Summer Transfer Window 2026

[Badger]

4 hours ago, Rowan Gorilla 5 said:

Still a centre forward, Charles replacement, left sided centre back and a goalkeeper to compete with Peretz short, in my opinion.

Shame we missed out on Neil and Galves as I believe that they, along with Stewart, would have helped to round out the squad for very little outlay, comparatively speaking.

As it is there is a tenuous link to Kaine Kesler-Hayden of Coventry, who we were linked with last summer. Can only feel that Spors/Eckert want more from the right back position and are unconvinced by Roerslev and Sugawara.

A number need to move on, for the benefit of the individual players themselves and the team as a whole.

All easier said than done. Fingers crossed.

Don’t disagree with your assessment although suspect a wish list to include another CB - unless one goes - is optimistic.

Also agree it was a shame we missed out on Neil. Not so sure on the French bloke though

[AlexLaw76]

We need a good CF, clearly

[Badger]

33 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

I am not sure he is there to play lots of games

Seems a pointless transfer to me, other than the £££. Chelsea yet again stockpiling an already bloated squad. 

[Lighthouse]

6 minutes ago, Badger said:

Don’t disagree with your assessment although suspect a wish list to include another CB - unless one goes - is optimistic.

Also agree it was a shame we missed out on Neil. Not so sure on the French bloke though

I’d say we’re only really in the market to replace people who are leaving. There don’t appear to be any holes in our squad until someone leaves. Clearly Ramsdale and Baz will be off, so we can expect a third choice keeper. Beyond that it’ll come down to who stays out of Scienza, THB, Jander and Charles.

 

 

 

[Badger]

3 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

I’d say we’re only really in the market to replace people who are leaving. There don’t appear to be any holes in our squad until someone leaves. Clearly Ramsdale and Baz will be off, so we can expect a third choice keeper. Beyond that it’ll come down to who stays out of Scienza, THB, Jander and Charles.

 

 

 

As Alex Law says, need a CF (to go with Larin) irrespective of the names you mentioned 

[AlexLaw76]

24 minutes ago, Badger said:

Seems a pointless transfer to me, other than the £££. Chelsea yet again stockpiling an already bloated squad. 

Not at all. Chelsea have a bunch of brilliant but inexperienced players (at the very top level in this country). They also need proven striker to take the heat from Joao Pedro from time to time. The biggest part is that Welbeck is clearly a model professional and probably a standards setter.

 

[Badger]

8 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Not at all. Chelsea have a bunch of brilliant but inexperienced players (at the very top level in this country). They also need proven striker to take the heat from Joao Pedro from time to time. The biggest part is that Welbeck is clearly a model professional and probably a standards setter.

 

The calibre of experienced player is clearly better than those we’ve gone for, but isn’t this a policy our club have been criticised for ?

I agree with bringing in an older head, especially if they can make a difference on the pitch. But wonder why they feel they need both him and Henderson to set the standards. 

[Pwoite]

26 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

I’d say we’re only really in the market to replace people who are leaving. There don’t appear to be any holes in our squad until someone leaves. Clearly Ramsdale and Baz will be off, so we can expect a third choice keeper. Beyond that it’ll come down to who stays out of Scienza, THB, Jander and Charles.

 

 

 

Don’t we want a new second choice keeper, with Long as third choice. Moody, or whoever could be third choice.

For me, it’s not just who from the Big Four stay, but who else we can get out of the door. Or does Tonya want a bloated squad to provide options? I can’t see it working if players aren’t even making the bench. 

[Lighthouse]

40 minutes ago, Badger said:

As Alex Law says, need a CF (to go with Larin) irrespective of the names you mentioned 

We have Larin, Archer, Downs and BBD and that’s if we’re not including Dobbin and Oyekunle in the list. I do expect we’ll sign another striker eventually but I think we’ll wait until we’re sure a couple are leaving before we bring in another.

[Challenger]

17 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

We have Larin, Archer, Downs and BBD and that’s if we’re not including Dobbin and Oyekunle in the list. I do expect we’ll sign another striker eventually but I think we’ll wait until we’re sure a couple are leaving before we bring in another.

Can't see Archer,Downs,BBD or Oyekunie contributing many goals. Need to shift at least two from that list.

 

[Give it to Ron]

35 minutes ago, Challenger said:

Can't see Archer,Downs,BBD or Oyekunie contributing many goals. Need to shift at least two from that list.

 

Don’t agree about Archer played in right position he will get goals.

Downs and BBD won’t be here at end of transfer window.

Think the recruitment team deserve a bit of faith. Dobbin looks a good addition 

[egg]

19 minutes ago, Give it to Ron said:

Don’t agree about Archer played in right position he will get goals.

Downs and BBD won’t be here at end of transfer window.

Think the recruitment team deserve a bit of faith. Dobbin looks a good addition 

Agreed. Archer is a confidence player. Downs and BBD just aren't players. 

[SouSaint]

2 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

I’d say we’re only really in the market to replace people who are leaving. There don’t appear to be any holes in our squad until someone leaves. Clearly Ramsdale and Baz will be off, so we can expect a third choice keeper. Beyond that it’ll come down to who stays out of Scienza, THB, Jander and Charles.

 

 

 

Not a chance we find a club dumb enough to take him off our hands permanently. Best case is a panic loan deal late on in the window. 

[Badger]

17 minutes ago, SouSaint said:

Not a chance we find a club dumb enough to take him off our hands permanently. Best case is a panic loan deal late on in the window. 

Even Leicester (managed by his No1 supporter) have gone for another. Even if it’s McCarthy 

[Lighthouse]

27 minutes ago, SouSaint said:

Not a chance we find a club dumb enough to take him off our hands permanently. Best case is a panic loan deal late on in the window. 

 

8 minutes ago, Badger said:

Even Leicester (managed by his No1 supporter) have gone for another. Even if it’s McCarthy 

Most likely his wages are an issue for a lot of Championship clubs, as he was signed in the PL. Having played in said PL and been promoted from the Championship once, he’s unlikely to want to drop to League 1, where he’s already played and been player of the season five years ago with Pompey.

As with Ramsdale, we won’t be able to afford to keep him as back up but he won’t be easy to sell either.

[St Chalet]

Baz could end up our Number 2 this season. Will be a shame for both the financial rules and the risk that he has to actually play, but I'm not sure who is buying or loaning him.

[Badger]

2 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

We have Larin, Archer, Downs and BBD and that’s if we’re not including Dobbin and Oyekunle in the list. I do expect we’ll sign another striker eventually but I think we’ll wait until we’re sure a couple are leaving before we bring in another.

We’re obviously looking at this from different angles.

For me, I’d like to see a CF (in the Stewart mould) signed who is going to make a difference on the pitch. Which I suspect you do too.

You’re talking of the squad size etc which is an equally valid argument. But the names you mention just reinforce the need for the CF really. Can’t see Archer, BBD and Downs offering enough.

And Larin, as good as he was after January, was essentially job sharing with Stewart so tall order perhaps to expect him replicate that form and fitness over 46 games. 

[Harry_SFC]

 

1 hour ago, egg said:

Agreed. Archer is a confidence player. Downs and BBD just aren't players. 

Yes Archer is a confidence player but Tonda also hasn't used him as a CF (for good reasons) which basically means we are left with Larin.

Replacing Stewart is the urgent priority really.

Imagine if Larin got injured in training before the first game. We'd be starting on -4 without a proper striker. 

[SouSaint]

22 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

 

Most likely his wages are an issue for a lot of Championship clubs, as he was signed in the PL. Having played in said PL and been promoted from the Championship once, he’s unlikely to want to drop to League 1, where he’s already played and been player of the season five years ago with Pompey.

As with Ramsdale, we won’t be able to afford to keep him as back up but he won’t be easy to sell either.

Maybe needs to accept that midtable League One is very much his level, especially after the horror show of the Stoke loan. 

[Badger]

1 hour ago, Give it to Ron said:

Don’t agree about Archer played in right position he will get goals.

Downs and BBD won’t be here at end of transfer window.

Think the recruitment team deserve a bit of faith. Dobbin looks a good addition 

What is his “right position” exactly, and do we play in a style to accommodate that ?

He isn’t the genius of MLT to be allowed a free rein to go and play as you want (not a dig at him, very few if any players are). I’m sometimes  sceptical of the player wanting to play in their right position if it means changing a formation to suit. 

[Lighthouse]

5 minutes ago, SouSaint said:

Maybe needs to accept that midtable League One is very much his level, especially after the horror show of the Stoke loan. 

TBH I’m beyond caring about people’s opinions on Bazunu but to expect him to make transfer decisions about his future based on an internet forum’s consensus about his ability is just odd.

[SNSUN]

3 hours ago, Challenger said:

Can't see Archer,Downs,BBD or Oyekunie contributing many goals. Need to shift at least two from that list.

 

Oyekunle is youth so omit him. That leaves Archer, Downs and BBD. Archer seems destined for WBA despite being the one of the 3 I'd prefer to keep. Leaves Downs,  who is confidence-shot but tall and BBD who has scored goals at this level but has been largely shite.

In my mind it's Larin plus 2 new signings. 

[ally_uk]

Said that last week sell Archer, Diaz, Downs

Bring in Ross Stewart or another target man type player.  ( Salech time baby! ) 

Still think we need a right winger / competition for Fellows. 

Wouldn't be against getting Dibbs or Ward-Prowse on loan 

Edited 3 hours ago by ally_uk

[AlexLaw76]

24 minutes ago, ally_uk said:

Said that last week sell Archer, Diaz, Downs

Bring in Ross Stewart or another target man type player.  ( Salech time baby! ) 

Still think we need a right winger / competition for Fellows. 

Wouldn't be against getting Dibbs or Ward-Prowse on loan 

Matsuki?

[Challenger]

11 hours ago, egg said:

Agreed. Archer is a confidence player. Downs and BBD just aren't players. 

Wouldn't have a problem with Archer as 3rd choice striker. Shifting Downs and BBD and bring in a decent ( not one for the future type )Stewart replacement, and front line is sorted.

[Wade Garrett]

10 hours ago, Badger said:

What is his “right position” exactly, and do we play in a style to accommodate that ?

He isn’t the genius of MLT to be allowed a free rein to go and play as you want (not a dig at him, very few if any players are). I’m sometimes  sceptical of the player wanting to play in their right position if it means changing a formation to suit. 

Can’t remember who it was against, but he was brilliant cutting in from the left that night.

[John B]

13 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

I’d say we’re only really in the market to replace people who are leaving. There don’t appear to be any holes in our squad until someone leaves. Clearly Ramsdale and Baz will be off, so we can expect a third choice keeper. Beyond that it’ll come down to who stays out of Scienza, THB, Jander and Charles.

 

 

 

But as usual we need a Centre Forward

[Lighthouse]

5 minutes ago, John B said:

But as usual we need a Centre Forward

We don’t need one, we’d just like a better one. Given choice, I’d have BBD over Sekou Mara, who was our backup option last time we got promoted, so the situation isn’t critical.

[Toadhall Saint]

8 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

We don’t need one, we’d just like a better one. Given choice, I’d have BBD over Sekou Mara, who was our backup option last time we got promoted, so the situation isn’t critical.

And let’s not forget where we played BBD in the main. He is never a left winger! Play him through the middle.

[gio1saints]

13 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

We have Larin, Archer, Downs and BBD and that’s if we’re not including Dobbin and Oyekunle in the list. I do expect we’ll sign another striker eventually but I think we’ll wait until we’re sure a couple are leaving before we bring in another.

Agree totally. 
Looking at one of our more predictable patterns of play in the latter part of last season perhaps gives a clue: 

Whenever we engage in that stupid keep ball game in our own penalty area and the opposition had gone full press and it was getting dicey Tonda used the default option of either Peretz hits ut long central (or lobg diagonal ) OR full back hits it long into the wide channels. 
In the latter nippy wingers are required. For the former it needs ability to compete aerially and physically for the ball. Latin is the only player we have, currently competent for that role. In his absence, currently, we are constrained to hit it wide from wherever we are. This has even lower chance of success than any of the hitting it long expedients in the scenarios outlined.

This suggests to me in absence of Larin Tonda will put either Damian on ( but god please are we really down to this?) or buy another robust CF who can handle himself aerially and physically hold ball up and pass it to one of ours and, oh, can score as well. 
That’s what we need. Not another small forward. 

[Give it to Ron]

25 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

Agree totally. 
Looking at one of our more predictable patterns of play in the latter part of last season perhaps gives a clue: 

Whenever we engage in that stupid keep ball game in our own penalty area and the opposition had gone full press and it was getting dicey Tonda used the default option of either Peretz hits ut long central (or lobg diagonal ) OR full back hits it long into the wide channels. 
In the latter nippy wingers are required. For the former it needs ability to compete aerially and physically for the ball. Latin is the only player we have, currently competent for that role. In his absence, currently, we are constrained to hit it wide from wherever we are. This has even lower chance of success than any of the hitting it long expedients in the scenarios outlined.

This suggests to me in absence of Larin Tonda will put either Damian on ( but god please are we really down to this?) or buy another robust CF who can handle himself aerially and physically hold ball up and pass it to one of ours and, oh, can score as well. 
That’s what we need. Not another small forward. 

Was good and interesting to see Peretz went long and behind full backs for Dobbin to spin and go.

Archers best position last season was on the left behind Larin/Stewart.

BBD was in on goal yesterday and so slow didn’t even get shot on target.

We need a physical presence up top to get best out of our squad 

[The Kraken]

11 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

TBH I’m beyond caring about people’s opinions on Bazunu but to expect him to make transfer decisions about his future based on an internet forum’s consensus about his ability is just odd.

🤣

[Graffito]

1 hour ago, Lighthouse said:

We don’t need one, we’d just like a better one. Given choice, I’d have BBD over Sekou Mara, who was our backup option last time we got promoted, so the situation isn’t critical.

We need a centre forward.

[coalman]

Not sure I can cope with another summer of "he's fine for the Championship".

While bringing in a striker is a priority we also need to ship some players out for good to reduce the wage bill - eg Ramsdale, Bazunu, BBD, Sugawara. And some on loan if they're not going to get first team minutes - eg Sesay, Quarshie