Transfer Rumours Transfer Rumours - Summer 2018

Sadly I think the boards hands must be tied. I cannot think of any other reason for the delays in entering the market for new players. Funny how players leaving are given the heave ho as soon as the window opens....but incomings seem to be left until the last days of the window.

 

We still have £50m of the vvd money to spend...

 

It could if it was seen as a signing of intent or lack of it.

 

Question:

Does anybody think we’re not going to spend anything?

 

Bound to spend something, but I'm sure a few minor players will be moved on as well....so not much of a net spend. I'm going for 2 players....who may turn out well, but won't make us sit up initially. However, I do believe we will be better than last season because we did play under par then.

 

Surely it means that there will be less to spend on players because he will siphon of funds that could be used to buy players to pay of the debts instead. That’s a bad thing to me

 

I don't think the present outcome was expected. Kat wanted to sell and this was brought forward because of an unexpected tax bill left by her father. She spent a long time finding someone then all the new rules were introduced about getting money out of China. The deal was so far down the line that it didn't suit either party to pull out, so the money was raised outside China. Gao would always have wanted to earn money from the club...after all he is a businessman...not some obsessed Russian oligarch like Chelsea's owner. However, this may have changed the time scale of the need to raise money from Saints.

Neither Kat nor Gao are doing this out of philanthropy, but have no reason to wish us to fail (in fact quite the opposite). We'd all do well to gird in our expectations for a while. After last season, I will settle for some good football, mid-table safety and an occasional cup run. There will be good times again....all things pass.

Of course, some of you young 'uns have more chance of seeing it.

 

He hasn't played an awful lot since his move from Dundee United but I would go for Ryan Gauld, still only 22 and would surely be a reasonable transfer fee.

 

I don't believe for one minute Hughes would have taken on the job if he wasn't promised money to sign players he wants.

 

Yeah, not sure the old "household budget" principles really apply to running football clubs, or other large businesses.

Going into debt may be scary, but you need to gamble and you need to invest in order just to stay afloat. Focusing on a balanced income vs expenditure sheet could prove very costly indeed.

 

https://ninetyminutesonline.com/southampton-ready-to-do-deal-for-16m-man-contact-made-french-media/

Reports in French media that we have approached 3 French clubs to off load Boufal. It's a shame that such an obviously talented player hasn't come good for us, but I don't think he has quite the right attitude for us. We needed a different player when fighting for survival. I trust Mark's judgement on that....and the reported rift with the other players suggests that they found him disruptive...or at least not supportive. Best all round if he can go to a league that suits him and makes money available for another player.

 

I agree that some risks may be taken, but it has to be manageable risks. Going down is costly, but going down anyway after signing expensive players is even more so. We needed a striker, so we signed Carrillo....who was available, recommended by the manager and in our price range....could have worked but didn't*. It's a judgement call.

*Not totally given up on Carrillo...but that may just be me being hopeful. It will be interesting to see if he fits into Mark's plans when we aren't so desperate for points.

 

Yep. By adding one or two additions may well create a decent season and push up the price of other assists. Not adding to the squad could see a battle ultimately end in relegation, slashing the prices.
It makes sense to invest. Doesn't mean it will happen though. I think we'll do the minimum, but if that means keeping all key personnel, then I can live with that.

 

We are arguing about the length of a piece of string One person's investment may be the same as another's idea of lack of investment.

 

Gaston, Osvaldo, boufal, carillo. I’m not bothering to give them time and hope they ‘come good this season’.

Get rid of carillo, send boufal off while both of them still have some stock. Bring in a striker mark wants and an attacking mid who wants to play for us.

Didn’t Hughes bring Arnautovic and Shaqiri to stoke?

 

As I recall, Gao paid £210 million for his 80% share of the club. He originally intended to move his own money out of China to pay Kat, but wasn’t allowed to. That meant he had to borrow the money, at, I imagine, a fairly hefty interest rate. Unless and until the Chinese government changes its policy on foreign finance, the only way Gao can service, let alone repay, his debt is using the revenue from the club. That doesn’t bode well for any incoming transfer dealings!

 

I agree Chilcs, but this is also assuming that he has no other business interests outside of China to fund/service the loans - also the interest rate may not be so high if this is the case.

Debt in business (or in life really) isn't a bad thing, providing it is sustainable - even with unexpected bumps on the way.

Eg if your mortgage is 50% of your monthly salary, and all your other normal outgoings are another 30%, then you have 20% buffer each month, The worry is if it was 70% of your salary and the outgoings are still 30%...any unexpected payment will push you further into debt.

#DontListenToMeImShitWithMoney

 

No doubt we need some more fresh ideas, but in my opinion, Hughes needs to help a few players recapture their form as much as they need new blood.

JWP, Romeu, ShLong, Cedric and to some extent Bertrand have struggled for the last 18 months for various reasons to do with the negative style Puel and MoPel adopted, he needs to look carefully at these (I’m sure he will) before we purchase.

An effective one of any of these players is a massive bonus and akin to a new signing.

 

If they all started playing like we know they can and add Tadic & Gabbaidini into the mix as well...we could do a Leicester, I honestly believe it.

The problem is they all have the odd good game and not at the same time. If they all clicked at the same time and most the season, we'd be formidable.

And they would all be sold next Summer.

 

I agree....if we could get 5% more out of each player and they achieved that every game, we'd be more successful. And that could happen if they have confidence in themselves and the manager. If they buy into Mark's plan, we will see a valuable improvement. None of our players are bad players...they just needed belief and cohesion.