Summer Transfer Window 2026

[Badger]

10 minutes ago, Ex Lion Tamer said:

JWP's main problem is he lacks a yard of pace at the top level, which won't be a problem at all in the Championship. I think he'd be a top signing

Although I remember him getting round the pitch quite well when he was with us, have to wonder if he’s still got that in him. The appearance he made under Martin he looked suited to the passing game, but  we moved up through the gears a bit more under Tonda. Is he up to that ? 
 

JWP’s career seems to have been put in mothballs for three years. 

Edited Friday at 21:32 by Badger

[Willo of Whiteley]

I don’t see a returning player being something the club can be fooled by for a fourth time.

Can it?

Really…?!

[Sergei Gotsmanov]

58 minutes ago, saintant said:

Hope you are proved wrong. Good player though he was he's not what we need now.

Nope we don't want a talisman, somebody who would lift the whole club, the best free kick taker in the country, a club stalwart, leader, a player who in the premier league scored in double digits. 

[Nolan]

Jwp won't have lost his professionalism, his passing accuracy or his dead ball skills.

If Larin can do it it the Championship, why on earth can't JWP at the same age?

[Cuddles]

47 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

I don’t see a returning player being something the club can be fooled by for a fourth time.

Can it?

Really…?!

Feels different to Walcott and Romeu

[Saint Fan CaM]

1 hour ago, Nolan said:

Jwp won't have lost his professionalism, his passing accuracy or his dead ball skills.

If Larin can do it it the Championship, why on earth can't JWP at the same age?

Because as a midfielder you need a pair of decent legs to get you up and down the field? 😉

[Chez]

9 hours ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Why are we even talking about yesterday's journeyman, why would the club saddle themselves with a huge salary bill for a bit part player who has failed in the PL at WHU and could never challenge Downes and Jander for a starting place. Bragg is the future, our Academy lad made good if we really need "one of our own" for PR

Not sure JWP can be described as a journeyman. He's hardly bounced around many clubs. 

He has his limitations, and whether you get value for money will depend on the deal you sign with west ham, but like Charles, he has the first touch to play at the top level. 

[Willo of Whiteley]

His legs have probably gone a bit in recent years. All that said he’d still be a decent player to have in the Championship.

I genuinely wouldn’t have him on corners though, they were always terrible.

[Charlie Wayman]

10 hours ago, AlexLaw76 said:

What do we need now?

We don't need anybody at the moment until Charles decides where his future lies

 

Chez:

Not sure JWP can be described as a journeyman. 

Chat GTP:

Competent, reliable and experienced but not considered exceptional or at the top of their field.

Edited yesterday at 07:20 by Charlie Wayman

[moonraker]

20 minutes ago, Charlie Wayman said:

We don't need anybody at the moment until Charles decides where his future lies

 

Chez:

Not sure JWP can be described as a journeyman. 

Chat GTP:

Competent, reliable and experienced but not considered exceptional or at the top of their field. I doubt there is a player in the Championship  “considered exceptional or at the top of their field”.  

Edited yesterday at 07:35 by moonraker

[SW5 SAINT]

8 hours ago, Cuddles said:

Feels different to Walcott and Romeu

He’s not as ‘past it’ as those two…

[Lee On Solent Saint]

1 hour ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

His legs have probably gone a bit in recent years. All that said he’d still be a decent player to have in the Championship.

I genuinely wouldn’t have him on corners though, they were always terrible.

The flip side of the corner argument would be that out movement in the penalty area was terrible 

[Cuddles]

1 hour ago, Charlie Wayman said:

We don't need anybody at the moment until Charles decides where his future lies

 

Chez:

Not sure JWP can be described as a journeyman. 

Chat GTP:

Competent, reliable and experienced but not considered exceptional or at the top of their field.

Well chatGPT is wrong as he was / is the top free kicker taker in the league.

[OldNick]

What would the squad members who plyed with him who saw him drop us like a brick so not to face the slog of the championship think? We seem to have a pretty decent unity at present, do we want that affected

[hypochondriac]

Assuming that Tonda is still here, I can't see him playing Jwp unless he is actually up to it. He will be ruthless if required and Jwp will know he will have to perform and not rely on his name or history.

[Sheaf Saint]

50 minutes ago, SW5 SAINT said:

He’s not as ‘past it’ as those two…

Indeed.

Walcott never had great technical skill. His game was always about raw pace, and once he lost that he floundered.

Romeu spent a few years playing less intense football in Spain and looked hopelessly out of his depth against the pace and power of top Championship teams.

Lallana - well, he was just crocked so we'll never really know how much he could have contributed in that one season.

Assuming JWP has kept his fitness levels up and still has the same stamina then I think he could still be a great option. He's probably never going to get another PL contract after the the last 3 years being barely played even when fit. So I reckon it should work well for both parties.

[Matthew Le God]

2 hours ago, OldNick said:

What would the squad members who plyed with him who saw him drop us like a brick so not to face the slog of the championship think? We seem to have a pretty decent unity at present, do we want that affected

He was here for 20+ years. He is hardly disloyal!

He then had the opportunity to keep his £100k+ wages and continue at Premier League level after our relegation. Daft to blame him for not turning that down. Clearly it didn't ultimately work out well for him in footballing terms, but he wasn't to know that at the time.

Edited yesterday at 11:21 by Matthew Le God

[beatlesaint]

I really cant decide if JWP would be a good idea or not. I wouldnt want him coming back as an automatic starter ahead of Jander (if still here), Downes and Bragg but he would be an excellent option off the bench. Not sure he would be happy with that but tbh I cant see a Premier League club taking a chance on him after a not great move to West Ham and pretty piss poor loans at Forest and Burnley. 

[Lee On Solent Saint]

I have a feeling Jander is going to be off this summer too, so wouldn't surprise me if the JWP rumours are true. There's a big opportunity in that German squad at the moment should Klopp become manager for energetic midfielders such as Jander. I think he's going to want to maximise his exposure by going to a top European league with a team possibly in European competition too.

[2Morrow]

JWP is adequate cover for Azaz and Downes & Jander/Charles. Good role model for Bragg breaking in. Can also do a job at RB, though a bit small more robust than Jelert was and it would give Bree a break. He broke through at RW/RM so in a long season could pop up there. 

I wouldn't want him to be the Jander & Charles replacement of both went, but sub CM is cool.

For free or a subsidised loan for 1 season (ideal as could then be a free if it works out) its not exactly high risk.

Leaves moolah for first choice CB if THB goes, a Stewart replacement, a winger or CAM cover to replace edozie and blank. 

Depending on who leaves, the main gaps are ST, CAM cover, LW cover, CB partner for THB, RB cover.

[Gloucester Saint]

16 hours ago, Badger said:

Why only half a season, did they send him back ?

Only started 6 games so Saints recalled him in January,

[AlexLaw76]

1 hour ago, OldNick said:

What would the squad members who plyed with him who saw him drop us like a brick so not to face the slog of the championship think? We seem to have a pretty decent unity at present, do we want that affected

Drop us like a brick? Saints hawked him out as we had to sell him.

 

[moonraker]

2 hours ago, OldNick said:

What would the squad members who plyed with him who saw him drop us like a brick so not to face the slog of the championship think? We seem to have a pretty decent unity at present, do we want that affected

He did not drop us like a brick, we were relegated at the time prem teams wanted him, we needed cash.  

[SW5 SAINT]

The most welcome piece of business would be to move Ramsdale on for a decent fee….

[sockeye]

12 hours ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

I don’t see a returning player being something the club can be fooled by for a fourth time.

Can it?

Really…?!

Rather than being fooled by, I think it's just part of the strategy. A lot of players will benefit from an older head with a bit of pedigree.

[BERMUDASAINT]

14 hours ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Why are we even talking about yesterday's journeyman, why would the club saddle themselves with a huge salary bill for a bit part player who has failed in the PL at WHU and could never challenge Downes and Jander for a starting place. Bragg is the future, our Academy lad made good if we really need "one of our own" for PR

Your negative bias is showing through.

JWP was brought by WH because DMoyes wanted him. He palyed 37 games with DM as manager, 7 goals and 2 assist. Contiuing on as a he did with us in the PL(2018-2023,7,5,8,9,10 goals per season).

In Moyes final season they reached the quarter-finals of the 2023–24 Europa League before being beaten by Bayer Leverkusen, finished 9th in the Premier League.

Then came the the disasterous new managers, Julen, Graham and Nuno who reduced JWP being used less and less (sending on loan). WH Teams performance began  deteriorating, resulting in WH getting relegated. 

So i dont see JWP as a failure at WH. The manager who wanted him had Prowsy playing to his PL ability.

 

Edited yesterday at 12:04 by BERMUDASAINT

[East Kent Saint]

Liverpool regretting extending Van Dijk’s contract and trying to off load him , worth a cheeky bid ? 😆

[HKsaint]

I will welcome him back with open arms

[Hawkswood]

18 hours ago, Saint86 said:

Really? JWP on good wages and a free transfer / loan in the championship is an absolute no brainer, especially with the amount of fouls saints tend to get 😅

Looking at other peoples reactions on here there seems to be a real 50/50 split on this one. For me personally it's a backwards step ( much like his passing- sorry, couldnt help myself). We keep making these nostalgic signings with the same theory that they care about the club/cheap wages/etc etc but in all honesty never really work out. Its a nice idea to say we won loads of free kicks so, you know, JWP but he'd need to be on the pitch for that and Id be pretty pissed off if he were in ahead of Bragg Jander Azaz or Downes. Thats just how I see it. We need to move on. Ultimately if Im wrong and he comes and plays a pivotal role then great. I just want whats best for saints.

[BARCELONASAINT]

JWP is the complete professional and i have no doubt he has kept his fitness up. He would be a great asset with his experience and in the games i did see him play while out on loan last season i thought he looked one of the better players in the Burnley team. Don't compare him to Romeu who i warned people his legs had gone. Walcott and Lallana were just huge mistakes who clearly were finished.

[OldNick]

5 hours ago, Matthew Le God said:

He was here for 20+ years. He is hardly disloyal!

He then had the opportunity to keep his £100k+ wages and continue at Premier League level after our relegation. Daft to blame him for not turning that down. Clearly it didn't ultimately work out well for him in footballing terms, but he wasn't to know that at the time.

Doesnt answer the question about how the otherplayers who were here how they will feel him trotting back here. I dont rate him and so my opinion is skewed perhaps.

He scored some marvellous free kicks but I can never recall him bossing any games ( apart marking the Palace player that time)> It frustrated the hell out of me how he didnt play the ball forward and make killing passes (smallbone was more effective at that)

[bangkoksaint]

38 minutes ago, OldNick said:

Doesnt answer the question about how the otherplayers who were here how they will feel him trotting back here. I dont rate him and so my opinion is skewed perhaps.

He scored some marvellous free kicks but I can never recall him bossing any games ( apart marking the Palace player that time)> It frustrated the hell out of me how he didnt play the ball forward and make killing passes (smallbone was more effective at that)

They’re professionals. They really won’t give a monkeys. They’d all do the same given half a chance, this isn’t playground football. 

[ally_uk]

JWP on a free / loan would be a good bit of business, I'd be happy with that. 

[Matthew Le God]

49 minutes ago, OldNick said:

Doesnt answer the question about how the otherplayers who were here how they will feel him trotting back here. I dont rate him and so my opinion is skewed perhaps.

He scored some marvellous free kicks but I can never recall him bossing any games ( apart marking the Palace player that time)> It frustrated the hell out of me how he didnt play the ball forward and make killing passes (smallbone was more effective at that)

1) The stats show otherwise regarding his passing.

2) The other players who stayed weren't PL quality, he and others who were sold for big money were. That is why they were wanted and the others weren't. So it would be daft for them to hold any kind of grudge against him. None of them would have stayed with us in the Championship if a £100k+ p/w contract was on offer to them.

 

 

Edited yesterday at 15:08 by Matthew Le God

[revolution saint]

Other than the Blackmore speculation has there been any links to JWP? FWIW He’d probably do a half decent and unspectacular job if he did come back but can’t say I’d be enthusiastic about it. 

[Nolan]

37 minutes ago, revolution saint said:

Other than the Blackmore speculation has there been any links to JWP? FWIW He’d probably do a half decent and unspectacular job if he did come back but can’t say I’d be enthusiastic about it. 

Divergentd post on the last page.

[Lighthouse]

I think a few people are going to be disappointed if they think we’re signing better players than JWP this summer.

[stknowle]

6 hours ago, HKsaint said:

I will welcome him back with open arms

So will I HK my old pal.

[MarkSFC]

Get JWP in for free for this season amd save some money for when we get promoted. 

[gio1saints]

The factors fueling this story might be

 

1. Lack of ready Money : JWP free or cheap loaned is good business v another £10m bet on an unknown or young potential.
 

2. The ratio of known quantities we recruit ( like JWP ) v gambles is relevant ( but prob only evident/transparent at close of window). Too many young unknowns = higher risk. 

3. The likely departures of THB and SC -the first of whom is THE captain /leader type in our first 11 and the second an excellent back up CM to Downes and Jander. JWP ticks both boxes. Put it all together and yiu got…………………………………,,,Joe Rothwell 🥳

[Harry_SFC]

I'd certainly have him back as cover. Not as a starter though.

[Ex Lion Tamer]

 

I'd be hoping for more like this assist on his only Championship appearance. Watch how he ghosts into space and plays the perfect pass

Edited yesterday at 21:23 by Ex Lion Tamer

[Paulwantsapint81]

VVD could come & finish his career if he wants a championship medal as opposed to retiring to gulf states

[AlexLaw76]

1 hour ago, Harry_SFC said:

I'd certainly have him back as cover. Not as a starter though.

what if he is better than downs or jander, who quiet simply aint going through a season without injury or suspension.

[Cuddles]

2 hours ago, MarkSFC said:

Get JWP in for free for this season amd save some money for when we get promoted. 

Guess we'd have to pay a loan fee of some sort though, as he has a year left on his contract?

[Gloucester Saint]

1 hour ago, Paulwantsapint81 said:

VVD could come & finish his career if he wants a championship medal as opposed to retiring to gulf states

MLS I reckon. He won’t go to the Championship even if Wrexham offer daft wages. Besides, he didn’t exactly leave on great terms.

[Hawkswood]

1 hour ago, Paulwantsapint81 said:

VVD could come & finish his career if he wants a championship medal as opposed to retiring to gulf states

Never in million years

[Holmes_and_Watson]

1 hour ago, Paulwantsapint81 said:

VVD could come & finish his career if he wants a championship medal as opposed to retiring to gulf states

We know we can send him a pack with details, without bothering his club.

[chiknsmack]

10 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

I think a few people are going to be disappointed if they think we’re signing better players than JWP this summer.

There's a difference between "signing better players" and "making better signings". JWP's good enough to start at the top of the Championship, but not good enough to start in the Champions League. I think someone who might develop into the latter would be a better signing than JWP, even if not a better player next season.

It's Oli McBurnie all over again; do we want someone good enough for this level but not for the ones above, or do we look for a YHGTI diamond in the rough and risk ending up with a Downs? I'd rather take the risk in this case when we already have Jander/Downes/Bragg in midfield, have a couple of other academy players who could benefit from 900 minutes or so of Championship football, and have a scouting team that found Fernandes and Jander in back-to-back years so have proven they can find good young midfield prospects.

[hypochondriac]

Lots of people continuing to assume that Jander is staying.