Summer Transfer Window 2021

[saint michael]

31 minutes ago, westmidlandsaint said:

I personally think we have massive problems everywhere in defence. 

Goalkeepers - we dont even know who are preferred #1 is. I dont buy the "they're both equal" crap. If anything I don't think either are #1 premier league standard. I also dont see us addressing this in this transfer window as other areas are priority and we dont have the money to strengthen everywhere. 

Left Back - Simple, we dont have one. Hopefully this will be sorted soon with Perraud. Still need another back up.

Right Back - KWP is the only defensive player of any note. Desperately need a back up and was criminal last year to send Valery out on loan. We were always a KWP injury away from disaster. Valery might not be PL material but he's better than sticking our CB's at RB.

Centre Backs - Bloody hell, where do I start, there's no point sugar coating it, our defensive record last year was shit. However, we carried on with the undropable Bednarek & Vestergaard for the most part. Vestergaard gets away with a lot because of his height and the fact that he can spray 40-50 yard passes and granted a lot of our build up play starts with him. Problem is he cant defend. Bednarek for me is a back up CB at best at this level. Stephens the same, decent 3rd or 4th choice. He comes in out of the cold every now and again plays a blinder throws his body at everything etc but once given more than 2 or 3 games in a row the mistakes start creeping in and he becomes a liability. Salisu looks like he good be a good player given the chance. After sat on the bench the 2nd half of last season watching that dross he must be thinking he's got a chance. Feel like he needs an experienced head, an old school leader next to him. 

So basically, we need a total rehaul in defence but its not going to happen. Lets hope we move quicker and get some players in early doors and bed them in over pre-season rather than on deadline day and not ready for the first 2 months of the season

I do fear next season, if we are not careful we could be in trouble. I'm not scaremongering but at the same time I dont think we can sit here and say we are miles better than many other teams. Lets hope the 3 that are coming up are well off the pace.

Add to that zero positive effect of any coaching going on with those groups and you have the full calamity

[Convict Colony]

Well now we know why villa have so much money at the mo.

Grealish to city 

[SuperSAINT]

5 minutes ago, Convict Colony said:

Well now we know why villa have so much money at the mo.

Grealish to city 

Anyone else reported it other than Jim White?  Certainly more gettable than Kane.

[Saint Garrett]

Not a massive surprise, given City seem to be trying to move on Bernardo and Sterling, and Villa splashing the cash...

Expect it'll happen, £100m though...wow.

[stevy777_x]

If Villa have money to spend, i d gladly take some of it via a sale of one of our players.

[SuperSAINT]

3 minutes ago, stevy777_x said:

If Villa have money to spend, i d gladly take some of it via a sale of one of our players.

Surprised they don’t bid for Ings.

[Charlie Wayman]

Pre-season starting on Monday? So where are the new players from our plan to get our business done early so that we have a whole pre-season to bed them in?

Just asking

[ErwinK1961]

3 minutes ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Pre-season starting on Monday? So where are the new players from our plan to get our business done early so that we have a whole pre-season to bed them in?

Just asking

[Convict Colony]

5 minutes ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Pre-season starting on Monday? So where are the new players from our plan to get our business done early so that we have a whole pre-season to bed them in?

Just asking

at the euro's still i am sure...............

 

just joking

[sad saints fan]

9 minutes ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Pre-season starting on Monday? So where are the new players from our plan to get our business done early so that we have a whole pre-season to bed them in?

Just asking

As someone has previously stated no signing are likely to be completed before July 1st  for financial reasons. Makes perfect sense to me.

[SaintZamboni]

28 minutes ago, sad saints fan said:

As someone has previously stated no signing are likely to be completed before July 1st  for financial reasons. Makes perfect sense to me.

And even then there’s often a wait for the domino effect. If City move for Grealish then Villa move for someone then their club moves and things start to shuffle

[Chez]

6 hours ago, SuperSAINT said:

Surprised they don’t bid for Ings.

maybe they have/will. I'd of thought any side looking to push on, like Villa,  would have at least spoken to his agent to see what level he hoped to play at this or next season.

[Chez]

6 hours ago, Saint Garrett said:

Not a massive surprise, given City seem to be trying to move on Bernardo and Sterling, and Villa splashing the cash...

Expect it'll happen, £100m though...wow.

Boy thats a wedge in the current climate, but I guess money is no object for them.

Bernado is a cracking player. Has his nose been put out of joint by lack of game time? Can see him playing for Barca or suchlike.

 

[Saint_clark]

3 hours ago, Chez said:

Boy thats a wedge in the current climate, but I guess money is no object for them.

Bernado is a cracking player. Has his nose been put out of joint by lack of game time? Can see him playing for Barca or suchlike.

 

City have realised what Ferguson knew - repeat title wins require shaking up the squad a little bit each summer.

 

[SuperSAINT]

 

 

[ErwinK1961]

14 minutes ago, SuperSAINT said:

 

 

Not sure the lads impact earlier today will have helped his cause.. 😬

[SuperSAINT]

Just now, ErwinK1961 said:

Not sure the lads impact earlier today will have helped his cause.. 😬

Thought exactly the same...

[SKD]

55 minutes ago, SuperSAINT said:

 

 

This makes no sense. Comes on loan, does well his value then exceeds £10m. 

[InvictaSaint]

9 minutes ago, SKD said:

This makes no sense. Comes on loan, does well his value then exceeds £10m. 

I suppose, like Ings, the fee is agreed and set in advance. 

[Smirking_Saint]

I can't help but feel completely underwhelmed by Williams

[SKD]

9 minutes ago, InvictaSaint said:

I suppose, like Ings, the fee is agreed and set in advance. 

yeah I get that, but why would Liverpool agree to a fee less than £10m if that’s what they value him at? 

How much do we expect to pay? £10m isn’t a significant amount of money for a premier league player. If we don’t value him at that and think it’s steep, why are we trying to sign him? 

[SuperSAINT]

 

Southampton are closing in on the signing of Stade Brest defender Romain Perraud.

The Athletic understands the St Mary’s side have agreed on a fee with the Ligue 1 team and have also agreed to personal terms with the 23-year-old. Everything is in place for the deal to go ahead and be signed off at the beginning of July, which is when the new financial year starts.

Sources have told The Athletic the only way a move falls through at this stage is if the player’s medical isn’t satisfactory or if another team makes a late attempt and blows Southampton’s offer out of the water.

Fellow Premier League sides Newcastle, West Ham and Leeds have all been tracking the highly-rated defender but manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has met with the left-back and it’s understood that Perraud has made it clear he wants to sign for the south-coast side.

Hasenhuttl makes a point of meeting potential new arrivals, and how they come across during the conversation is a crucial part of the decision-making process. Perraud will already know St Mary’s midfielder Ibrahima Diallo from their time together at Stade Brest.

Should this deal go through, Perraud will become the club’s second signing of the summer after they turned Theo Walcott’s loan move into a permanent one, with the 32-year-old penning a two-year contract. The club are prioritising strengthening their defence this summer, which became even more pertinent when it was announced Ryan Bertrand would be leaving once his contract expires this week.

With the expectation being that Perraud will become a Southampton player in July, The Athletic is led to believe they will continue targeting full-backs during the transfer window. As it stands, Hasenhuttl only has Yan Valery, Jake Vokins and Kyle Walker-Peters at his disposal.

While defenders are a priority, the club have been heavily linked with Blackburn forward Adam Armstrong.
 

The striker has only a year remaining on his Ewood Park contract, and it’s suggested Blackburn will be looking to cash in on the 24-year-old. One source claimed a deal between Blackburn and Southampton is some way off, but there is certainly interest in the player.

If the St Mary’s side believe they can sign Armstrong for a reasonable fee, then it’s certainly a transfer they will look to make happen, although it also depends on the futures of Shane Long, Michael Obafemi and Dan N’Lundulu.

The Blackburn striker has been likened to Danny Ings for his style of play and scored an impressive 29 goals in 43 appearances last season, which included three hat-tricks.

Hasenhuttl has stated his desire to add an attack-minded player to his squad ahead of the 2021-22 campaign, but the Austrian knows his defence needs to be bolstered first and foremost.

Adding strength in depth at the back is set to become even more important as The Athletic learned that Vokins is likely to leave on loan. The left-back is yet to take the next step forward under the Southampton manager’s guidance. He was sent on loan to Sunderland in January after being deemed to be surplus to requirements by the St Mary’s boss.

The Athletic is also led to believe that both Alex Jankewitz and N’Lundulu could depart the club this summer. Both players have a year left remaining on their contract, and it remains unclear whether Southampton would let them exit on loan or seek permanent deals.

It has been suggested, however, that N’Lundulu’s contract could be extended before he is granted permission to leave on loan. N’Lundulu broke into the first team under Hasenhuttl last season but is yet to have a sustained run in and around the starting XI, making 16 appearances and scoring once.

Jankewitz handed in a transfer request in January after growing frustrated at a perceived lack of opportunity at St Mary’s, but was handed his first start away to Manchester United the following month. The midfielder suffered the misfortune of being sent off inside two minutes and wasn’t picked again by Hasenhuttl. This would make it more difficult to extend his contract before sending him out on loan, so a sale isn’t off the cards.

Southampton’s players will begin their preparations for 2021-22 next week when they report for pre-season training. The club’s manager will be given another opportunity to cast his eye over his playing squad before making final decisions on who can leave and where else needs strengthening.

Edited 27 June, 2021 by SuperSAINT

[Chez]

Have to say that I was very impressed with Austria last night. The whole side was very comfortable on the ball, composed and willing/able to play through the press. Quite a few young players too. Alaba and Arnatovich obviously caught the eye a lot, but players like Baumgartner just 21 looked very comfortable at that level. Grillitsch especially  looked like he could really play. Technically good, decent range of passes... He is out of contract next summer, but maybe is looking at bigger clubs than us.

[Chez]

I see Patson Daka has said he is joining Leicester. Pity.

[itchen]

39 minutes ago, Chez said:

I see Patson Daka has said he is joining Leicester. Pity.

I think you'll find that's Leicester City.

[egg]

52 minutes ago, Chez said:

Have to say that I was very impressed with Austria last night. The whole side was very comfortable on the ball, composed and willing/able to play through the press. Quite a few young players too. Alaba and Arnatovich obviously caught the eye a lot, but players like Baumgartner just 21 looked very comfortable at that level. Grillitsch especially  looked like he could really play. Technically good, decent range of passes... He is out of contract next summer, but maybe is looking at bigger clubs than us.

Yep. They looked a good outfit. Very organised and players who punched well above their reputations. Grillitsch stood out as a very good player. 

[tunit]

1 hour ago, Chez said:

Have to say that I was very impressed with Austria last night. The whole side was very comfortable on the ball, composed and willing/able to play through the press. Quite a few young players too. Alaba and Arnatovich obviously caught the eye a lot, but players like Baumgartner just 21 looked very comfortable at that level. Grillitsch especially  looked like he could really play. Technically good, decent range of passes... He is out of contract next summer, but maybe is looking at bigger clubs than us.

Yes I thought the same. If only we had someone at the club with Austrian connections who could potentially convince some of the younger ones to join...

[Convict Colony]

yeah really enjoyed seeing some of these players i wouldnt normally see like damsgaard, grillitsch etc 

Really like maehle yesterday as well

[Dusic]

Players doing well in the latter stages of a Euros are going to be well beyond us.

[Chez]

11 minutes ago, Dusic said:

Players doing well in the latter stages of a Euros are going to be well beyond us.

you are probably right there, but strikes me there are a few markets this summer. Prem+billionaire/oil money, rest of Europe with billionaire money, rest of Prem, rest of Europe. There are only so many teams in the top two brackets. Because of the Prem TV deal going through, there is a sizeable gap between rest of prem and rest of Europe as, although our finances have been hit hard by COVID, the european teams have possibly been hit harder. I think a lot of european club teams are going to be desperate to sell someone this summer to balance the books. Lille won the league, will have CL money, but are selling...

With only, say, 15 `rest of prem' teams, and a fair amout of talent out there, that means our money, what little we have, should actually go a long way if buying from abroad. Mbappe might go for £200m or whatever, but £15m should get you some genuine talent. Not sure we should be looking at anyone from the Prem this summer like Williams etc. as there is better value from Europe I'd of thought.

Edited 27 June, 2021 by Chez

[Chris cooper]

1 hour ago, Convict Colony said:

yeah really enjoyed seeing some of these players i wouldnt normally see like damsgaard, grillitsch etc 

Really like maehle yesterday as well

Maehle was class yesterday..wota player .. we were linked with him I think .. but then again we are linked with everyone with feet 🦶 

[Badger]

3 hours ago, tunit said:

Yes I thought the same. If only we had someone at the club with Austrian connections who could potentially convince some of the younger ones to join...

If only we had the resources to back him doing that...

[Badger]

3 hours ago, egg said:

Yep. They looked a good outfit. Very organised and players who punched well above their reputations. Grillitsch stood out as a very good player. 

Agree about Grillitsch. Although he looked a good DM and distributor not too sure about him breaking up the opposition. Would improve us though.

Despite the view that we're well stocked in MF I'd like to see it upgraded with someone like Grillitsch or Delaney (probably the less expensive of the two), but doubt we'll seek either with our limited budget looking to plug gaps elswhere.

[Lee On Solent Saint]

43 minutes ago, Chris cooper said:

Maehle was class yesterday..wota player .. we were linked with him I think .. but then again we are linked with everyone with feet 🦶 

I know it's hard to make judgements on a few games, but he does seem a very good player. We were constantly linked him with, I think last season. KWP is decent, but this lad seems to be the next level up from him. 

[stevy777_x]

4 minutes ago, Badger said:

Agree about Grillitsch. Although he looked a good DM and distributor not too sure about him breaking up the opposition. Would improve us though.

Despite the view that we're well stocked in MF I'd like to see it upgraded with someone like Grillitsch or Delaney (probably the less expensive of the two), but doubt we'll seek either with our limited budget looking to plug gaps elswhere.

We re not well stocked in center mid.

JWP Romeu and Diallo and that s about it.

Jankewitz is likely to be sold, Smallbone has an ACL.

Armstrong can play there but it negates our forward play as he is very efficient in the number 10 position.

[SuperSAINT]

 

 

[davefizzy14]

https://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/new-celtic-boss-postecoglou-warns-prem-transfer-hopefuls-ajer-edouard-4375861

Hopefully we are still tracking Edouard.

[VectisSaint]

3 hours ago, Badger said:

Despite the view that we're well stocked in MF I'd like to see it upgraded with someone like Grillitsch or Delaney (probably the less expensive of the two), but doubt we'll seek either with our limited budget looking to plug gaps elswhere.

We are not well stocked in MF. We have no proper backup for Romeu. Ralph originally said he was looking to backup Romeu (at the Fans Forum I think but could be wrong) but he backed away from this later after Armstrong showed that he could perform in CM. Trouble is Armstrong performing well there means he doesn't perform in AM where he is our best performer, so though it is true he can do a job there it does not solve the problem for anything other than the odd game or two. Can't rely on Smallbone due to his injury, looks like Janko is off and it seems like Lemina and Ralph is a burnt bridge too far. I think we will bring in another DM in this window, once Lemina and Janko are out of the door.

[Badger]

7 hours ago, stevy777_x said:

We re not well stocked in center mid.

JWP Romeu and Diallo and that s about it.

Jankewitz is likely to be sold, Smallbone has an ACL.

Armstrong can play there but it negates our forward play as he is very efficient in the number 10 position.

 

3 hours ago, VectisSaint said:

We are not well stocked in MF. We have no proper backup for Romeu. 

I'm with you two on this, the view we're well stocked is not my own view but have read it a few times on here in recent weeks. Of the names mentioned, and likely to be here next season only Romeu seems to offer a physical presence in MF, the others are a bit lightweight. Unfortunately OR does seem to have more than his fair share of injuries and is likely to have a suspension at some point.

I think we can see that Jankewitz is on his way out, and I don't see Smallbone as a DM. Waste of Armstrong's talent to take him out of the attacking role.

[woodsaint1]

3 minutes ago, Badger said:

 

I'm with you two on this, the view we're well stocked is not my own view but have read it a few times on here in recent weeks. Of the names mentioned, and likely to be here next season only Romeu seems to offer a physical presence in MF, the others are a bit lightweight. Unfortunately OR does seem to have more than his fair share of injuries and is likely to have a suspension at some point.

I think we can see that Jankewitz is on his way out, and I don't see Smallbone as a DM. Waste of Armstrong's talent to take him out of the attacking role.

Definitely agree that another CM should be on our radar, and there might be something in it given the links we've had (Delaney, Maitland Niles, Svanberg to name a few). Can understand the occasional rumour being nonsense but theres been a few. The only thing is that its likely way down the club priorities after a starting LB, LB and RB cover, CF

[Badger]

24 minutes ago, woodsaint1 said:

Definitely agree that another CM should be on our radar, and there might be something in it given the links we've had (Delaney, Maitland Niles, Svanberg to name a few). Can understand the occasional rumour being nonsense but theres been a few. The only thing is that its likely way down the club priorities after a starting LB, LB and RB cover, CF

Is a decent GK too much to ask for as well ?

(Probably is I suppose).

[macca155]

The midfield does need strengthening but it isn't in the same desperate state as the defence. However the team is one injury away from it being an issue.

The problem is that it will be difficult to persuade a decent player to join as back up.

Ralph needs to show some leadership and sort out his differences with Lemina and Janko. Add those two and Smallbone and the midfield looks fine.

The club has limited resources and really needs to focus on the defence. I would have thought two 9 0 defeats,  and numerous collapses, would persuade the club to sort out that issue.

Up front it is more simple, sell N'Lundulu, Obefemi, and Long. Buy a backup to Ings and Adams, that will do.

I'd like to see an upgrade to Redmond and Djenepo but that can wait. Both can do a 'job, but I go no further. 

[SuperSAINT]

Wouldn’t be a transfer window without Cabral being linked: http://sportwitness.co.uk/four-premier-league-clubs-presented-e15m-signing-plate-deal-done/

[ErwinK1961]

1 hour ago, SuperSAINT said:

Wouldn’t be a transfer window without Cabral being linked: http://sportwitness.co.uk/four-premier-league-clubs-presented-e15m-signing-plate-deal-done/

If we are going to spend that amount on an attacking mid (can't see it personally) I'd prefer us to cut Sporting out the loop and get Marcus Edwards instead.

Edited 28 June, 2021 by ErwinK1961

[skintsaint]

4 minutes ago, ErwinK1961 said:

If we are going to spend that amount on an attacking mid (can't see it personally) I'd prefer us to cut Sporting out the loop and get Marcus Edwards instead.

Hasn't he got a stupid release clause for about 30m euros?

[ErwinK1961]

3 minutes ago, skintsaint said:

Hasn't he got a stupid release clause for about 30m euros?

50m euros I think, but no-one is going to pay that.

Just said in the article that Sporting want to sell this Cabral chap to fund a move for Edwards - I'd rather us go for the guy that Sporting actually want, rather than the guy they want to get rid of! (Again, appreciate it will never happen as we are skint).

[Antrimsaint]

Really can’t see us signing anyone. It seems we haven’t a pot to piss in.

 I hope Im wrong but more likely to sell than buy.

 I think Gao needs to recoup money before he sells because he isn’t getting the £200 million he’s asking.

If we don’t sell JWP or Ings I’ll  be astonished. If I was  the owner thats what Id do from a pure business sense. Sell the assets and get out.

If that doesn’t happen then I don’t have a clue what’s going on behind there as there is some sort of limbo going on.

[sadoldgit]

If he sells his best assets the sale of the club becomes less attractive as the new owner will have to spend more on the squad.

[Mowgli]

1 hour ago, Antrimsaint said:

Really can’t see us signing anyone. It seems we haven’t a pot to piss in.

 I hope Im wrong but more likely to sell than buy.

 I think Gao needs to recoup money before he sells because he isn’t getting the £200 million he’s asking.

If we don’t sell JWP or Ings I’ll  be astonished. If I was  the owner thats what Id do from a pure business sense. Sell the assets and get out.

If that doesn’t happen then I don’t have a clue what’s going on behind there as there is some sort of limbo going on.

Stand by to be astonished

[the saint in winchester]

22 hours ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

I know it's hard to make judgements on a few games, but he does seem a very good player. We were constantly linked him with, I think last season. KWP is decent, but this lad seems to be the next level up from him. 

Re Maehle : And he can play both sides, as he has proven. To think we balked at paying €5M. He's worth far more than that now. He looked superb.