Summer Transfer Window 2026

[hypochondriac]

6 minutes ago, macca155 said:

I think we all knew THB was likely to be off. He's a Prem level player now and if someone like Villa  come calling, well good luck to him.

All we need is a decent solid centre half, who'll lead the defence. 

For me a decent striker to rotate with Larin is vital. Boost the squad with some of our youngsters.

Every part of the club is wobbly as fuck atm. Next few months could be bleak. I'm bracing myself for it .

We will get a flurry of signings (probably some we have never heard of) in the last few days of the window and everyone will feel a bit happier again. Literally nothing we can do about it if the players want to go and a top club comes calling. The club are fully aware that it is shit of bust this season. They care about their asset and they know that this is the last season where we will be among the favourites to be near the top of the table. Had THB, Jander and Charles left in the immediate aftermath of spygate would anyone have been surprised? The only reason there's disappointment is because the club have made all the right noises and they've been in place all summer with not much linking to them moving. 

I do wonder why everything has been so quiet from the players after spygate. Could they have been told that we wouldn't stand in their way if we got decent offers for them? I know we are largely powerless as a championship club anyway but who knows. Let's see where we are at the end of the window.

[hypochondriac]

7 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Yep Villa is a great move for him. Crazy to think that only a short time ago there wasn’t much between the club yet now it’s a big step up for many reasons and we’re signing players they don’t want 

The big one for me is us and Bournemouth. Astonishing how much better they were than us the last time we played them.

[Winnersaint]

Just now, hypochondriac said:

The big one for me is us and Bournemouth. Astonishing how much better they were than us the last time we played them.

Selling Charles to little old Fulham for me

[saintant]

9 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

The only chance I thought we'd have of keeping him would have been if a mid table or lower team came in for him and didn't want to offer us 25 million. We just have to spend the money well now. Maybe there's a chance to get a couple of cbs in and make the defence better overall even if individually the players aren't as good?

If THB goes I don't see us signing two cbs. It will be one to partner shoehorn Jack.

[hypochondriac]

11 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

So basically now the task is:

Ship out Ramsdale, Bazunu, Sugawara, BBD, Downs and possibly Archer

And if we can do that, bring in 2x starting centre backs, a starting defensive midfielder, probably a second keeper and possibly another striker. 

In less than two weeks.

And thats assuming we don’t lose any more starters in between.

Quite a tall order really 

Charles wasn't a defensive midfielder we need a box to box player who can contribute with some goals. 

And to be fair to the club last season on this date we were still to bring in: 

RB (Roerslev)

AM (Azaz)

RM (Fellows)

CM (Jander)

LM (Scienza) 

So it can be done.

Edited 13 hours ago by hypochondriac

[Chez]

8 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

So basically now the task is:

Ship out Ramsdale, Bazunu, Sugawara, BBD, Downs and possibly Archer

And if we can do that, bring in 2x starting centre backs, a starting defensive midfielder, probably a second keeper and possibly another striker. 

In less than two weeks.

And thats assuming we don’t lose any more starters in between.

Quite a tall order really 

I don't know how much time and resource is required for each transfer (both in and out) but it sure seems like a lot to do in two weeks. Obviously a lot of work will have been done prior to this point, and the club did seem to make a good fist of it in the last summer window, but fair play if they move all of them, and replace them with quality.

[hypochondriac]

2 minutes ago, saintant said:

If THB goes I don't see us signing two cbs. It will be one to partner shoehorn Jack.

Depends if someone like Quarshie or wood goes too.

[hypochondriac]

1 minute ago, Chez said:

I don't know how much time and resource is required for each transfer (both in and out) but it sure seems like a lot to do in two weeks. Obviously a lot of work will have been done prior to this point, and the club did seem to make a good fist of it in the last summer window, but fair play if they move all of them, and replace them with quality.

We managed to get them all out last year. I expect some will be on loan near the end of the window if we can't get transfers.

[Turkish]

6 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

The big one for me is us and Bournemouth. Astonishing how much better they were than us the last time we played them.

Bournemouth, Brighton, Brentford, Palace,  Fulham, Forest all clubs we were miles ahead of a few years ago now a complete 180.

[MarkSFC]

As it stands (with THB in the building) we need;

- 1 x Starting CB

- 1 x experienced/starting CM (Id take JWP in a shot right now!)

- 1 x main striker (to share the load with Larin) 

- 1 x No.2 GK

When THB finally goes, thats 2 x CBs🤦🤦

There has to have been some serious work going on the last week or so to get all these things in place as well as shifting Ramsdale, Suga, Downs, BBD and anyone else!!

I know it always goes to the end but just for once it looked like we might be a bit better. Oh well. 8th place it is if we are lucky. 

 

[Turkish]

On a seperate note to saints 

saviniho underwhelming at Man City who signed him for £30m going to Spurs for nearly 3 times that. Ridiculous 

[Pierre2]

Ahmedhodzic to Burnley. Shame he would have been a good THB replacement

[hypochondriac]

I think Solak is going to have to recruit very well for the second quote to be true. In order to show we mean business after losing THB and Charles Spors is going to have to get some Jander and Scienza level signings for other areas of the squad. 

Backup gk 

CB (x2 if possible for me)

CM 

Another attacker

That's only five players (obviously more if Jander of Scienza leave too). For me I'd be seriously exploring the possibility of getting jwp back on loan to replace some of that dressing room influence that we will lose without thb. 

[UpweySaint]

5 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Bournemouth, Brighton, Brentford, Palace,  Fulham, Forest all clubs we were miles ahead of a few years ago now a complete 180.

Very true but I wouldn’t be surprised if one or more of those has a wobble this season - European football and losing Iraola could be tricky for Bournemouth to navigate. If (and if is doing a lot of heavy lifting here) we can get back up I would back Spors and Tonda to make us looking much more competitive than last time we went up. 

There is a lot of pressure on us to get this window right. 

[trousers]

13 hours ago, LeG said:

Solak hasn't lied...we just need to sell before we buy. Think back to when we sold Dibling and bought Azaz, Fellows, Scienza and Jander with the money in the final few days of the window. Spors is a master of this.

 

9 hours ago, qwertyell said:

Aside from signing two right backs that were worse than the right back already on our books (and loaning him out), a centre back who never plays, a striker who isn't fit for purpose, giving Stephens a three year contract extension, and not bothering signing a keeper until January after masterfully judging Bazunu as "fine for this level".

Hope you're right. We can't afford any more missteps. 

 

9 hours ago, Fabrice29 said:

Just lost our first game in 20 plus we could well have been in the PL right now. But aside from that.

 

9 hours ago, qwertyell said:

Could also have been in the PL right now if we hadn't needed to wait until January to rectify the squad's glaring shortcomings. 

 

1 hour ago, Dman said:

We aren’t in the PL because we were convicted of cheating, which more than likely directly impacted us losing for 20 plus. But aside from that. 

Somewhere... in a parallel universe... Spors didn't employ a dud manager at the beginning of last season... avoided wasting half a season... and  ended up getting automatic promotion... the play-off spygate saga with Middlesbrough never happened and no spying incidents ever came to light...

Ergo, Spors is to blame for us not being in the PL right now...

#root_cause_analysis

Edited 13 hours ago by trousers

[saintant]

2 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Depends if someone like Quarshie or wood goes too.

Agree. My worry about THB is that Villa play hardball.They want him, he wants to go there and, with the end of the transfer window approching, they might decide to sit tight to test our resolve.  They will know we won't want a disgruntled THB on our books.

[Chez]

7 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

I do wonder why everything has been so quiet from the players after spygate. Could they have been told that we wouldn't stand in their way if we got decent offers for them? 

I think the chairman suggested that those with less than two years on their contracts will be able to depart if their values are met. If the player has a longer contract then the club can ask silly money to try to fend off suitors. How a severely disgruntled player fits into this equation I dont know.

 

 

[Chez]

22 minutes ago, saintant said:

If THB goes I don't see us signing two cbs. It will be one to partner shoehorn Jack.

I agree. We are not buying a Wood/Stephens replacement. But if the club send Quarshie out on loan, maybe they sign two.

[Chez]

4 minutes ago, saintant said:

Agree. My worry about THB is that Villa play hardball.They want him, he wants to go there and, with the end of the transfer window approching, they might decide to sit tight to test our resolve.  They will know we won't want a disgruntled THB on our books.

likewise, they know we 'have' to get promoted this season, plus they know they have to sign a quality CB. We do hold some cards in the negotiation - hence turning down £18m+.

[trousers]

8 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

For me I'd be seriously exploring the possibility of getting jwp back on loan to replace some of that dressing room influence that we will lose without thb.

Given the lack of impact of bringing ex-players back in recent times, my head is telling me to avoid a JWP reunion like the plague... But my heart is telling me this could actually be one that is effective... Suffice to say, I wouldn't be unhappy if he did return...

[hypochondriac]

Just now, trousers said:

Given the lack of impact of bringing ex-players back in recent times, my head is telling me to avoid a JWP reunion like the plague... But my heart is telling me this could actually be one that is effective... Suffice to say, I wouldn't be unhappy if he did return...

I get that but tbf we don't know if Romeu had had a positive impact in the dressing room during our run last year. I totally understand it's a risk but a fully fit Jander, Downes, Bragg and an admittedly older JWP still seems like a top half set of midfield options to me.

[Chez]

20 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Bournemouth, Brighton, Brentford, Palace,  Fulham, Forest all clubs we were miles ahead of a few years ago now a complete 180.

How long until it goes full circle? All those sides looked very solid last season, so could be a while.

[hypochondriac]

7 minutes ago, Chez said:

I think the chairman suggested that those with less than two years on their contracts will be able to depart if their values are met. If the player has a longer contract then the club can ask silly money to try to fend off suitors. How a severely disgruntled player fits into this equation I dont know.

 

 

Yes I know. My point was more what discussions they'd had in private. Would have been fascinating to have been a fly on the wall in the Spygate aftermath to see what was actually said.

[Chez]

23 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

We managed to get them all out last year. I expect some will be on loan near the end of the window if we can't get transfers.

I have to say I was surprised and impressed. I thought we'd be stuck with a lot of them. I do wonder what percentage of their wages we had to pay...

no question. As Wilder said, 'the last ten days are chaos with clubs no longer demanding fees and allowing players to depart on loan'. 

[trousers]

1 minute ago, hypochondriac said:

Yes I know. My point was more what discussions they'd had in private. Would have been fascinating to have been a fly on the wall in the Spygate aftermath to see what was actually said.

Would've made an excellent TV football documentary... The saints board have missed a money making trick there...

[Miltonaggro]

1 minute ago, trousers said:

Given the lack of impact of bringing ex-players back in recent times, my head is telling me to avoid a JWP reunion like the plague... But my heart is telling me this could actually be one that is effective... Suffice to say, I wouldn't be unhappy if he did return...

I was struck in the first Russell Martin game at Sheff Weds how much Ward-Prowse bossed and marshalled the midfield. Had he stayed that season we would have been a good shout for the autos. 

As it is, it’s a number of years older and various loans which must have knocked his confidence. But, he is only the same age as Larin (nothing like the Walcott, Lallana, Romeu pension plan) and has never relied on physicality or pace. I think that a return would suit him and us. 

[Chez]

1 minute ago, hypochondriac said:

Yes I know. My point was more what discussions they'd had in private. Would have been fascinating to have been a fly on the wall in the Spygate aftermath to see what was actually said.

The Scienza discussion especially. He was one or not the best players in the league, and thought he'd finally get his day in the PL sun...and then it disappeared. His window of opportunity is smaller than the other top players we have and his long contract doesn't allow him to engineer an easy move. 

[hypochondriac]

1 minute ago, trousers said:

Would've made an excellent TV football documentary... The saints board have missed a money making trick there...

We often do. Maybe someone should have set up a hidden camera and charged fans to watch it. I always said we missed a trick not selling miniature Keychain replicas of the original Ted Bates statue in the club shop. Would have made a mint.

[trousers]

 

 

[hypochondriac]

2 minutes ago, Chez said:

The Scienza discussion especially. He was one or not the best players in the league, and thought he'd finally get his day in the PL sun...and then it disappeared. His window of opportunity is smaller than the other top players we have and his long contract doesn't allow him to engineer an easy move. 

And the response to asking if he is staying "that's the plan." not reassuring in the slightest.

[trousers]

 

 

[SaintLondon]

As much as it pains me to lose THB, it’s obviously happening. But he’s clearly the best CB we have by a mile, so there’s no chance Spors and co let him leave without bringing in someone with some stature. Who that is, I’ve no idea, but then I’m not paid to know.

The Anel thing was annoying, but he was £4m and, if we’re getting £25m for THB, I’d imagine they’ll spend a decent chunk of the remaining funds on his replacement.

For my money, who they bring in will dictate our season. Let’s just hope it’s more VVD than Hoedt.

[hypochondriac]

Christ I didn't realise it would be done that quickly. I'm not looking forward to tomorrow and the prospect of Stephens and Wood at cb with Quarshie as backup. 

 

[Chez]

Just now, hypochondriac said:

And the response to asking if he is staying "that's the plan." not reassuring in the slightest.

Maybe you can't give a definitive "yes", cos Everton might offer £40m the next day (and you 'have' to sell at that price), which makes your "yes" look terrible. Pretty much all players are available for sale.

[hypochondriac]

Just now, Chez said:

Maybe you can't give a definitive "yes", cos Everton might offer £40m the next day (and you 'have' to sell at that price), which makes your "yes" look terrible. Pretty much all players are available for sale.

Yes I am aware. 

[Ken Tone]

Should be £25 mill PLUS add-ons IMO.  "Up to 25 mill" is cheap .

[Chez]

3 minutes ago, trousers said:

 

 

How does Graham from Teamtalk know the situation?

[tdmickey3]

2 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Christ I didn't realise it would be done that quickly. I'm not looking forward to tomorrow and the prospect of Stephens and Wood at cb with Quarshie as backup. 

 

To cheap, but looks like we are grabbing it, money must be short, opposite to Solak`s early post

[James]

If THB is basically out the door then I suspect our interest in Anel was genuine which does raise the slightly worrying/annoying spectre that he just picked Burnley over us and we are now having to negotiate for a new target which will delay things. 

[James]

1 minute ago, Ken Tone said:

Should be £25 mill PLUS add-ons IMO.  "Up to 25 mill" is cheap .

Up to £25m is a ridiculous price, that’s barely more than we paid for him. 

[Chez]

5 minutes ago, SaintLondon said:

 if we’re getting £25m for THB, I’d imagine they’ll spend a decent chunk of the remaining funds on his replacement.
 

What is a decent chunk in your opinion? If we spent half that would be sizeable at this level.

[AlexLaw76]

If not dealt with by tomorrow morning, wonder if he will be in the team.

Remember, Dragan said everyone will be off their seats!!

[SaintLondon]

1 minute ago, Chez said:

What is a decent chunk in your opinion? If we spent half that would be sizeable at this level.

Completely agree - circa £10m is a chunk of change. 

[Charlie Wayman]

1 hour ago, Toussaint said:

Here’s the thing, we are not in the premier league, the reason we are not is self inflicted, we are on minus 4 points, there is a cloud and potential suspension hanging over the manager and the squad is in a state of flux and not up to strength. I think the background to the beginning this season is somewhat different, do you not?

As things stand we have lost Stewart abd Charles, that's all and neither were starters. Last Sunday we had to start without Azaz, Fellows and Jander. Once everything has settled down we'll be on it. 4-0 against the Potters will settle a few people's nerves. We haven't suddenly become a bad team.

[hypochondriac]

How much would we owe Man City if it were 25? 

[tdmickey3]

1 minute ago, AlexLaw76 said:

If not dealt with by tomorrow morning, wonder if he will be in the team.

Remember, Dragan said everyone will be off their seats!!

No, got to get the Stephens/Wood partnership going   # fine for Champonship

[AlexLaw76]

3 minutes ago, Charlie Wayman said:

As things stand we have lost Stewart abd Charles, that's all and neither were starters. Last Sunday we had to start without Azaz, Fellows and Jander. Once everything has settled down we'll be on it. 4-0 against the Potters will settle a few people's nerves. We haven't suddenly become a bad team.

They were first team players and contributed in big games and in big situations.

We are weaker today without them.

[Chez]

1 minute ago, Charlie Wayman said:

As things stand we have lost Stewart abd Charles, that's all and neither were starters. Last Sunday we had to start without Azaz, Fellows and Jander. Once everything has settled down we'll be on it. 4-0 against the Potters will settle a few people's nerves. We haven't suddenly become a bad team.

You are very positive Charlie at the moment. I like it. Win games, no, win a lot of games and every other gripe disappears.

[hypochondriac]

Just now, Chez said:

You are very positive Charlie at the moment. I like it. Win games, no, win a lot of games and every other gripe disappears.

The positive person has control of the Charlie Wayman account today. 

[Midfield_General]

10 minutes ago, trousers said:

 

 

If true, that's at least £5m less than I thought we'd hold out for.

I'm guessing that THB has made it very clear he wants to go, and this late in the window there's not enough time left to play hardball. Only hope would be a competitor coming in and offering more, but that seems unlikely given the speed this is moving.

But a base fee of ~£21/22m + add-ons really does seem low for a 24 year-old who has played for England and still has two years left.