definitely not the finished product yet.

[swedish dave]

4 hours ago, hypochondriac said:

I get what he means. Downs does have a lot of good attributes, he just can't seem to have any affect on games. I don't know whether it's a mentality thing or something like that. Every time he has played he's just completely anonymous. 

Agreed Hypo . Downs is still a young player on a steep learning curve, and it shows. 

Playing second string football In Germany is like the U21's and it takes time to adapt to the higher level.

 

As memory serves, the young James Beattie had a torrid time after he joined, and then got injured

but determination and persistence eventually paid off.  It will be a critical time for both Downs and 

Oyekunle  who was virtually scoring for fun throughout his Academy days.

Maybe getting some playing time alongside Larin may help them both mature.

 

[Osvaldorama]

Can safely say confidence has nothing to do with it. 
 

Confidence makes strikers snatch at their shot and miss chances.. it doesn’t make them forget how to kick a ball, mistime their headers, pass it to no one, etc. 

 

[swedish dave]

3 hours ago, Chez said:

I agree. Roeslev didn't impress me at all. Very average. And he got a four year contract. That seems too long to me. His agent has got a great deal there. Jelert was no where near good enough IMO. Not sure who scouted him, but what did they see? As much as we needed a young CB with the physical attributes, Quarshie didn't look the most assured with the ball in the full games we could watch online prior to his signing. He could still come good, but I suspect we will see a few horrible errors along the way. 

Once again, Quarshie took a big move upwards and began finding the difference very challenging.

He did seem to improve as the season went on, but by the time that Tonda got our back line firing on 

all cylinders, there was no way he was going to start games, but he will learn.

[disconnect]

4 hours ago, Dan Johnson said:

He has, although I was really excited based on his first appearance in a friendly last summer, scored a great goal and thought we’d made a great signing.

Been completely abject since, let’s hope it’s a confidence issue and not an ability issue and we see him come good next season.

 

There was definitely more at play - looked excellent in that pre-season where he smashed in a great goal, then looked totally avoid of any confidence. He didn't want to compete for headers and tackles and overall just looked completely overawed by the occasion, but with good experience in Germany and with the US, surely has some level of potential to come good. Sadly it didnt look like the loan went well either, probably needed to step back down a level and hit some good numbers to come back refreshed and ready. When we signed him there was talk of him having potential for the World Cup and that evaporated very quickly. 

[StrangelyBrown]

4 hours ago, Tamesaint said:

Wasn't there some story about AA continuously taking the piss out of DD due  to his Wrexham miss on the  opening day?

If true no wonder his confidence is shot.

 

Seriously, surely he's going to need to be a bit thicker skinned to make a successful career? 

[Farmer Saint]

20 minutes ago, Osvaldorama said:

Can safely say confidence has nothing to do with it. 
 

Confidence makes strikers snatch at their shot and miss chances.. it doesn’t make them forget how to kick a ball, mistime their headers, pass it to no one, etc. 

 

What's the difference between snatching at a shot and mistiming headers? Both are not timing your impact with the ball correctly??

[hypochondriac]

25 minutes ago, Osvaldorama said:

Can safely say confidence has nothing to do with it. 
 

Confidence makes strikers snatch at their shot and miss chances.. it doesn’t make them forget how to kick a ball, mistime their headers, pass it to no one, etc. 

 

Yes it does. it may well be that Downs will never be any good and will amount to nothing here- probably a good chance actually- but the idea that confidence does not affect how someone plays, what positions they take up on the pitch, whether they are looking for the ball, how they shoot and attack the ball etc is nonsense. Of course confidence can affect all of those things. 

[East Kent Saint]

28 minutes ago, StrangelyBrown said:

Seriously, surely he's going to need to be a bit thicker skinned to make a successful career? 

AA showing his insecurity!

[Sheaf Saint]

56 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Yes it does. it may well be that Downs will never be any good and will amount to nothing here- probably a good chance actually- but the idea that confidence does not affect how someone plays, what positions they take up on the pitch, whether they are looking for the ball, how they shoot and attack the ball etc is nonsense. Of course confidence can affect all of those things. 

I've also wondered if he might have had a case of impostor syndrome, because it's a big step up from German Bundesliga 2 to the Championship. That can do much more than just sap someone's confidence.

[Verbal]

4 hours ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

Fuck me, what’ll be next, Keith Richards taking the piss out of someone fucked up on drugs. 

And after that, Brian Jones ended up where?

[Wade Garrett]

Downs is the Bazunu of strikers.

[trousers]

26 minutes ago, Sheaf Saint said:

I've also wondered if he might have had a case of impostor syndrome, because it's a big step up from German Bundesliga 2 to the Championship. That can do much more than just sap someone's confidence.

Yep, I've wondered that myself too. That combined with an element of 'stage fright' perhaps... Something I've experienced before and it can be debilitating.... It would explain why he had a decent pre-season last year, yet struggled 'in front of the lights'...

[ally_uk]

Would be awesome if Tonda gets a tune out of Downs and he starts banging them in.... 

I remember when he scored that goal preseason for us, I was like yeah he looks decent! 🤣

[Chez]

2 hours ago, swedish dave said:

 

As memory serves, the young James Beattie had a torrid time after he joined, and then got injured

 

Beattie struggled for goals in a side that didn't create a lot. He looked very rudimentary too. I am not sure many saw a player that would eventually smack freekicks in from 30 yards,  so writing off young strikers is risky. However, BT's workrate and physical presence far exceeded what Downs has showed to date. He at least put himself about. Not to mention he was playing in the top flight not the championship.

[Ted Bates Statue]

6 hours ago, Tamesaint said:

Wasn't there some story about AA continuously taking the piss out of DD due  to his Wrexham miss on the  opening day?

If true no wonder his confidence is shot.

 

McBurnie (wonder what happened to him?) told the media that Ryan Fraser was complaining to him that nobody (Downs) was getting on the end of his crosses.

If someone's way below the standard of what's needed, it's inevitable that others will complain.

That said, Gerhard Struber managed to get Downs looking like a footballer. If he could do it, maybe his former assistant can work some of his magic and achieve the same feat.

[Tamesaint]

5 hours ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

Fuck me, what’ll be next, Keith Richards taking the piss out of someone fucked up on drugs. 

Keith Richards??

Nice to see that Duckie, as ever, is still living in the 1960s. 😁😁😁

[Convict Colony]

25 minutes ago, Ted Bates Statue said:

McBurnie (wonder what happened to him?) told the media that Ryan Fraser was complaining to him that nobody (Downs) was getting on the end of his crosses.

If someone's way below the standard of what's needed, it's inevitable that others will complain.

That said, Gerhard Struber managed to get Downs looking like a footballer. If he could do it, maybe his former assistant can work some of his magic and achieve the same feat.

fucking hell all of our strikers for the last 6-7 yrs hated getting on the end of crosses.

They were all top of the box merchants

[Badger]

5 hours ago, Chez said:

we are talking about a guy that has managed to make it in professional football. You don't disintegrate because Adam failed at the the top level Armstrong ribs you on Monday becuase you missed a sitter.

But doing the same thing against Northampton a few days later probably only reinforced the issue. That he’s crap 

[Badger]

46 minutes ago, Chez said:

Beattie struggled for goals in a side that didn't create a lot. He looked very rudimentary too. I am not sure many saw a player that would eventually smack freekicks in from 30 yards,  so writing off young strikers is risky. However, BT's workrate and physical presence far exceeded what Downs has showed to date. He at least put himself about. Not to mention he was playing in the top flight not the championship.

Definitely. Beattie showed effort, and commitment that opposition struggled with. He built on that and the rest came later. But from recollection within a year, not three or four seasons later after a failed loan.

[Chez]

21 minutes ago, Badger said:

Definitely. Beattie showed effort, and commitment that opposition struggled with. He built on that and the rest came later. But from recollection within a year, not three or four seasons later after a failed loan.

first season he scored 5 goals. Second season he scored 0. It was the third season when the goals started to come. Goals are not everything though, BT ran his heart out and the did count for something.

[suewhistle]

As a crap grass roots player at least I could run around and be a PITA to the opposition, but Downs just looked so lackadaisical let alone not being able to head or control the ball or shoot (or make runs, or make space, or draw defenders away etc.). BBD was just unfit and a bit of a tub and played in the wrong position, Archer was obviously frustrated with himself by how he was playing. As Chez and others say, Beattie played himself into form with physical effort. Downs has shown absolutely nothing and for the supporters he's more frustrating than any of the others.

[Osvaldorama]

4 hours ago, hypochondriac said:

Yes it does. it may well be that Downs will never be any good and will amount to nothing here- probably a good chance actually- but the idea that confidence does not affect how someone plays, what positions they take up on the pitch, whether they are looking for the ball, how they shoot and attack the ball etc is nonsense. Of course confidence can affect all of those things. 

I mean all you need to do is watch him for 5 minutes to see that he’s nowhere near this level and never will be. 
 

 I wish that wasn’t the case, considering how much we spent.