Thing is if managed correctly the players we already have should be competing for promotion so ‘best of a bad job’ should still work for us….. If managed correctly.
Parts specific to Charly... Irrespective of Southampton’s toils at the end of last season, January signing Carlos Alcaraz is willing to stay for one year in the Championship. Alcaraz was one of the few bright spots during a progressively gloomy final few months in the top flight and, at 20 years old and living outside of Argentina for the first time, has placed greater importance on remaining settled in England. Alcaraz is one of Southampton’s more saleable assets, though, and enquiries received by his agent from Portugal’s champions Benfica, Italian counterparts Napoli, other unnamed continental European sides and one of South America’s biggest clubs, means it is firmly a case of wait and see.
Thanks NS. I read a bit before the shutters came down seemed positive, I'm optimistic for the new season but then again I usually am.
I thought the Athletic article makes it sound a little worse than it perhaps is ... as I see it so far we've seen the following happen: CONFIRMED: OUT = Walcott, Ely, Caballero, Orsic, Lis (L) IN = Manning, Charles Wikipedia has us on a squad of 32 after the above (which includes Small and Simeu) IMMINENT: OUT = Lyanco, Diallo, S.Armstrong After losing the above 3 (down to 29), we probably still need to lose another 8 or 9 players assuming we'll be bringing in 4 or 5. PROBABLE OUTS = JWP, Lavia, KWP, ABK, Salisu, DCC, Tall Paul All others sit in the 'POTENTIAL OUT' bracket in my opinion. Whether some of the players like it or not, there's no way we will clear out pushing half of our remaining squad - that would just be calamitous and put us massively on the back foot going into the season. The ones we don't want dragging out are JWP and Lavia due to the potentially massive fees involved.
Like that summary, I imagine Small gets sold at some point, I think Simeu probably gets loaned out to Reading too.
West Ham apparently keen on Gallagher - Chelsea asking for £40m. No way is he worth that much. Quoted fees this window are insane, I just hope we don't buckle.
BBC; "Barcelona have not disclosed the fee for Romeu but have included a 400m euros buy-out clause in his contract." Does anyone know why they would set the buy out clause so high?
Think it is Spanish law that all contracts need a buyout clause included, so they have to put one in and usually they are crazy high so nobody triggers them
The longer things progress and the more other teams find midfield targets, the more I think that JWP will start the season and potentially stay until January or beyond
We are digging ourselves out of the mess we made before and it takes time If they want players then lowballing carries a risk for them too, it’s not only one way The art of negotiation If no one offers anything credible for Prowsey then he’ll stay and be professional, I have no doubt. I think we are in the strong position with Lavia as he’s going to be so good Some will go whatever
What is the right back situation among premier league clubs? As well as budgets? Newcastle seem like they have the amount we would want for him to spend on a right back but they are trying to offer that for Tino instead
I am too. But when I think about it…to be honest he was very poor last season. For the money he would cost… maybe clubs just aren’t interested? Which would be fantastic for us as we all know he is quality. Hopefully he stays.
