Summer Transfer Window 2026

[AlexLaw76]

1 minute ago, austsaint said:

Fulham and SFC disagree with you.

They are buying potential. 

[Baird of the land]

53 minutes ago, sadoldgit said:

This is a strange place. When Charles went some were saying that we wouldn’t miss him as he didn’t play much last season and he was behind Downes and Jander anyway. Now a seasoned pro with bags of EPL experience is not good enough to take his place? 
If the finances work it is a no brainer to bring JWP back.

Maybe the some who didn’t rate Charles and think jwp is ok are the same delusional people.

i certainly made clear how badly we’d miss Charles and have missed him, and think jwp is in no way a suitable replacement. 

[Turkish]

3 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Getting JWP on a free....what is not to like?

If he hadn't played for us before i'm pretty sure most people would be happy with this one. Spent him entire career in the premier league with over 400 appearances, 11 England caps, 31 so got a few years left in him yet. He's pretty robust he rarely gets injured and we're signing him for the championship not the premier league, unlike Walcott and Lallana who were older and signed for the premier league. 

 

[Chez]

3 minutes ago, Disco Stu said:

I'm a big advocate for bringing in experience and I think Sport Republic have undervalued it in the past but a 32 year old winger doesn't sound like a good idea. Would be a bit like bringing in 32 year old Nathan Redmond.

 

Unless this guy can play right-back to cover for Bree?

He looked a good player for Brighton when he was at the top of his game, but he's had some proper injuries. Missed pretty much all of the last two seasons with an ACL. I think he had two surgeries on it.  Played about half an hour of football, right at the end of last season.

[hypochondriac]

Sounds to me like a lot of people don't necessarily object to signing jwp as an option. The worry is that signing him and no one else leaves us short in some attributes in the middle because if Jander stays it's unlikely we will sign anyone else in that position. I can understand that argument to be honest.

[Wade Garrett]

Solly March was quality a season or two back.  Don’t know what he’s like now.

[austsaint]

2 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

They are buying potential. 

Akachukwu is potential.   Charles has shown his skill and athleticism for SFC and NI.   At his age, the potential for further improvement is there, but he's already demonstrated he's a good player.

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[AlexLaw76]

1 minute ago, austsaint said:

Akachukwu is potential.   Charles has shown his skill and athleticism for SFC and NI.   At his age, the potential for further improvement is there, but he's already demonstrated he's a good player.

 

They are buying premier league and profit potential. Amazed you cannot see that.

At 24, even after 1 good season, they will have a £60m player on their hands

Akachukwu has played 1 game. He barely has potential to be a first team figure at SFC

[Turkish]

2 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

Solly March was quality a season or two back.  Don’t know what he’s like now.

We were after him years ago. He's not played much the last two years due to injuries. Would be decent if fully fit again.

[CSA96]

7 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Sounds to me like a lot of people don't necessarily object to signing jwp as an option. The worry is that signing him and no one else leaves us short in some attributes in the middle because if Jander stays it's unlikely we will sign anyone else in that position. I can understand that argument to be honest.

I think that's pretty much the perfect summary

I have a few question marks but I think we ought to stop thinking of JWP as a direct Charles replacement. That assumes that JWP will be asked to fulfil the exact same role as Charles, which I think it's very likely that he won't be and Tonda may be asking something different of him. Tonda made use of Charles last season in a couple of different roles but given the profiles of the midfielders we have currently and the profile of the one he is looking at signing (JWP) he is looking for something different to Charles

I think it's easy to assume that when a player leaves the club just looks at 'let's find a like for like replacement' when if Eckert/Spors actually want to look for something a bit different to change the composition of the squad then the person who comes in might have different strengths/weaknesses to the one who has moved on

On that note, in our opening games I've felt like our ball retention and positional discipline in CM have been poor/sloppy. Those are two areas I think JWP still confidently addresses, plus he brings a level of leadership and veteran experience that you don't get from Matsuki and Bragg, or even Jander at this point. Downes probably has that in his locker too at this stage of his career. But ball retention and positional discipline aren't really what I associate with Charles, who was more of a bundle of energy who would contribute at both ends of the pitch but could be pretty sloppy too (as those midfielders tend to be)

I do look at a midfield group of Azaz/Matsuki/Jander/Downes/Ward-Prowse/Bragg and think it looks a bit one-paced and, apart from Downes and Jander, lacks on the aggression front (although JWP did add this to his game under Ralph, so let's see). Ultimately, we'll have to see how it comes together and it's reasonable to expect that the way Eckert wants his midfield to work this season isn't automatically the same as last season

Edited 1 hour ago by CSA96

[whelk]

23 minutes ago, saintwbu said:

Prem teams are paying for potential in Charles, no one is paying 25m for a midfielder that wasn’t in the best 11 for the team who came 4th in the Championship if he was 28. Charles didn’t control games, but he had 3 or 4 significant moments last season that put him really in focus - whether we have Charles or JWP, it’s still going to be Downes and Jander starting big games, so it’s down to whether JWP can add his own 3 or 4 big moments this season. 

Charles has been generally outstanding when playing for Northern Ireland as well

[CSA96]

Bolton in for Gavin Bazunu, according to Alan Nixon (I know... but he's decent enough on NW English clubs usually)

[Turkish]

7 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Sounds to me like a lot of people don't necessarily object to signing jwp as an option. The worry is that signing him and no one else leaves us short in some attributes in the middle because if Jander stays it's unlikely we will sign anyone else in that position. I can understand that argument to be honest.

We wont have 5 players for 2 positions. We tried to sign Dan Neil on a free at the star of the window so we aren't going to spend there as sounds like JWP is a free as well. We will only be spending more money on a centre back and seems like we want a striker so anyone else will be squad players. THB, Charles plus the sell on profits will net us about 65m this summer, we'll probably spend about 25-30 so back in with a shout of the net spend trophy 👊

[whelk]

9 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

Solly March was quality a season or two back.  Don’t know what he’s like now.

And one of those players who must always be referred to by their full name

[austsaint]

Charles will easily handle the class rise of the Prem.   Not sure at all his value will spike to 60m?    So you think he wasn't worth the money Fulham paid for him, but if he has an ok season he'll be worth 60m.  Ok then.

My feeling about Akachukwu from seeing him in preseason and against West Ham the other night is that he has all the attributes to be a first team player - potentially.

[Turkish]

Just now, CSA96 said:

Bolton in for Gavin Bazunu, according to Alan Nixon (I know... but he's decent enough on NW English clubs usually)

This would be an incredible signing for them! Proven in the premier league, a full international, experienced in the championship and knows the North West. Good luck to Baz and Bolton.

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, austsaint said:

Charles will easily handle the class rise of the Prem.   Not sure at all his value will spike to 60m?    So you think he wasn't worth the money Fulham paid for him, but if he has an ok season he'll be worth 60m.  Ok then.

My feeling about Akachukwu from seeing him in preseason and against West Ham the other night is that he has all the attributes to be a first team player - potentially.

All I said is that Fulham have paid for potential, both on the pitch and on the bank balance. They have a player good enough to be in and around the match day squad, contribute but who has a very high ceiling.

 

[Sir Ralph]

21 minutes ago, BarberSaint said:

Everything.

Like what for example?

[saintwbu]

12 minutes ago, Baird of the land said:

Maybe the some who didn’t rate Charles and think jwp is ok are the same delusional people.

i certainly made clear how badly we’d miss Charles and have missed him, and think jwp is in no way a suitable replacement. 

We didn’t seem to miss him in the 13 games he didn’t start on our unbeaten run, so maybe we’re missing the guy that always started ahead of him who is currently also unavailable. 

[Sir Ralph]

20 minutes ago, Baird of the land said:

Maybe the some who didn’t rate Charles and think jwp is ok are the same delusional people.

i certainly made clear how badly we’d miss Charles and have missed him, and think jwp is in no way a suitable replacement. 

But we don’t have £30m to spend so whoever we replace him with won’t be as good. The reality is we aren’t a PL team and have financial constraints after last year. Within our budget I’m not sure what people expect

Edited 54 minutes ago by Sir Ralph

[23rdSaint]

7 minutes ago, CSA96 said:

Bolton in for Gavin Bazunu, according to Alan Nixon (I know... but he's decent enough on NW English clubs usually)

Is that the bloke who had an argument with a pie or something?

[Greenridge]

2 hours ago, Mr Saints said:

Lallana, Walcott, Romeu were all on their last legs. You'd hope JWP, at 31, would not be.

He would definitely make us stronger, but if Jander goes we'll need another new face in there.

Walcott was also 31 when he came back. Albeit point taken and his game was based on pace. JWP’s never had been. 

[Baird of the land]

1 minute ago, saintwbu said:

We didn’t seem to miss him in the 13 games he didn’t start on our unbeaten run, so maybe we’re missing the guy that always started ahead of him who is currently also unavailable. 

So subs have no impact on games. Jander also didn't start multiple games during the winning run so guess he's not being missed either. Just a shocking coincidence our unbeaten run coincided with the ability to rotate excellent quality CM's as starters and bring on the other as a quality impact player.

[tdmickey3]

17 minutes ago, CSA96 said:

Bolton in for Gavin Bazunu, according to Alan Nixon (I know... but he's decent enough on NW English clubs usually)

🎉

[AlexLaw76]

1 minute ago, Baird of the land said:

So subs have no impact on games. Jander also didn't start multiple games during the winning run so guess he's not being missed either. Just a shocking coincidence our unbeaten run coincided with the ability to rotate excellent quality CM's as starters and bring on the other as a quality impact player.

It was also helped by rotating very similar type of striker, who are both top tier Championship level

[EssEffCee]

27 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Sounds to me like a lot of people don't necessarily object to signing jwp as an option. The worry is that signing him and no one else leaves us short in some attributes in the middle because if Jander stays it's unlikely we will sign anyone else in that position. I can understand that argument to be honest.

Yeah this basically. Think it might make our midfield very pedestrian when Jander isn't on the pitch.

[Chez]

Just now, Greenridge said:

Walcott was also 31 when he came back. Albeit point taken and his game was based on pace. JWP’s never had been. 

He's never had pace, and that doesn't matter a lot for a CM, but CMs do need to get around the pitch quickly to shut down attacks and that's been a weakness in Prowse's game. An ability to cover the ground wont get better with age. Being in the right position helps a lot, but athleticism in the middle is needed fro a defensive point of view.

[Chez]

11 minutes ago, 23rdSaint said:

Is that the bloke who had an argument with a pie or something?

hope he's not talking porkies again

[hypochondriac]

18 minutes ago, Turkish said:

We wont have 5 players for 2 positions. We tried to sign Dan Neil on a free at the star of the window so we aren't going to spend there as sounds like JWP is a free as well. We will only be spending more money on a centre back and seems like we want a striker so anyone else will be squad players. THB, Charles plus the sell on profits will net us about 65m this summer, we'll probably spend about 25-30 so back in with a shout of the net spend trophy 👊

Yes I agree with you. If you could wave a magic wand I'd probably bin off Bragg and get a proper Charles replacement. Isn't going to happen though clearly.

[Baird of the land]

11 minutes ago, Sir Ralph said:

But we don’t have £30m to spend so whoever we replace him with won’t be as good. The reality is we aren’t a PL team and have financial constraints after last year. Within our budget I’m not sure what people expect

 

I expect us to reinvest a significant proportion of the transfer fee into signing someone with similar dynamism to Charles.  I doubt if THB leaves you'll be championing signing Jannik vestergaard on a free.

[CSA96]

Just now, Baird of the land said:

 

I expect us to reinvest a significant proportion of the transfer fee into signing someone with similar dynamism to Charles.  I doubt if THB leaves you'll be championing signing Jannik vestergaard on a free.

By all accounts we are planning to invest c. £10m in Henrik Falchener if THB leaves

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, Baird of the land said:

 

I expect us to reinvest a significant proportion of the transfer fee into signing someone with similar dynamism to Charles.  I doubt if THB leaves you'll be championing signing Jannik vestergaard on a free.

I think you need to manage your expectations. 

Not going up hurt us and we have to be much more clever/realistic in the market. 

[BotleySaint]

As long as it doesn't break the bank I have no problem with JWP or March. Experience helps as shown with Larin. 

I could see JWP and Larin combining well for corners and free kick goals given James's delivery quality. He'll always give 100% and will want to do well. Perfect move for him.

March has been on the slide, but maybe can teach Fellows how to score? 

Edited 35 minutes ago by BotleySaint

[Gloucester Saint]

41 minutes ago, Disco Stu said:

I'm a big advocate for bringing in experience and I think Sport Republic have undervalued it in the past but a 32 year old winger doesn't sound like a good idea. Would be a bit like bringing in 32 year old Nathan Redmond.

 

Unless this guy can play right-back to cover for Bree?

Has played RWB at times. Rasmus’s mate from Brentford seems to be getting shipped out having been crap/injured and Sugawara finally off it seems. With JWP you get a CM/RB so Bree would be well covered. Plus March can provide a RW option, perhaps a Fraser type. We’d offer more money but skates might offer more minutes and slightly nearer home.

Edited 33 minutes ago by Gloucester Saint

[saintwbu]

8 minutes ago, Baird of the land said:

So subs have no impact on games. Jander also didn't start multiple games during the winning run so guess he's not being missed either. Just a shocking coincidence our unbeaten run coincided with the ability to rotate excellent quality CM's as starters and bring on the other as a quality impact player.

Subs do have impact on games, as Shea Charles did, but we’re missing our main starting midfielder which is having a much bigger impact on performances than missing someone we’d bring off the bench. 

[Saint Garrett]

Just now, Baird of the land said:

 

I expect us to reinvest a significant proportion of the transfer fee into signing someone with similar dynamism to Charles.  I doubt if THB leaves you'll be championing signing Jannik vestergaard on a free.

I mean there is a huge difference between THB (arguably our best and most important player) and Charles. (Wasn’t in our best XI).

JWP offers way way more than just his ability in the pitch, and also fits the way we play. 

Think it would be a brilliant signing personally, and should be relatively cheap, possibly even a free transfer. 

[Ivan Katalinic's 'tache]

Just now, Gloucester Saint said:

Has played RWB at times. Rasmus’s mate from Brentford seems to be getting shipped out having been crap/injured and Sugawara finally off it seems. With JWP you get a CM/RB so Bree would be well covered. 

Step forward the next incarnation of Jack Stephens - raiding full back!

[Baird of the land]

1 minute ago, CSA96 said:

By all accounts we are planning to invest c. £10m in Henrik Falchener if THB leaves

Why if we're being told we should accept an over the hill free crab as a replacement for Charles.

[hypochondriac]

1 minute ago, Baird of the land said:

 

I expect us to reinvest a significant proportion of the transfer fee into signing someone with similar dynamism to Charles.  I doubt if THB leaves you'll be championing signing Jannik vestergaard on a free.

I think it's worth remembering that some of that cash alongside paying debts may be used to enable us to fend off and keep the likes of Scienza and Jander. 

[hypochondriac]

1 minute ago, Baird of the land said:

Why if we're being told we should accept an over the hill free crab as a replacement for Charles.

What evidence have you got that he is over the hill?

[Baird of the land]

Might as well bring back Joe Aribo then we'll truly have the full set of crabs.

[OldNick]

I keep reading that JWP is a leader, Im not sure I can recall him ever shouting or calling out a player or geeing the team up, he is grat at making his fringe stand up. Anyway Im resigned to him coming back, and I hope he inspires us to great things. I assume he knows a lot of the squad and will fit in again

[lambtiss]

15 hours ago, sockeye said:

SR tend to bring back a former player each season. I dread to think who'll be doing the victory lap here in a few years, though. Lyanco?

Guido Carillo

[Gloucester Saint]

5 minutes ago, Baird of the land said:

Why if we're being told we should accept an over the hill free crab as a replacement for Charles.

Classic club car

https://www.aronline.co.uk/facts-and-figures/buying-guide/bmc-1800-2200/

[CSA96]

1 minute ago, OldNick said:

I keep reading that JWP is a leader, Im not sure I can recall him ever shouting or calling out a player or geeing the team up, he is grat at making his fringe stand up. Anyway Im resigned to him coming back, and I hope he inspires us to great things. I assume he knows a lot of the squad and will fit in again

His teammates, ex managers and guys who have reported on the club for years said he was a leader of the dressing room which probably means more than someone on a forum talking about hair flicks, in fairness

On the second point, not sure he will know a lot of the squad really? He'll know Bree, Stephens and Edozie as they played together for a bit and he'll know Manning because they did a preseason together but I don't think there is anyone else from back when we got relegated from the PL in 2023 that will still be here after the deadline

[Matthew Le God]

4 minutes ago, OldNick said:

I keep reading that JWP is a leader, Im not sure I can recall him ever shouting

Shouting isn't leadership

[saintant]

It really is time the club announced something concrete regarding Jander. Is he expected to be part of the squad and, if so, what is his injury situation?

Or, is he expected to move on in which case something needs to happen to give us time to sign a replacement.

The silence surrounding Jander is deafening.

[suewhistle]

2 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

 

"Sorry mate, we had the studwork replaced by breeze block in the close season."

[Lighthouse]

8 minutes ago, Baird of the land said:

Why if we're being told we should accept an over the hill free crab as a replacement for Charles.

Calling him a crab is such a lazy insult. Truth is he’s played a variety of different roles in midfield since making his debut and he covers a lot of ground during a game. If the manager tells him to sit deep and pass it around, he’ll do it. If the manager tells him to get forward into the box, he’ll do that too.

One thing that has been consistent is that every manager we’ve had from Adkins to Martin has played him regularly and not wanted to offload him. I doubt Tonda would be any different, as he has a fairly decent haircut.

[Matthew Le God]

Just now, saintant said:

It really is time the club announced something concrete regarding Jander. Is he expected to be part of the squad and, if so, what is his injury situation?

Or, is he expected to move on in which case something needs to happen to give us time to sign a replacement.

The silence surrounding Jander is deafening.

Tonda Eckert has stated on a number of occasions when asked about Jander what the situation is. There is no silence on it. He returned to training last week, he was hoping he'd be ready for West Ham, if not he might be ready for the game vs Millwall.