Summer Transfer Window 2026

[Pilchards]

4 hours ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

When you think of the current squad options available to Eckhert it’s hard to see any position other than CF where he would need to consider a new player. Possibly a new CM if Charles does get sold (looking likely, paving the way for a JWP return) and a new CB if THB leaves (you’d think likely, but there’s little sign of suitors at this point so perhaps we’re still talking to him about a new contract?). The key to all this I think is keeping as many of the side who are on-side with Eckhert and the club as possible - the team bonding of last season will play a big part in our success in the coming season I would imagine.

Totally agree that our current squad is just too bloated.

Can only offload the average ones out on loan once Tonda takes a look at them.

Need gone straight away as we don’t need them is Ramsdale, Archer and Ben Diaz.

That leaves me with Downs, could he turn him into a footballer like he did with Larin? Would be nice as the guy could have potential.

[Weston Super Saint]

2 hours ago, Pilchards said:

That leaves me with Downs, could he turn him into a footballer like he did with Larin? Would be nice as the guy could have potential.

He's a football coach, not fucking Midas.

[Charlie Wayman]

17 hours ago, BERMUDASAINT said:

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/26265695.southampton-legend-fonte-lands-coaching-role-premier-league-club/

Not sure if already posted, I wonder if SFC and Jose will ever cross paths again?

Red & white stripes are clearly part of his DNA now. Home is calling Jose.

[OldNick]

6 hours ago, Weston Super Saint said:

He's a football coach, not fucking Midas.

Good one but I hope he proves us wrong, I have the feeling the club havent given up on him and may well give him a chance ( i hope he doesnt miss) 

[Charlie Wayman]

9 hours ago, Pilchards said:

Totally agree that our current squad is just too bloated.

Can only offload the average ones out on loan once Tonda takes a look at them.

Need gone straight away as we don’t need them is Ramsdale, Archer and Ben Diaz.

That leaves me with Downs, could he turn him into a footballer like he did with Larin? Would be nice as the guy could have potential.

His battery is flat

[Saint86]

54 minutes ago, OldNick said:

Good one but I hope he proves us wrong, I have the feeling the club havent given up on him and may well give him a chance ( i hope he doesnt miss) 

if they gave up on a young striker after half a season in a new country/league, it would be a pretty damning indictment all around.

[Chez]

1 hour ago, OldNick said:

Good one but I hope he proves us wrong, I have the feeling the club havent given up on him and may well give him a chance ( i hope he doesnt miss) 

Have the club ever bought a senior player and loaned him out as quickly before (ignoring the sister club stuff)?

Players have signed for clubs from abroad, struggled initially and then blossomed (Drogba springs to mind, although he was hugely impressive at Marseilles before he joined Chelsea). It would be some turnaround.

[Turkish]

6 minutes ago, Chez said:

Have the club ever bought a senior player and loaned him out as quickly before (ignoring the sister club stuff)?

Players have signed for clubs from abroad, struggled initially and then blossomed (Drogba springs to mind, although he was hugely impressive at Marseilles before he joined Chelsea). It would be some turnaround.

He was very unlucky last season. A lot of the balls played into him were a little bit behind him or a head of him, i remember watching him thinking he looked really good when he didn't have the ball, if only we could have given him a better quality of pass. Look at his chance v Wrexham on the first game, he'd made a great run, lost his man, got into the box and then the useless winger played it a few feet behind him so his world class movement wasnt rewarded with the goal he deserved. He was also outstanding at Hull away but unfortunately when long balls are just pumped aimlessly forwarded closer to the defender then how can you expect a striker to win them? I think with better service he's going to cook, hopefully with us!

[Miltonaggro]

5 minutes ago, Turkish said:

He was very unlucky last season. A lot of the balls played into him were a little bit behind him or a head of him, i remember watching him thinking he looked really good when he didn't have the ball, if only we could have given him a better quality of pass. Look at his chance v Wrexham on the first game, he'd made a great run, lost his man, got into the box and then the useless winger played it a few feet behind him so his world class movement wasnt rewarded with the goal he deserved. He was also outstanding at Hull away but unfortunately when long balls are just pumped aimlessly forwarded closer to the defender then how can you expect a striker to win them? I think with better service he's going to cook, hopefully with us!

Spot on!  One thing I noticed was that at 6ft 4ins often he would effortlessly get out-jumped by the 5ft 8 oppo full-backs, this seemed to happen every time he played and is undoubtedly due to poor wing play in terms of telegraphing passes and the trajectory of the ball.  It's the wingers who Tonda should focus on to get the best out of Damion.  

[Turkish]

11 minutes ago, Miltonaggro said:

Spot on!  One thing I noticed was that at 6ft 4ins often he would effortlessly get out-jumped by the 5ft 8 oppo full-backs, this seemed to happen every time he played and is undoubtedly due to poor wing play in terms of telegraphing passes and the trajectory of the ball.  It's the wingers who Tonda should focus on to get the best out of Damion.  

Agreed. He makes it look so easy, it’s just too bad that we don’t have the players capable of getting the best out of him. On the occasions he did actually get a decent ball he could win he had no one around him to pick it up so it would either go straight to a defender or out for a goal kick or throw, when you’ve got that sort of aerial domination you need players anticipate you’re going to win the ball not on their heels looking at him in awe. I guess that’s what happens when you’re playing a few levels below where you should be 

Edited 20 hours ago by Turkish

[RedArmy]

He’s scored 2 goals since February 2025. 
 

That’s basically prolific. 

[beatlesaint]

3 hours ago, OldNick said:

Good one but I hope he proves us wrong, I have the feeling the club havent given up on him and may well give him a chance ( i hope he doesnt miss) 

He may well be given another chance but that needs to involve a loan move somewhere at a lower level for next season.

Edited 18 hours ago by beatlesaint

[bangkoksaint]

14 minutes ago, beatlesaint said:

He may well be given another chance but that needs to involve a loan move somewhere at a lower level for next season.

Eastleigh?

[lambtiss]

16 minutes ago, beatlesaint said:

He may well be given another chance but that needs to involve a loan move somewhere at a lower level for next season.

Portsmouth?

[Miltonaggro]

40 minutes ago, RedArmy said:

He’s scored 2 goals since February 2025. 
 

That’s basically prolific. 

The Texan Carillo.

Maybe we should try him in goal, Bazunu therapy.  We could then flog him to Leicester as a hybrid sweeper / striker keeper.

We live in fucking hope...

 

 

[Turkish]

42 minutes ago, RedArmy said:

He’s scored 2 goals since February 2025. 
 

That’s basically prolific. 

Yeah but if you take out games where he was sub, time to adapt to the various leagues he’s been playing in plus chances he’s had and do the math it’s basically a goal every 4 minutes

[RedArmy]

27 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Yeah but if you take out games where he was sub, time to adapt to the various leagues he’s been playing in plus chances he’s had and do the math it’s basically a goal every 4 minutes

I think we’ll struggle to keep hold of him this summer. 

[Turkish]

7 minutes ago, RedArmy said:

I think we’ll struggle to keep hold of him this summer. 

Let’s just hope we hold out for an acceptable offer. It’d be very saints to sell him cheap 🙄

[BarberSaint]

3 hours ago, Turkish said:

Let’s just hope we hold out for an acceptable offer. It’d be very saints to sell him cheap 🙄

Exactly the kind of forward who'd thrive under Russball.

[RedArmy]

4 hours ago, Turkish said:

Let’s just hope we hold out for an acceptable offer. It’d be very saints to sell him cheap 🙄

Indeed, I’d even *really reluctantly* drive him there. Just to say goodbye one last time. 

[Gloucester Saint]

42 minutes ago, RedArmy said:

Indeed, I’d even *really reluctantly* drive him there. Just to say goodbye one last time. 

It’d be safer than him driving.

[benjii]

11 hours ago, RedArmy said:

He’s scored 2 goals since February 2025. 
 

That’s basically prolific. 

It's literally one every two games if you do the math.

[Saint NL]

Jeffery Monga has joined Man City from Leicester. Obviously he was going to leave, didn't expect him to end up at City though. 

[Pilchards]

Leicester have some good players but just bad, bad management in the past leading them.

Will do well with Russell Martin as it’s his level.

[Gloucester Saint]

31 minutes ago, Saint NL said:

Jeffery Monga has joined Man City from Leicester. Obviously he was going to leave, didn't expect him to end up at City though. 

Fee of up to £10m though. If you think how much relative to the eras we got for Theo and Alex OC from Arsenal, it’s not that much.

[Matthew Le God]

18 minutes ago, Pilchards said:

Leicester have some good players but just bad, bad management in the past leading them.

Will do well with Russell Martin as it’s his level.

Why is League 1 his level rather than the Championship, where he had 3 seasons finishing higher in the next year (15th, 10th, 4th)?

[Pilchards]

Just now, Matthew Le God said:

Why is League 1 his level rather than the Championship, where he had 3 seasons finishing higher in the next year (15th, 10th, 4th)?

Hardly knocking the door down is it?

They will become the champions in league one. Can’t say he will finish top 2 next season  in the championship with his style of football.

IMHO.

[Matthew Le God]

2 minutes ago, Pilchards said:

Hardly knocking the door down is it?

He has managed for 3 seasons in the 24 team Championship and improved each year. His first season at Swansea had a significantly reduced budget compared to the previous manager and came 15th, improved to 10th and then 4th with us. What about that makes League One his level? 

I think he is a Championship level manager  now in League 1, who is out of his depth in the Premier League.