Summer Transfer Window 2026

[Badger]

Update on the Ratkov situation:

https://onefootball.com/en/news/lotito-to-want-ratkov-to-start-as-gattuso-pushes-back-43313334
 

In short - manager doesn’t want him. Owner wants to keep faith in the player.

Hope we’re not hanging on for this one. We love a summer soap opera at Saints don’t we ? Last year Spertsynation Street, now this. 

[Miltonaggro]

6 hours ago, Wade Garrett said:

Would go completely against Solak's words though.

But at least we would then know that a few million profit on a 24 year old England international is enough to make him 'fall out of bed'...

[ChrisPY]

21 minutes ago, Badger said:

Update on the Ratkov situation:

https://onefootball.com/en/news/lotito-to-want-ratkov-to-start-as-gattuso-pushes-back-43313334
 

In short - manager doesn’t want him. Owner wants to keep faith in the player.

Hope we’re not hanging on for this one. We love a summer soap opera at Saints don’t we ? Last year Spertsynation Street, now this. 

Laziome and Away?

[Hamilton Saint]

6 hours ago, hypochondriac said:

There's no guarantee that if I throw an apple in the air in my kitchen that it will fall to the ground but given that that has happened every other time you'd be a bit of a fool if you said you weren't sure that it would happen the next time.

You've been reading David Hume, haven't you. The Scottish philosopher called this kind of thinking "inductive reasoning"--as opposed to its opposite, "deductive reasoning". I knew my Philosophy degree would come in handy some day!

[hypochondriac]

8 minutes ago, Hamilton Saint said:

You've been reading David Hume, haven't you. The Scottish philosopher called this kind of thinking "inductive reasoning"--as opposed to its opposite, "deductive reasoning". I knew my Philosophy degree would come in handy some day!

Quite — but Hume doesn’t mean we should treat every possible outcome as equally likely. There’s a difference between “not certain” and “no reasonable basis for prediction”.

The best mention of Hume is in the philosopher song.

[goodymatt]

 

[Lard]

I’ll be honest I’ve just reached 60, I can’t be arsed with this anymore 
lost my dad in January both of us sitting in the Itchen together. Christ we loved it at the Dell. 
watching Arsenal right now,a club like ours is not going to compete even if we were promoted. 
we can’t even compete in this league by the looks of it. 
oh fuck off….im that age and you fucking nippers are all doom and gloom. 
we are Southampton. …grow a pair you fucking twats. 
ok we will lose THB…its a blow. 
but fuck me. 
It’s not the end of the world. 

[goodymatt]

THB replacement?

[hypochondriac]

5 minutes ago, goodymatt said:

THB replacement?

Left footed not right footed so seems unlikely to me but you never know.

[Willo of Whiteley]

6 minutes ago, Lard said:

I’ll be honest I’ve just reached 60, I can’t be arsed with this anymore 
lost my dad in January both of us sitting in the Itchen together. Christ we loved it at the Dell. 
watching Arsenal right now,a club like ours is not going to compete even if we were promoted. 
we can’t even compete in this league by the looks of it. 
oh fuck off….im that age and you fucking nippers are all doom and gloom. 
we are Southampton. …grow a pair you fucking twats. 
ok we will lose THB…its a blow. 
but fuck me. 
It’s not the end of the world. 

Hit the nail on the head there.

I’ve said before too there is more to life than some overpaid halfwits kicking a ball about.

Great post 👏🏻

[Saint_lambden]

17 minutes ago, goodymatt said:

 

Ah, there's the bi-monthly story to the German media from his agent. 

[Toadhall Saint]

27 minutes ago, goodymatt said:

 

And they can all fook off! Maybe BM could afford him. 

[StrangelyBrown]

If you have good players other teams will want them.

What's our choice? Try and strongarm a player into staying (with what I'm not sure??) or cash in for a decent amount and rebuild? 

THB is good, but he isn't that good. Jander is very good, but he isn't so good we couldn't replace him with another good player.

Whether we're in the championship or the premier League we'll always have the same problem - we're just not big enough or good enough to keep our very best players.

It is what it is and hopefully spors has a trick up his sleeve.

[MarkSFC]

For all the annoyance we always face with losing players and bids and rumours for your players, we do the same. This is football. 

Players will always move and continue to move up until the window shuts, we just have to pray the net business is positive at that moment. 

[woodsaint1]

We'll know tomorrow how close any THB deal is. Could see him not starting.

Seen that Rangers were in talks to sell their striker Chermiti and then he played and did his ACL. Out for the season 😬

[Toussaint]

1 hour ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

Hit the nail on the head there.

I’ve said before too there is more to life than some overpaid halfwits kicking a ball about.

Great post 👏🏻

And yet you post constantly 

[Tommy Mulgrew]

1 hour ago, hypochondriac said:

Left footed not right footed so seems unlikely to me but you never know.

Or … Long-term replacement for Gentleman Jack.  The sort of forward planning we can all support.  Perhaps.  At 6’5”, he is a commanding presence; I hope he is more mobile than Vestergaard - should not be too much to ask for.
 

 

 

[revolution saint]

31 minutes ago, StrangelyBrown said:

If you have good players other teams will want them.

What's our choice? Try and strongarm a player into staying (with what I'm not sure??) or cash in for a decent amount and rebuild? 

THB is good, but he isn't that good. Jander is very good, but he isn't so good we couldn't replace him with another good player.

Whether we're in the championship or the premier League we'll always have the same problem - we're just not big enough or good enough to keep our very best players.

It is what it is and hopefully spors has a trick up his sleeve.

Largely agree, it’s a pain in the arse but not unexpected. Trick is to only lose those players where the deal makes sense for both the club and the player. The length of both Charles and THB contracts means we’ll maximise profit and hopefully reinvest it. Jander and Scienza will need fuck off bids. Can’t lose all your best players in one window as that destroys any continuity 

[chiknsmack]

17 hours ago, for_heaven's_Saint said:

I think the biggest thing we will miss about THB is his passing out from the back. Hard to get anyone as good as him at that at this level. 

Kayi-Sanda has a very good eye for a pass and good technical skills. Apart from still being a teenager, the problem he's had is that he's right-sided and so hasn't been able to break into the side (THB is ~PL-quality and has that spot locked down, while there's bugger all between Stephens, Wood, and Quarshie on the other side so they've all seen play).

He's a perfect replacement for this aspect of THB's game. Not so much the leadership and set piece threat, but.

---------

If THB goes to Villa, what are the odds of Mings heading the other way? 33 years old, in the last year of his contract, fighting for the third CB spot against two players the club has brought in this window. A loan with Villa covering a good chunk of the wages?

[SNSUN]

3 hours ago, chiknsmack said:

Kayi-Sanda has a very good eye for a pass and good technical skills. Apart from still being a teenager, the problem he's had is that he's right-sided and so hasn't been able to break into the side (THB is ~PL-quality and has that spot locked down, while there's bugger all between Stephens, Wood, and Quarshie on the other side so they've all seen play).

He's a perfect replacement for this aspect of THB's game. Not so much the leadership and set piece threat, but.

---------

If THB goes to Villa, what are the odds of Mings heading the other way? 33 years old, in the last year of his contract, fighting for the third CB spot against two players the club has brought in this window. A loan with Villa covering a good chunk of the wages?

Slim I’d have thought, he’s on over a hundred grand a week.

[Pilchards]

18 minutes ago, SNSUN said:

Slim I’d have thought, he’s on over a hundred grand a week.

If they want THB that badly then they can pay 60% of Mings wages.

He would be our commanding CB and probably captain if Stephens don’t start.

It simply fixes things pretty quickly but I can’t see it happening.

PS Shame that Jander is not match fit or probably refusing to pay as he wants to head back home. 

[Pat from Poole]

3 hours ago, chiknsmack said:

Kayi-Sanda has a very good eye for a pass and good technical skills. Apart from still being a teenager, the problem he's had is that he's right-sided and so hasn't been able to break into the side (THB is ~PL-quality and has that spot locked down, while there's bugger all between Stephens, Wood, and Quarshie on the other side so they've all seen play).

He's a perfect replacement for this aspect of THB's game. Not so much the leadership and set piece threat, but.

---------

If THB goes to Villa, what are the odds of Mings heading the other way? 33 years old, in the last year of his contract, fighting for the third CB spot against two players the club has brought in this window. A loan with Villa covering a good chunk of the wages?

Chances of Mings wanting to return to a club that turfed him out, mainly on account of being “too small”?

Slim.

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

2 minutes ago, Pat from Poole said:

Chances of Mings wanting to return to a club that turfed him out, mainly on account of being “too small”?

Slim.

None. 

[Badger]

9 hours ago, Tommy Mulgrew said:

Or … Long-term replacement for Gentleman Jack.  The sort of forward planning we can all support.  Perhaps.  At 6’5”, he is a commanding presence; I hope he is more mobile than Vestergaard - should not be too much to ask for.
 

 

 

Sounds more of a Quashie replacement than anything else. 

[Willo of Whiteley]

10 hours ago, Toussaint said:

And yet you post constantly 

I enjoy the engagement and the social debate element of football, it’s really important to have that kind of interaction with others, more so if your working career doesn’t have much of a social element.

The only difference is I don’t start crying or getting worked up about odd rumours, and certainly not before anything has happened officially.
Nothing wrong with that - that should be common sense but some love an overreaction.

For the most part I genuinely enjoy this platform.
It’s when one rumour happens and you get the stampede of “Oh ffs, here we go again, Sport Republic out, I hate this club, fuck off money grabber, you were always shit anyway” kind of posts - that make me sigh.m and annoys me.

I just think have you got nothing better to be annoyed with in your life? Because overreacting to a football rumour is a relatively obscure thing.

[Paul_B]

12 hours ago, goodymatt said:

 

I did think last week when the club said he was 'injured' that he was on his way. 

Oh well, another top quality player to replace.....in under two weeks 😂

[Chez]

10 hours ago, woodsaint1 said:

We'll know tomorrow how close any THB deal is. Could see him not starting.

Seen that Rangers were in talks to sell their striker Chermiti and then he played and did his ACL. Out for the season 😬

Play him and it makes a statement to Villa that they need to pay our asking price or he goes nowhere. If we leave him out, especially after saying he handled exactly the same scenario last January, then it suggests we don't want him injured and to miss out on the money he will bring in. 

[Chez]

7 minutes ago, Paul_B said:

I did think last week when the club said he was 'injured' that he was on his way. 

Oh well, another top quality player to replace.....in under two weeks 😂

What's his stated injury? Illness and injury just before window closes are certainly tell tale signs.

[WinglessWonder]

12 hours ago, Lard said:

I’ll be honest I’ve just reached 60, I can’t be arsed with this anymore 
lost my dad in January both of us sitting in the Itchen together. Christ we loved it at the Dell. 
watching Arsenal right now,a club like ours is not going to compete even if we were promoted. 
we can’t even compete in this league by the looks of it. 
oh fuck off….im that age and you fucking nippers are all doom and gloom. 
we are Southampton. …grow a pair you fucking twats. 
ok we will lose THB…its a blow. 
but fuck me. 
It’s not the end of the world. 

I know what you mean buddy. You've got 9yrs on me but it's a similarish situation (I lost my dad a couple of years ago and he was the one to blame for me supporting saints!).

I've long since realised that we can't affect what happens and players will always come and go, it's just a case of enjoying the good times when they are here! 

[Pilchards]

Will be an interesting weekend for many players in the EPL who find out they are not in the matchday squad.

Expect next week they will be asking for a transfer or loan moves to other clubs.

Praying we pick up a couple as we need them badly.

CB, CM and CF.

[Katalinic]

14 minutes ago, Pilchards said:

Will be an interesting weekend for many players in the EPL who find out they are not in the matchday squad.

Expect next week they will be asking for a transfer or loan moves to other clubs.

Praying we pick up a couple as we need them badly.

CB, CM and CF.

CB x 2

[Hengistbury Header]

1 hour ago, Chez said:

What's his stated injury? Illness and injury just before window closes are certainly tell tale signs.

Pulled a thigh muscle in the match against Eastleigh.

[Saint Matty 76]

Looks like THB not in the squad, must be close.

 

[goodymatt]

Just now, Hengistbury Header said:

Pulled a thigh muscle in the match against Eastleigh.

Genuine injury 8 mins into the first pre season game. The question is whether or not he has recovered or is now not being risked for sale. Open training session he was doing a limited programme so could still be genuine.

We can’t afford to lose Jander and Charles in the same window, I hope that Charles and THB sales mean we put our foot down in this one. Jander’s agent was making noises about leaving last January, he didn’t get a move and his form onwards was very good. Same again please, the Schneiderlin approach needs to be taken with Jander.

[tdmickey3]

Just now, Saint Matty 76 said:

Looks like THB not in the squad, must be close.

 

Yep, sell one of, if not your best player on the cheap.

He is a huge miss due to the fact we have captain calamity who is considered our next best after THB, deary me

[Fabrice29]

4 minutes ago, tdmickey3 said:

Yep, sell one of, if not your best player on the cheap.

He is a huge miss due to the fact we have captain calamity who is considered our next best after THB, deary me

You’re getting excited about being able to watch games again aren’t you?

[Dan Johnson]

9 minutes ago, Saint Matty 76 said:

Looks like THB not in the squad, must be close.

 

how can you tell this early?

[VectisSaint]

1 hour ago, Chez said:

What's his stated injury? Illness and injury just before window closes are certainly tell tale signs.

He was injured before the trip to Germany, hence he didn't go. It was more likely Charles was going to leave but he still went to Germany.  I could be wrong, but I don't think this is a smokescreen. If we do lose him we are well and truly f*cked.

[Miltonaggro]

11 minutes ago, goodymatt said:

Genuine injury 8 mins into the first pre season game. The question is whether or not he has recovered or is now not being risked for sale. Open training session he was doing a limited programme so could still be genuine.

We can’t afford to lose Jander and Charles in the same window, I hope that Charles and THB sales mean we put our foot down in this one. Jander’s agent was making noises about leaving last January, he didn’t get a move and his form onwards was very good. Same again please, the Schneiderlin approach needs to be taken with Jander.

This is the way…

[EBS1980]

Unless you are already at the top clubs in Europe then you can’t keep hold of your best players no matter how much you want to.

look how many more premier league players have left to go to Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal etc this season. 

im sure we want to keep our best players but in reality we aren’t in a position to so it just becomes getting the best price and replacement in you can.

[Chez]

20 minutes ago, Saint Matty 76 said:

Looks like THB not in the squad, must be close.

 

if he's not in the squad, then I'd say 'done' more like, well at least in terms of agreeing a price.

[Harry_SFC]

5 minutes ago, EBS1980 said:

Unless you are already at the top clubs in Europe then you can’t keep hold of your best players no matter how much you want to.

look how many more premier league players have left to go to Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal etc this season. 

im sure we want to keep our best players but in reality we aren’t in a position to so it just becomes getting the best price and replacement in you can.

Yep and our recruitment to replace players we'd sold last summer was generally very good. Whether Spors can replicate that is another matter. Replacing THB will be very very hard given how influential he is on and off the pitch. 

[Football Special]

7 hours ago, chiknsmack said:

Kayi-Sanda has a very good eye for a pass and good technical skills. Apart from still being a teenager, the problem he's had is that he's right-sided and so hasn't been able to break into the side (THB is ~PL-quality and has that spot locked down, while there's bugger all between Stephens, Wood, and Quarshie on the other side so they've all seen play).

He's a perfect replacement for this aspect of THB's game. Not so much the leadership and set piece threat, but.

---------

If THB goes to Villa, what are the odds of Mings heading the other way? 33 years old, in the last year of his contract, fighting for the third CB spot against two players the club has brought in this window. A loan with Villa covering a good chunk of the wages?

Would complete the circle for Mings who was released by Saints as a kid before going to Chippenham i think 

[RedArmy]

56 minutes ago, goodymatt said:

 

Jander’s agent was making noises about leaving last January, he didn’t get a move and his form onwards was very good.

Not sure about that. His form in the winter was not good at all. Leicester away being the standout bad performance. 
 

It wasn’t until Coventry away that I really noticed him turn a corner. 

[disconnect]

7 hours ago, chiknsmack said:

Kayi-Sanda has a very good eye for a pass and good technical skills. Apart from still being a teenager, the problem he's had is that he's right-sided and so hasn't been able to break into the side (THB is ~PL-quality and has that spot locked down, while there's bugger all between Stephens, Wood, and Quarshie on the other side so they've all seen play).

He's a perfect replacement for this aspect of THB's game. Not so much the leadership and set piece threat, but.

---------

If THB goes to Villa, what are the odds of Mings heading the other way? 33 years old, in the last year of his contract, fighting for the third CB spot against two players the club has brought in this window. A loan with Villa covering a good chunk of the wages?

Surprised Kayi-Sanda hasn’t been given more of a go as always looked pretty good when I’ve seen him. Might be in the squad today

[OneMrsWallace]

13 hours ago, StrangelyBrown said:

If you have good players other teams will want them.

What's our choice? Try and strongarm a player into staying (with what I'm not sure??) or cash in for a decent amount and rebuild? 

THB is good, but he isn't that good. Jander is very good, but he isn't so good we couldn't replace him with another good player.

Whether we're in the championship or the premier League we'll always have the same problem - we're just not big enough or good enough to keep our very best players.

It is what it is and hopefully spors has a trick up his sleeve.

Spot on. I can only offer this thought. I met with Rupert Lowe and Andrew Cowan not too long after Theo Walcott went to Arsenal. I asked them what we did to try and keep him. I wasn't a fan of Lowe but on this occasion I think he gave a genuine answer. They offered a very strong financial package to persuade him to stay at a club where he would play regularly first team football and learn his craft. But his agent (I think that was Walcott senior) was determined he moved on and eventually they just had to accept there was nothing more they could do. It's been this way for generations. Martin Chivers, Steve Williams, Mark Wright, Danny and Rod Wallace, Alan Shearer, Theo, Lallana etc etc. But you know what? We survived. We're Saints. We will always be the Saints. And whoever plays for us this season, we get behind them, win, draw, lose. COYR. 

[hypochondriac]

Losing THB sucks but losing him on the eve of a game before we've had a chance to replace him sucks even more. The timing is terrible.

[SouSaint]

1 minute ago, hypochondriac said:

Losing THB sucks but losing him on the eve of a game before we've had a chance to replace him sucks even more. The timing is terrible.

Agree with this. 

Was hoping we would have a pretty settled squad once the season started. 

 

[Pilchards]

8 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Losing THB sucks but losing him on the eve of a game before we've had a chance to replace him sucks even more. The timing is terrible.

It’s a fucking pisstake.

Yet again we are going to play catch up because we never get things right from the off.

Look at Wolves, Boro and West Ham all ready to go with a bang with the players brought in and all those they want out GONE.

Lose today then it’s not going to be pleasant at the final whistle.

[StrangelyBrown]

3 minutes ago, Pilchards said:

It’s a fucking pisstake.

Yet again we are going to play catch up because we never get things right from the off.

Look at Wolves, Boro and West Ham all ready to go with a bang with the players brought in and all those they want out GONE.

Lose today then it’s not going to be pleasant at the final whistle.

It's not like we haven't seen this coming. We just don't seem to be in a position to be proactive with too big a squad