Summer Transfer Window 2026

[Badger]

deleted 

Edited 17 hours ago by Badger

[Matthew Le God]

9 minutes ago, Badger said:

deleted 

I didn't know you were a Cyberman

[trousers]

52 minutes ago, Badger said:

For more transfer speculation we’ll all study the line up tomorrow to see who is missing, and reasons given. 

I've got my 'excuses fabricated by the club' bingo card at the ready... 

"Picked up a knock in training" 

"Caught a virus"

"Had a chicken dinner at Flyn Downes' gaff"

Edited 17 hours ago by trousers

[St Chalet]

*The house fell through on Michael Owen's place in Winchester because I got outbid by Martin O'Neill.

[stknowle]

2 hours ago, hypochondriac said:

TBF though that quote is pretty vague...

To the point of being utterly meaningless. 

[goodymatt]

Will our THB replacement choose to go back to Sheffield United over us?

[hypochondriac]

15 minutes ago, stknowle said:

To the point of being utterly meaningless. 

It is but it would certainly be viewed as deceptive if we did sell all four at this stage given the impression it leaves.

[SaintsLoyal]

Its worth remembering that we do still need to pay a tidy wedge on players weve bought, so might need to create some cpaital, but i wouldnt want that to be a starting player.

 

All parachute payments go to the covid loan debt.

Edited 15 hours ago by SaintsLoyal

[hypochondriac]

3 minutes ago, SaintsLoyal said:

Its worth remembering that we do still need a tidy wedge on players weve bought, so might need to create some cpaital, but i wouldnt want that to be a starting player.

 

All parachute payments go to the covid loan debt.

Do you have evidence for this? That's quite a big revelation if true that I wasn't aware of if 100% of our parachute payments are going on servicing covid loans.

[Chez]

7 hours ago, SNSUN said:

Yes please - he was decent for the Blades and is bang at his peak.

Agree. Would really soften the blow of losing THB.  

I'm not THB's biggest fan. I don't see him as irreplaceable. 

Edited 15 hours ago by Chez

[Chez]

29 minutes ago, SaintsLoyal said:

All parachute payments go to the covid loan debt.

Are you saying the current loan specifies that the entire £35-40m we get for this season is used to pay down the debt? 

Edited 16 hours ago by Chez

[Charlie Wayman]

6 hours ago, AlexLaw76 said:

given how long he has been here, I suspect anything over 6 or 7M is a profit.

It's a game of chess, The club are really saying he is not for sale, a reported £30 m price tag makes a move unlikely but is a sop but not a flat refusal to a player who maybe does want to move on.

[Charlie Wayman]

3 hours ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

So signing the best goalkeeper in the league and a Canadian international who scored a load of useful goals when unfit, is now fit, knows the system and really wants to be here - despite us having a 4 point deduction and a manager under threat from the FA - that's unimpressive is it? 
I bet your wife makes Sekou Mara's mum look like Shrek.

Those two players were here already so not impressive at all. Promotion will be impossible if THB, Scienza and Jander bugger off as well as Stewart and Charles and especially given the likelihood of an Eckert ban

[Chez]

6 hours ago, Pilchards said:

Our top four players want to go as they want to better themselves elsewhere. 

I'd be surprised if this wasn't the case.

Their agents will be working hard on finding a buyer and they will have talked to Saints management about the value placed on their player.  

[Chez]

7 minutes ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Those two players were here already so not impressive at all. Promotion will be impossible if THB, Scienza and Jander bugger off as well as Stewart and Charles and especially given the likelihood of an Eckert ban

All championship sides sell the best players. Selling four is a bloody lot. But thats what happens to relegated sides. Can we replace them and still be a good side? It's not impossible, but it relies on getting pretty much all your transfer right...which is so hard to do.

[St Chalet]

13 minutes ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Those two players were here already so not impressive at all. Promotion will be impossible if THB, Scienza and Jander bugger off as well as Stewart and Charles and especially given the likelihood of an Eckert ban

They were on loan, they chose to stay.

Talk about finding the cloud in a silver lining.

[Scoobysaint]

I think I’m ok with THB going if we get the right money for him, especially as he’s into the last two years of his contract. He was poor for the first part of the season and although he was much better with Tonda at the helm, there was still quite a few mistakes in there. Not seen enough of this Anel chap to say if he’s a good enough replacement but a few less speculative lobbed through balls would be fine with me. In conclusion, happy whichever way this ends. 

Edited 4 hours ago by Scoobysaint
Spelling

[revolution saint]

Just guessing but signing Dobbin doesn’t really indicate a team that desperately needs to sell. I’m quite excited to see how he does but was more of a nice option to have rather than glaring hole that was a priority to fill. 
Suspect if we do sell THB then it’s a more pragmatic decision based on length of contract than anything else.

[LeG]

42 minutes ago, Scoobysaint said:

I think I’m ok with THB going if we get the right money for him, especially as he’s into the last two years of his contract. He was poor for the first part of the season and although he was much better with Tonda at the helm, there was still quite a few mistakes in there. Not seen enough of this Anel chap to say if he’s a good enough replacement but a few less speculative lobbed through balls would be fine with me. I’m conclusion, happy whichever way this ends. 

Have you considered how we replace his goals?

[Ted Bates Statue]

5 hours ago, trousers said:

In Dragan we trust...

 

 

When he said that I didn't anticipate it being more like "stand up if you want Sports Republic out" with the entire ground spitting feathers as we edge closer in our metamorphosis of becoming Stoke

[Zorba]

1 hour ago, Scoobysaint said:

Not seen enough of this Anel chap ..

Wait ‘til January, those seats at St Marys are a bugger for it!

[Toussaint]

10 hours ago, Scoobysaint said:

I think I’m ok with THB going if we get the right money for him, especially as he’s into the last two years of his contract. He was poor for the first part of the season and although he was much better with Tonda at the helm, there was still quite a few mistakes in there. Not seen enough of this Anel chap to say if he’s a good enough replacement but a few less speculative lobbed through balls would be fine with me. I’m conclusion, happy whichever way this ends. 

Here’s a thought, the first part of the season, when he was “poor” we were playing the god forsaken 5 / 3 at the back under the latest in a succession of dreadful managers. 

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

14 hours ago, Saint Matty 76 said:

It’s okay financially, but I see THB as the real leader of this team and think it’d be a huge blow for that reason. However I expected to lose THB, Jander and Scienza without much of a fuss so I can’t be too surprised.

Exactly. This THB is on the move bandwagon is getting on the move and if SFC have any control over it, they should stop it. Some say he was only good last season when Tonda took charge...well, that was when we went on our run. He is an integral part of the team. He is solid in defence, he scores goals, he sees a pass and if SFC can, they should stop all speculation on the player. I don't know what financial constraints they're under, but if they think making £10m on the player is good business, they should think longer term and how much revenue they'll lose by staying in the Championship.

[Toussaint]

8 hours ago, Zorba said:

Wait ‘til January, those seats at St Marys are a bugger for it!

Oh, that’s what he meant, I assumed he’d just posted on the wrong forum?

[Chez]

12 minutes ago, OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint said:

Exactly. This THB is on the move bandwagon is getting on the move and if SFC have any control over it, they should stop it. Some say he was only good last season when Tonda took charge...well, that was when we went on our run. He is an integral part of the team. He is solid in defence, he scores goals, he sees a pass and if SFC can, they should stop all speculation on the player. I don't know what financial constraints they're under, but if they think making £10m on the player is good business, they should think longer term and how much revenue they'll lose by staying in the Championship.

fair enough, we don't really want to lose any of the players that almost got us promoted last season...but the club does have bills to pay now, and those we owe probably won't accept "we'll pay you once we make it to the PL". The club can only gamble so much on getting promotion. If they sell THB its because they need to.

[Convict Colony]

My feyenoord mate said the dude is more of a tackler than a ball playing CB but is a really good player if somewhat inconsistent.

[Toussaint]

1 minute ago, Convict Colony said:

My feyenoord mate said the dude is more of a tackler than a ball playing CB but is a really good player if somewhat inconsistent.

Who, the Sphincter guy?

[Lee On Solent Saint]

As good as he has been for us, Scienza is the one I would let leave before THB and Jander. Unfortunately for him, I don't think there is a market for him at the price we would sell at. 

[Convict Colony]

Just now, Toussaint said:

Who, the Sphincter guy?

yeah mr anel

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

2 minutes ago, Chez said:

If they sell THB its because they need to.

You have to accept that if they need to sell in order to balance the books, then he has to go, but I think he's so integral to the team's success, I'd be looking at other ways to raise funds. When they bought Peretz, they probably thought selling Rambo would be an easy sell. I'd be working double time trying to offload him. Jander - again I'd sell him before THB but his sale won't probably add that much to the coffers. 

[coalman]

At this point last year things also looked bleak but Spors came through and gave Still the tools he needed to challenge for promotion. Admittedly persisting with Baz and getting Downs wasn't great but our January business showed he learned.

There's no point getting upset until the window shuts. In Spors we trust.

[Chez]

10 hours ago, Scoobysaint said:

Not seen enough of this Anel chap to say if he’s a good enough replacement 

He's well proven at this level. He was really good for Sheffield United and losing him was part of the reason they regressed...but we are talking about trying to replace a guy moving up from this level, so its going to be pretty tough to find someone that is as good/better.

[Chez]

3 minutes ago, OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint said:

You have to accept that if they need to sell in order to balance the books, then he has to go, but I think he's so integral to the team's success, I'd be looking at other ways to raise funds. When they bought Peretz, they probably thought selling Rambo would be an easy sell. I'd be working double time trying to offload him. Jander - again I'd sell him before THB but his sale won't probably add that much to the coffers. 

Not sure what you think the club can do that they wont already be doing to sell Ramsdale. Everyone in football knows he is available. The club can only sell a player is someone is willing to buy them.

When it comes to choosing between Jander/Scienza and THB, then that will depend on what offers are on the table, and the timings of those offers. If the club need to bring in another £30m or whatever, do they keep saying no in the hope that someone offers £15m for Ramsdale or £30m for Jander etc. between and now and the window closing? Assuming they do need to bring in some funds, at some point they will need to consider an offer in hand. 

Unfortunately, we don't really have momentum. Our income is going down this year. I don't want our best players to depart, but it is what it is. 

[gio1saints]

I know! Do not sell THB. Extend his contract a year, up his basic and promotion bonus. It’s MUCH cheaper than the alternative! 
 

Him leaving MAY open up a potential domino effect for others -psychologically speaking - because if the most demonstrative/vocal leader we have on the pitch leaves before the fight really begins it is a fairly blunt vote of no confidence in our season prospects.I think thats more relevant/ important than many might think in the team psyche for this year.
 

Remember it’s mostly about money for players but I believe for THB it’s also about honour - about restitution for the horribleness of last year - fir the binoculars gesture he made and showing he IS good enough - no cheating required. 

Also : A fast start is always a good thing. Spiking our defence by taking out a totemic player like him start of season makes attaining that fast start harder. 
 

We all know that it will be NW and the Captain at CB until Xmas or injury intervene - because any new replacement will, in my experience, not been thrown in at CB starting league matches wether he’s fit unfit acclimatised settled whatever for many weeks.  And that’s if he’s good and not injured !!

And what about our existing giant CB Quarsie? He’s going to be unhappy his “ chance” has gone if THB leaves and some other geezer turns up and he’s not given a chance to stake his claim. So a loan beckons for him if THB leaves is a possible! It’s horrible. 
 

Extend THB pay him more!!!!!
 

 

[Chez]

17 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

Extend THB pay him more!!!!!
 

 

you want us to pay him a PL salary for the next three or four years while we are still in the championship? 

[hypochondriac]

3 minutes ago, Chez said:

you want us to pay him a PL salary for the next three or four years while we are still in the championship? 

This may all be irrelevant as he may wish to go regardless but I'd at least be making the offer of him being on pitch captain, making him our highest paid player and then making it clear that he can leave with our blessing next year if we fail to win promotion. 

[Disco Stu]

34 minutes ago, Chez said:

Unfortunately, we don't really have momentum. Our income is going down this year. I don't want our best players to depart, but it is what it is. 

What is momentum if not 19 games unbeaten?

[for_heaven's_Saint]

12 hours ago, hypochondriac said:

Do you have evidence for this? That's quite a big revelation if true that I wasn't aware of if 100% of our parachute payments are going on servicing covid loans.

"At the moment, we have to pay the loan that was taken during COVID and all of these things, and on top of that, we've had two relegations.

"As much as everybody's praising parachute payments, believe me, it's a very expensive affair. I never saw one Pound of parachute payment in my life.

"The loans you take while you are in the Premier League all have a clause. Once you are relegated, all parachute payments go to pay back the loans.

"So, in all my life, I still haven't seen one Pound of parachute payment being used by us. So actually, parachute payments, I don't think of them.
 

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/26173974.southampton-owner-solak-delivers-optimistic-update-club-finances/

[Chez]

2 minutes ago, Disco Stu said:

What is momentum if not 19 games unbeaten?

Fair point, but regelation, followed by non promotion, a reduced parachute payment and consequently the sale of Charles (and maybe others) was what I was thinking.  Doesn't mean we cant get promoted. Leeds did it. 

[gio1saints]

12 minutes ago, Chez said:

you want us to pay him a PL salary for the next three or four years while we are still in the championship? 

Now now. That’s not what I said. 
What I very CLEARLY said and which you cleverly misread was , and I quote :

” I propose to pay THB extra £25 per hour to be our assistant chief training session spy PLUS he gets a reserve seat for lunch at Staplewood with extra chips and free good coffee on alternate Fridays plus free tickets to Take That next time they play SMS “

 

IMO THATS as a significant gesture of support for the fact his father in law used to be a Man Utd player. And he’s fairly decent player for us. I think would do the trick.
 

[Chez]

2 minutes ago, for_heaven's_Saint said:

"At the moment, we have to pay the loan that was taken during COVID and all of these things, and on top of that, we've had two relegations.

"As much as everybody's praising parachute payments, believe me, it's a very expensive affair. I never saw one Pound of parachute payment in my life.

"The loans you take while you are in the Premier League all have a clause. Once you are relegated, all parachute payments go to pay back the loans.

"So, in all my life, I still haven't seen one Pound of parachute payment being used by us. So actually, parachute payments, I don't think of them.
 

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/26173974.southampton-owner-solak-delivers-optimistic-update-club-finances/

Thanks for posting that. That clause is savage,. I suppose its great in terms of the club not being saddled with a huge debt, but not great in terms of cash flow and our ability to fend off bids.

[for_heaven's_Saint]

1 minute ago, Chez said:

Thanks for posting that. That clause is savage,. I suppose its great in terms of the club not being saddled with a huge debt, but not great in terms of cash flow and our ability to fend off bids.

Yeah. Solak actually paints it as quite a positive picture really, stating that once the loan is paid off this year we will be in a much healthier position (unless we go up and have to spend more money 😂)

[Chez]

17 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

This may all be irrelevant as he may wish to go regardless but I'd at least be making the offer of him being on pitch captain, making him our highest paid player and then making it clear that he can leave with our blessing next year if we fail to win promotion. 

If you were him and Fulham offered you a four year deal on twice what you are getting at Saints, would you turn that down for less money and a season in the championship and anther year added to his contract, which gives him less flexibility not more?

[Chez]

2 minutes ago, for_heaven's_Saint said:

Yeah. Solak actually paints it as quite a positive picture really, stating that once the loan is paid off this year we will be in a much healthier position (unless we go up and have to spend more money 😂)

I was quite surprised to see that the loan had been paid down by quite lot in the last set of account and that was before relegation and this clause kicked in. Two seasons of parachute payments means it will probably be paid off you'd think...unless we took at a new loan on different teams.

[gio1saints]

4 minutes ago, Chez said:

If you were him and Fulham offered you a four year deal on twice what you are getting at Saints, would you turn that down for less money and a season in the championship and anther year added to his contract, which gives him less flexibility not more?

Ah you are at it again ( technically it’s called a straw man argument - one in which you defeat an invented opponent)

But what if, say, Manu Ytd came along and offered him 4x his salary CL football plus 2m air miles and unlimited smoke salmon sandwiches with his father in law at the TOD? He’d be mad to refuse and why should he- you’re right!!!

[gio1saints]

What’s THB on anyway? Can we guess at £25k own or is it much more? Benfica might pay £35 not £50k pw my guess. 
Saints cannot afford an extra £520k a year salary for THB and would rather sell him at a loss and jeopardise everything? The cost to change THB is what we should be looking at. 

And yes - we don’t go up he can leave. Hell if we are bottom half at Xmas he can leave too. Deal? 
🤓

Edited 3 hours ago by gio1saints

[coalman]

2 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

Ah you are at it again ( technically it’s called a straw man argument - one in which you defeat an invented opponent)

But what if, say, Manu Ytd came along and offered him 4x his salary CL football plus 2m air miles and unlimited smoke salmon sandwiches with his father in law at the TOD? He’d be mad to refuse and why should he- you’re right!!!

If we're being picky about logic and rhetoric....

If you're using that line of logic then you need to explain why their strawman is an unrealistic hypothetical instead of using reductio ad absurdum to mock it.

[Weston Super Saint]

11 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

 

And yes - we don’t go up he can leave. Hell if we are bottom half at Xmas he can leave too. Deal? 
🤓

Not really a great deal for him though is it? Bottom half at Xmas and he may not have any suitors as opposed to the ones he has now who may be offering more money than he is currently on.

You seem to be under the illusion there is loyalty to anything other than pound notes in football.

[hypochondriac]

27 minutes ago, Chez said:

If you were him and Fulham offered you a four year deal on twice what you are getting at Saints, would you turn that down for less money and a season in the championship and anther year added to his contract, which gives him less flexibility not more?

Probably not but I don't know his family situation. You could have said the same about Bowen for instance.

[gio1saints]

One way of looking at who is the most important player he have is by appearances. 
Last season was, objectively, overall, a good season apart from that fuck up at the end. 
Our most appearances on the pitch player last year was….yeah THB. 
Any accountants arguments to sell him better be damn good. I don’t want him sold. I think pay him more extend a year give him ability to leave us if we doing bad and or not gone up. But sell him now at very start of season? Our key CB? Not a good idea for me. If we short of cash sell someone else not that key defender and team leader. Strong defences win leagues.