 | News
Comment | Southampton Receive Formal Transfer Request In Writing From Player
at 13:36:25
By putting in a formal transfer request I believe this means the player waives the right to any loyalty bonuses etc. thus saving the selling club (Saints) some money. From tall Paul’s perspective I guess the hope is that Saints would be more inclined to receive a lower fee if they haven’t got to pay out to him. Given the relative lack of service he has given Saints I would say that waiving his right to loyalty bonus should be a bare minimum! |
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Comment | Ryan Fraser Set to Train With U21 Squad As Newcastle Play Hard Ball
at 10:09:48
Whatever the rights and wrongs of their relationship at Bournemouth, it serves no one to drag this out the way it’s being portrayed. Eddie Howe should be mindful of how the optics of this may play out as it’s not a good look to his potential bosses at the FA. |
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Comment | Saints Agree Deal With West Ham United For Flynn Downes
at 17:01:42
The Athletic are reporting a deal worth £18m but no details on how much of that is upfront and how much is performance related or if there is a sell on clause.
Also confirmed that the Downes deal is independent of any potential deal for KWP so remains to be seen if he does now leave. I expect the club are pretty relaxed now they have Sugawara in the building. |
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Comment | Arsenal Goalkeeper Linked With Southampton
at 15:22:17
I agree that a loan deal makes sense. Saints are wedded to Bazunu long term but need a quality keeper for next season (McCarty will still be back up). Arsenal have the option to keep hold of Ramsdale longer term - perhaps with a mid season cancellation clause if Raya gets injured. Ramsdale gets match time which may prove crucial to his future England prospects if a new manager comes in and decides it’s time to move on from Pickford.
On separate news I see we have completed the deal for Downes. With him back and Ramsdale in goal I would think getting another striker is the last piece of the puzzle for next season. |
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Comment | Southampton Once Again In Talks With Manchester City Over Transfer
at 13:19:54
My view is that in signing a new striker it’s about quality rather than quantity. I would rather the lub spend a decent fee on a player that will give you 15+ goals in the season than spend the same money on 2 or 3 individuals who are unproven or may not have the same return. Get the focal point and then the others can chip in with 5-10 goals each. We might be lucky in that Ross Stewart proves to be able to step up but that is one hell of a gamble so spend the money on an insurance policy.
The above applies even if Che Adams re-signs. |
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Comment | Russell Martin Has To Target Three Crucial Experienced Signings
at 13:11:35
I agree with the 3 positions mentioned as being key to the squad looking “complete” going into the new season or not.
What we as fans shouldn’t do is panic that we haven’t yet see the marquee signings to fill those positions. Firstly pre season is only a week old and RM should be sure the answer doesn’t lie in the current squad. Charlie Alcaraz for example could be the answer to the creative midfield slot (assuming Downes does come in as CDM). There is also a chance to see if last seasons bit players and youngsters can make a step up. Next is to get those who aren’t going to feature off the books. We live in a world of FFP now so getting transfer fees in and wages off the books will contribute to how much we can spend in those key positions. It might make the difference between signing Ings or an upgrade. Finally identifying the right player for the right price.
The plus point from the signings made so far is that aside from the fee for THB which was agreed last season we haven’t spent big money on anyone so while they improve the squad we still should have money if the right player becomes available. |
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Comment | West Ham United Linked With Southampton Defender
at 14:19:59
Player swaps increasingly seem to be flavour of the month to circumvent profit and sustainability rules. If KWP is valued at £25m and Downes and Ings valued at £12m and £6m respectively, WH can pay the difference of £7m in cash. But there is nothing stopping both clubs inflating the respective values on their balance sheets e.g. £35m for KWP and £28m for the WH pair. WH still only pay £7m but the sales of both are counted in the one year they occur whereas expenditure is spread across the length of the respective player contracts. It gives both clubs great room to spend now under the current rules. |
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Comment | Turkish Super Lig Giants Bidding For Joe Aribo
at 12:36:31
With Stu Armstrong already on his way we need some bodies in the number 8 role. Even if Joe isn’t a starter in the PL due to the club bringing in someone else I don’t see Joe leaving unless we get a silly money offer (which is unlikely from Turkey). It’s also likely that Joe would have higher wages in the PL so this is probably not being driven by the player. |
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Comment | Jose Fonte Could Be About To Return To Southampton
at 18:58:53
How many other ex Saints are we going to be linked with this summer? Why not offer a contract to Sir Ricky, Le Tiss, and Franny.
Fonte gives one interview with BBC Solent and the lazy journos out there are putting 2+2 = 5. I don’t have any issue with Fonte, he did well for us through the football league promotions and the PL. It was telling when his various defensive partners over those years were the ones signed by bigger clubs and sank without a trace whereas Saints continued to be pretty decent with Fonte. Winning the Euros with Portugal increased his profile and his agent profiteered of the back of it. They found West Ham in one of their sign any player at any cost moods and the rest is history. |
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Comment | These Are The Six Positions That Southampton Need To Fill For Premier League Survival
at 13:06:37
Couple of points:
Firstly I think in addition to the 6 positions above we need to secure a defensive midfielder. Ideally that is Downes but either way that will be a new signing (permanent or second year on loan). If not Downes we need someone else.
Secondly filling the seven positions won’t come cheap. Yes we have c£140m (or whatever the amount is from those linked to the play off win) but that is unlikely to stretch to spending transfer fees on all those positions. We have already spent £20m on THB and we have to consider FPP which as we have seen severely hampers clubs needing to invest in playing staff. Even if we get some return on players who were on loan last season and we can sell this summer, I would anticipate at least two of those roles listed being season long loans. Probably the GK if the club see Bazunu coming back as No 1, possibly also Downes on a second years loan if West Ham don't want to sell outright but both WH and player want to get regular minutes in the PL. it’s also possible that some of those loan players do make the grade for RM. ABK and Alcaraz are the two most likely which would save money on finding new players. |
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Comment | Southampton Linked With La Liga Striker
at 12:46:54
How many strikers do we need who are proven at Championship level but have yet to do so in the PL? Adams, Arma, Stewart and now Bereton Diaz. If this is a replacement for Che then it makes more sense if this is alongside a striker who we are confident can cut it in the PL. |
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Comment | James Ward Prowse Future At West Ham Said To Be Uncertain
at 12:42:18
Onetowatch. I’m not suggesting that JWP is the same type of player as Armstrong but he is a better player as an advanced midfielder rather than defensive one. Hence I agree the priority is Downes but if Downes can be secured and there is a deal for JWP that works then I would take him in a heartbeat over Lallana would also be in that number 8 role. |
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Comment | James Ward Prowse Future At West Ham Said To Be Uncertain
at 08:22:44
Would rather JWP than Lallana. With Stu Armstrong going JWP could fit that role, especially if Downes can be secured and be the defensive midfielder allowing JWP to play further forward. The main issue in his last season for us was we had sold Romeu and JWP was forced to play deeper which is not his strong area. |
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Comment | Saints 23/24 Season Review - The Goalkeepers
at 19:10:09
Saints have just issued the confirmation of released players at the end of their contract. McCarthy is mentioned in the context of trying to work out a new deal. Hopefully this will be a back up on back up wages. The article also confirms Stu Armstrong will leave the club :( |
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Comment | Saints 23/24 Season Review - The Goalkeepers
at 12:41:39
It’s clear there are positives and negatives to each of the 3 keepers. Will Bazunu improve on his areas of weakness , quite possibly. The same is unlikely of McCarthy or Lumley. It’s unlikely that Bazunu will feature much next season so I agree with the call of recruiting an experienced keeper either on loan or a shortish contract until Gav is back up to speed. If there is a need to keep McCarthy or Lumley as back up due that time then no problem but we don’t need both. Don’t forget we also have Lis who has been out on loan so could be the back up. |
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Comment | Leeds United Confirm Their Kit For Wembley Showdown With Southampton
at 15:14:42
It will be the socks that clash with Leeds. The Hull away game was mentioned as to why we played in white but although the tops were different (Yellow vs Red) the shorts were both black. My expectation is that we will go with the all black kit. At then end of the day I don’t mind as long as we win. After all we were in our changed yellow kit for 1976! |
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Comment | Could Adam Lallana Make A Surprise Return To Southampton
at 10:35:58
I have no ill will towards AL for moving on to Liverpool from Saints. He was looking to progress his career at a time when his stock was high. However I don’t see him coming back and fear it would be another Theo Walcott signing I.e. high wages for little return except possibly with slightly fewer injuries. |
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