Summer Transfer Window 2026

[CSA96]

To be fair there were some similar grumbles about the recruitment not really being addressed in some key areas around the same time last year, then Fernandes moved right near the end of August and we signed Jander, Azaz and Fellows all in the same day - with Scienza following on deadline day - and it seemed to go away

I presume it's going to be the same sort of thing with Spors where we will make some more decent signings that he has had on the back burner for a while, just towards the end of the month using the money from Charles (and maybe THB/Jander/Scienza, if one or more of them suddenly move on)

Just annoying that the transfer window works in this way (especially when you're not at the top of the pecking order) and you then have to wait until after the September international break before your squad/team really starts to settle down and gel properly

Edited 17 hours ago by CSA96

[hypochondriac]

8 minutes ago, CSA96 said:

To be fair there were some similar grumbles about the recruitment not really being addressed in some key areas around the same time last year, then Fernandes moved right near the end of August and we signed Jander, Azaz and Fellows all in the same day - with Scienza following on deadline day - and it seemed to go away

I presume it's going to be the same sort of thing with Spors where we will make some more decent signings that he has had on the back burner for a while, just towards the end of the month using the money from Charles (and maybe THB/Jander/Scienza, if one or more of them suddenly move on)

Just annoying that the transfer window works in this way (especially when you're not at the top of the pecking order) and you then have to wait until after the September international break before your squad/team really starts to settle down and gel properly

That may well be the case. Just frustrating that the main advantage we had over our slow start last year was that we had a more settled squad and a better chance to settle in with a winning mentality. That's not really going to be the case if we lose a load of players at the last minute and replace them all with players who haven't been here over preseason. I know it can't be helped but as you say it's frustrating.

[qwertyell]

12 minutes ago, CSA96 said:

To be fair there were some similar grumbles about the recruitment not really being addressed in some key areas around the same time last year, then Fernandes moved right near the end of August and we signed Jander, Azaz and Fellows all in the same day - with Scienza following on deadline day - and it seemed to go away

I presume it's going to be the same sort of thing with Spors where we will make some more decent signings that he has had on the back burner for a while, just towards the end of the month using the money from Charles (and maybe THB/Jander/Scienza, if one or more of them suddenly move on)

 

But we still did a poor job of it that needed rectifying in January.

[CSA96]

4 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

That may well be the case. Just frustrating that the main advantage we had over our slow start last year was that we had a more settled squad and a better chance to settle in with a winning mentality. That's not really going to be the case if we lose a load of players at the last minute and replace them all with players who haven't been here over preseason. I know it can't be helped but as you say it's frustrating.

Totally agree with you. Still wish there was a way to get the federations to unify around an early cut-off for transfers, but with all the calendars sitting slightly differently, it won't happen. Either that or find a way of capping the ins/outs once the games start

[Saint86]

7 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

That may well be the case. Just frustrating that the main advantage we had over our slow start last year was that we had a more settled squad and a better chance to settle in with a winning mentality. That's not really going to be the case if we lose a load of players at the last minute and replace them all with players who haven't been here over preseason. I know it can't be helped but as you say it's frustrating.

Its one defeat Hypo, relax. This squad will get wins as it is, its far more settled than what we had this time last season, and we know its good for the league - and if we lose a couple and buy a couple, we can only really have faith in Spors at this point... he bought in Azaz, Jander, Scienza, Peretz, Larin, Fellows, Roerslev, Dobbin after all - Those are all good players for this level and the only blot on his copybook is Downs for me.

Edited 17 hours ago by Saint86

[qwertyell]

2 hours ago, goodymatt said:

 

Down to the Zs already. 

When they tell us to fuck off too, do we start again with Aarhus?

[CSA96]

15 minutes ago, qwertyell said:

But we still did a poor job of it that needed rectifying in January.

Yeah true, I think at the time I was saying how maddening it was that we were attempting another season just flip-flopping between Bazunu and McCarthy and people felt that would be just fine. A new GK should've been a priority last summer. That said, we tried for Peretz then and he went to Hamburg, only to end up with us in January, so it kind of worked out...

The striker position was a bit more of a muddled mess. We actually did spend a decent fee for the level (£7m) we just unfortunately spent it on Damion Downs. Then Still kept playing Armstrong as a lone striker, stumbled onto a solution with Stewart as the lone striker and overplayed him to the point he was back in the treatment room

Edited 17 hours ago by CSA96

[Saint86]

1 hour ago, hypochondriac said:

I think if you ignore the pr stuff from the club, players would obviously be very pissed off with the situation and maybe there was more private unrest or requests to leave than we know about. Publically it's been all united and going for automatics but if what Pilchards says is correct and they all want out then I don't see how it can be as united as is claimed.

Yeah, Peretz and Larin signed as a PR stunt and they really don't want to be here. They've actually got a gentlemen's agreement in place that we'll sell them on by the end of the window. Meanwhile Solak's running around threatening to leave horseheads under their duvets if they let slip. It's dark days in the SFC dressing room...

Won't laugh if that actually happens 🙃

Edited 17 hours ago by Saint86

[Draino76]

Leo Scienza has started following Imran Louza on insta 👀

[Bob60]

2 hours ago, Draino76 said:

Leo Scienza has started following Imran Louza on insta 👀

Oh no Leo is going to Watford🤣🤣🤣

[Weston Super Saint]

8 hours ago, Disco Stu said:

How much are we paying them?

No idea.  Still a bargain though.

[Lee On Solent Saint]

9 hours ago, macca155 said:

Problem is you need a reasonable back up on defence. Most defenders serve a ban or get injured at some point. Championship sides cannot afford to have a top quality defender sitting on the bench.

Jack serves that purpose as and when needed. I'd prefer a youngster but Jack is probably as good as we'll get as back up.

Wood I think, is more front line and is prepared to attack the ball. You need that in the Championship. He was a fixture last year l, so I'm surprised he isn't being used. I certainly think he is a player who improves with game time.

Yep he can bollox it at times, can't everybody, but you have to use the resources available.

I get that. But essentially we have one defender in THB that would be a automatic starter for a promotion rival. The likes of Wood, Stephens and Quarshie wouldn't be. We are using back up players as starters.

[hypochondriac]

7 hours ago, Saint86 said:

Its one defeat Hypo, relax. This squad will get wins as it is, its far more settled than what we had this time last season, and we know its good for the league - and if we lose a couple and buy a couple, we can only really have faith in Spors at this point... he bought in Azaz, Jander, Scienza, Peretz, Larin, Fellows, Roerslev, Dobbin after all - Those are all good players for this level and the only blot on his copybook is Downs for me.

It's got nothing to do with the defeat. That's irrelevant.

[Challenger]

10 hours ago, goodymatt said:

 

Here's me thinking it's down to him being shit and nobody wants him, when actually the marketing department has fucked up with the advertising.

[DT]

1 hour ago, Challenger said:

Here's me thinking it's down to him being shit and nobody wants him, when actually the marketing department has fucked up with the advertising.

One of the very worst goalkeepers I've seen in a Saints shirt. Cost us countless points and was the source of so much confusion and lack of confidence at the back. Hope he can get his move.

[Chez]

11 hours ago, goodymatt said:

 

Dynamo Zagreb are certainly looking for a keeper. They currently have five on the books, but none are considered first choice: a 39 year old that has been there a decade and played less than 60 league games, a 28 year old that has been there five years and played 60 games and a 31 year old that has 9 league games in previous two years. Two others have been sent out on loan.

They have been trying to sign Dominik Livokavic from Fenerbahce, but the fee has been too high and now there is potential interest from Barca.

Another Doninik, Dominik Kotarski from Copenhagen, has been linked, but he seems to have just got injured. I think they wanted to loan him. Baz is probably going to be a loan, so is going to be an option.

Dynamo play in the champions league play offs tonight having already won two previous rounds. This will obviously impact their finances.

[Gru]

Could be relevant to THB?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/czekzxd09zlo

Edited 7 hours ago by Gru

[UpweySaint]

6 minutes ago, Gru said:

Could be relevant to THB?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/czekzxd09zlo

Good spot. I think this makes it that much trickier for them to try lowball tactics. We value TBH at £30mil, they can’t exactly say all that convincingly that they can’t afford that now 😅

If THB does go for that sort of fee I’m hopeful we can do some decent business our end. £60 mil for him and Charles is good money. I would have ideally kept both but this was always likely when we didn’t go back up. Even if we can’t spend all of it you would hope there is enough to get quality replacements, it will be time for Spors to earn his money again …

[Suhari]

31 minutes ago, DT said:

One of the very worst goalkeepers I've seen in a Saints shirt. Cost us countless points and was the source of so much confusion and lack of confidence at the back. Hope he can get his move.

Shhhh. The walls have ears. 

 

He's shown good quality at times. Been unlucky with injuries; really just needs a settled environment and playing style and a run of games to fulfil his potential. A very astute signing for the right team.

 

[Disco Stu]

22 minutes ago, UpweySaint said:

Good spot.

You didn't say good spot when I said it 🥲 

In all seriousness though, we must stay firm on the price. My understanding is they'll only come back in for him if they win their Europa League qualifier so let's hope they lose.

[Lee On Solent Saint]

21 minutes ago, Disco Stu said:

You didn't say good spot when I said it 🥲 

In all seriousness though, we must stay firm on the price. My understanding is they'll only come back in for him if they win their Europa League qualifier so let's hope they lose.

Maybe if they lose and end up in the Europa conference they will consider Stephens and Wood instead!

[UpweySaint]

47 minutes ago, Disco Stu said:

You didn't say good spot when I said it 🥲 

In all seriousness though, we must stay firm on the price. My understanding is they'll only come back in for him if they win their Europa League qualifier so let's hope they lose.

Clearly slacking! Also being a cheapskate and rationed to three posts a day 😅 

I agree about standing firm. Some clever stuff with add ons etc to make it more palatable to both parties is likely but IMO £30 mil for THB is about right. Then again I keep seeing some of the prices Chelsea are apparently slapping on players who haven’t pulled up trees and nearly fall over so bugger what I know!
 

Benfica should fancy themselves to get past Aarhus though I can’t pretend to know much about either side a the moment. I guess the pain for us is the second leg isn’t until 27th August. I won’t do the “man shouts at clouds” bit about the window being open after the season starts but clearly if he is going to go we want everything sorted sooner than rather than later so we can get a replacement in and up to speed asap.

[West Dean FC Legend]

I don't post very often now - I don't know that much, when I make comments I'm often wrong but this Bazuna thing is driving me insane.

I do not know how he became a professional goalkeeper - honestly. 

I have said this about a half a dozen times I used to play in goal for 32 years - various standards, none superb and I was not successful or that good. That is me being honest...BUT....if this is your experience you can watch Bazuna and see when the opposition is attacking - he's not involved he's just 'ready' - he stands in the wrong position and gets his angles wrong every time. It is mental.

When I watched him I was always saying - I don't shout - 'What is he doing?', Why is he standing there? Why is the angle he is set up like that?' Every.Single.Time!

He is not very good - full stop.

He is the biggest con, worst buy we have had.

If he has a fantastic league breaking defence in front of him he'll look better - when I played in goal with really good defenders in front of me I looked good too.

Edited 6 hours ago by West Dean FC Legend

[revolution saint]

4 minutes ago, West Dean FC Legend said:

I don't post very often now - I don't know that much, when I make comments I'm often wrong but this Bazuna thing is driving me insane.

I do not know how he became a professional goalkeeper - honestly. 

I have said this about a half a dozen times I used to play in goal for 32 years - various standards, none superb and I was not successful or that good. That is me being honest...BUT....if this is your experience you can watch Bazuna and see when the opposition is attacking - he's not involved he's just 'ready' - he stands in the wrong position and gets his angles wrong every time. It is mental.

When I watched him I was always saying - I don't shout - 'What is he doing?', Why is he standing there? Why is the angle he is set up like that?' Every.Single.Time!

He is not very good - full stop.

He is the biggest con, worst buy we have had.

If he has a fantastic league breaking defence in front of him he'll look better - when I played in goal with really good defenders in front of me I looked good too.

You should be expecting a call from Dynamo Zagreb any moment.

[Chez]

5 minutes ago, UpweySaint said:

I guess the pain for us is the second leg isn’t until 27th August. I won’t do the “man shouts at clouds” bit about the window being open after the season starts but clearly if he is going to go we want everything sorted sooner than rather than later so we can get a replacement in and up to speed asap.

The Portugal League transfer window doesn't close until September 15th so that might extend the saga.

[SaintsLoyal]

No signs of any offload and thats not going to help with any arrivals.

Ramsdale , Bazanu, Bereton Diaz, Downs must be a good £1m a month in wages 

[leesaint88]

5 minutes ago, SaintsLoyal said:

No signs of any offload and thats not going to help with any arrivals.

Ramsdale , Bazanu, Bereton Diaz, Downs must be a good £1m a month in wages 

I think BBD will stay, I get the feeling Tonda will want to use him as an additional attacking option. 

[Matthew Le God]

20 minutes ago, Chez said:

The Portugal League transfer window doesn't close until September 15th so that might extend the saga.

Not if they are given a deadline so we can secure a replacement before our window shuts.

[Lee On Solent Saint]

30 minutes ago, leesaint88 said:

I think BBD will stay, I get the feeling Tonda will want to use him as an additional attacking option. 

Let's hope the FA do ban him then

[revolution saint]

32 minutes ago, leesaint88 said:

I think BBD will stay, I get the feeling Tonda will want to use him as an additional attacking option. 

If BBD stays then it won't be out of design.  Honestly, I'd rather play someone from the U21s and give them some experience than BBD.

[Chez]

8 minutes ago, leesaint88 said:

I think BBD will stay, I get the feeling Tonda will want to use him as an additional attacking option. 

If Derby offer us some money, he's gone IMO. I suspect they will leave it until last minute and maybe try to get him for next to nothing.

 

[Midfield_General]

1 hour ago, West Dean FC Legend said:

If he has a fantastic league breaking defence in front of him he'll look better - when I played in goal with really good defenders in front of me I looked good too.

Aka the Fraser Forster effect. 

Bazunu didn't even start playing in goal until he was 12 - he was on the books at Shamrock Rovers as an outfield player until then, which is why he's handy with his feet. He made his senior debut as a keeper at 16 so he only had four years to 'learn the trade' and basically did a crash course. 

Compare that with other keepers like Neuer, Cech, Casillas, Navas, De Gea etc who were all playing in goal from the age of 4-6 years old, and it's pretty easy to see why Gav has never really looked like a natural keeper. Positioning, anticipation and reflex work are some of the first things you work on as a kid. They all had a 10 year head start on him to get those fundamentals ingrained, and it shows. 

I hope he finds a club that values the sweeper keeper attributes he does bring. 

Edited 5 hours ago by Midfield_General

[Gloucester Saint]

2 hours ago, Gru said:

Could be relevant to THB?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/czekzxd09zlo

Any chance of them getting THB for just £20m is Dedic in the water.

[Appy]

55 minutes ago, leesaint88 said:

I think BBD will stay, I get the feeling Tonda will want to use him as an additional attacking option. 

Let’s hope not, one of the worst saints players I’ve ever seen. 

[Appy]

 

[Bakovnetski]

17 minutes ago, Chez said:

If Derby offer us some money, he's gone IMO. I suspect they will leave it until last minute and maybe try to get him for next to nothing.

 

More like we will pay them to take him

[goodymatt]

7 minutes ago, Appy said:

 

Wouldn’t surprise me that Benfica aren’t wiling to pay the amount required for us to sell THB. Also wouldn’t surprise me if someone in the PL pops up in the next 2 weeks. Let’s hope his horror miss on Saturday isn’t his last action in a Saints shirt.

[ally_uk]

Regarding Bereton, Do you actually think it's worth persisting? 

I mean in theory he should be capable of scoring goals in the Championship, He has done it at other clubs. 

Does he have some sort of mental block that creates shit performances when he dons a Saints shirt.

Also what's going on with Fellows ? Is he inured or are we selling him?

Romeo Akachukwu also deserves a chance, He looked good preseason. 

[beatlesaint]

14 minutes ago, goodymatt said:

Wouldn’t surprise me that Benfica aren’t wiling to pay the amount required for us to sell THB. Also wouldn’t surprise me if someone in the PL pops up in the next 2 weeks. Let’s hope his horror miss on Saturday isn’t his last action in a Saints shirt.

Nothing against THB but if I was a Benfica fan I’m not sure I would be happy if my club broke their record transfer fee for not only a central defender but one from the English Championship who has had one pretty disastrous season in the Premier League.

I’m not surprised if they are looking elsewhere.

[Dan Johnson]

11 minutes ago, beatlesaint said:

Nothing against THB but if I was a Benfica fan I’m not sure I would be happy if my club broke their record transfer fee for not only a central defender but one from the English Championship who has had one pretty disastrous season in the Premier League.

I’m not surprised if they are looking elsewhere.

I’d say the Portuguese league is probably not far off championship level, Sporting paid £20m for Gyökeres and he scored 68 goals in 66 games without playing a premiership game.

Granted he’s a striker, but they’ve seen transfer success from this league 

[Chez]

12 minutes ago, beatlesaint said:

Nothing against THB but if I was a Benfica fan I’m not sure I would be happy if my club broke their record transfer fee for not only a central defender but one from the English Championship who has had one pretty disastrous season in the Premier League.

I’m not surprised if they are looking elsewhere.

it wouldn't break their club transfer fee record, which was 40 odd million for Enzo, but I agree with you. The only reason they spend £30m is if they see a guy that can become a £60m or £70m player in two years time. If they can see that, then fair play to them.

[macca155]

5 hours ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

I get that. But essentially we have one defender in THB that would be a automatic starter for a promotion rival. The likes of Wood, Stephens and Quarshie wouldn't be. We are using back up players as starters.

Very much this, and has been the case for too many years. Stephens and Yoshida were our Prem starters for a while, no surprise at what happened.

I remain hopeful that Wood can step up and show more consistency. 

[Chez]

31 minutes ago, ally_uk said:

Regarding Bereton, Do you actually think it's worth persisting? 

I mean in theory he should be capable of scoring goals in the Championship, He has done it at other clubs. 

I'd of thought he would want a move. The club has sent him out on loan (all be it a different manager), so the natural response would be to feel unwanted. The Derby loan seemed to be successful, so I would assume he is keen to go back and sign on a permanent deal. Have Derby replaced him in the summer?

Give him 46 games and I am sure he'd get 6 or 7 goals paying off the left side, but who are we dropping for him to get in the team? If he is coming off the bench, is he a game changer? If he is not starting, are we getting value for money? 

[Wurzel]

14 hours ago, hypochondriac said:

I think if you ignore the pr stuff from the club, players would obviously be very pissed off with the situation and maybe there was more private unrest or requests to leave than we know about. Publically it's been all united and going for automatics but if what Pilchards says is correct and they all want out then I don't see how it can be as united as is claimed.

I've highlighted the flaw in that argument for you 😂

[hypochondriac]

1 minute ago, Wurzel said:

I've highlighted the flaw in that argument for you 😂

It's a forum to discuss things. At no point was I treating anything as definitely true but it's worth talking about.

[Wade Garrett]

1 hour ago, Midfield_General said:

Aka the Fraser Forster effect. 

Bazunu didn't even start playing in goal until he was 12 - he was on the books at Shamrock Rovers as an outfield player until then, which is why he's handy with his feet. He made his senior debut as a keeper at 16 so he only had four years to 'learn the trade' and basically did a crash course. 

Compare that with other keepers like Neuer, Cech, Casillas, Navas, De Gea etc who were all playing in goal from the age of 4-6 years old, and it's pretty easy to see why Gav has never really looked like a natural keeper. Positioning, anticipation and reflex work are some of the first things you work on as a kid. They all had a 10 year head start on him to get those fundamentals ingrained, and it shows. 

I hope he finds a club that values the sweeper keeper attributes he does bring. 

Lots of keepers started late.  Mark Crossley was a centre-back for his county side.

[Wade Garrett]

Hopefully THB will stay if Benfica are looking at someone else.  We should still sign the big Anel though to play alongside him.  

[Chez]

14 hours ago, hypochondriac said:

Yes I get that. My point is that if we have rather limited funds and if we deemed it likely that we would be selling some big names like THB we'd have been better strengthening a real area of weakness such as cb rather than spending what appears to be a large chunk of our budget having two top players in that one position. If we have less monetary resources than we thought then I'd have thought we'd prioritise other areas of the pitch. With an inform Azaz Dobbin becomes a nice option to have rather than something more vital.

I guess you could argue that before we had lost anyone, AM was a weakness in that we only really had Azaz that could play there, while at centre back we had four players the club were seemingly are happy with. Tonda playing Scienza against Watford undermines that argument somewhat, although in doing so the left side needed filling with Dobbin.

Your opinion on Wood, Stephens and Quarshie probably differs from the clubs, although even if they agreed with you, they'd still need to find a suitor for at least one before they could sign another.

[SNSUN]

Just now, Wade Garrett said:

Hopefully THB will stay if Benfica are looking at someone else.  We should still sign the big Anel though to play alongside him.  

I'm a big fan of Anel. I hope it happens.

[Saint86]

2 minutes ago, Chez said:

I guess you could argue that before we had lost anyone, AM was a weakness in that we only really had Azaz that could play there, while at centre back we had four players the club were seemingly are happy with. Tonda playing Scienza against Watford undermines that argument somewhat, although in doing so the left side needed filling with Dobbin.

Your opinion on Wood, Stephens and Quarshie probably differs from the clubs, although even if they agreed with you, they'd still need to find a suitor for at least one before they could sign another.

We have Dobbin who can play there... we just didn't play him there 😄

(And to be fair, when we switched Dobbin and Scienza back to there standard positions, we started to dominate Watford and scored)

Edited 3 hours ago by Saint86