A lot of older players out of contract this summer who could do a job, certainly at championship level: https://www.transfermarkt.com/premier-league/endendevertraege/wettbewerb/GB1
I hope we get a couple more who have that win at all costs streak in them. Ampadu etc have made such a massive difference to Leeds with that 'accept nothing less' attitude. RM can talk all he wants about bravery etc on the ball but a bit more bravery and passion all round would go a long way when we aren't at it I think. Hard to put a finger on who but it wouldn't bother me in the slightest if they are not the perfect 'dressing room' fit and give Edozie, Bazunu and whoever else the occasional bollocking if they are not doing what's required.
I would love Lallana back! Antonio was the other one off the list for me. Oh and Ok let’s take Jorginho!
Wonder what our championship line up will be next year? Bazunu; Bree, Wood, Stephens, Manning; Smallbone; Aribo, Rothwell; Arma, Stewart, Fraser.
Really doubt Fraser signs permanently unless we go up. He has chased the money his entire career going on strike at two clubs to force moves for better pay. According to the internet he is on either £40k a week or £65k a week at Newcastle. I guess we may be able to pay the lower end of that (not sure with Champ FFP) but definitely not the higher end. Can see him going to one of the relegated sides on loan and keeping his salary with Newcastle for another year then evaluating his options as a free agent at the end of next season
How do you what his motive was? Maybe he wanted to play for a better team than Bournemouth. He was linked with some top clubs iirc.
Yeah he was linked with Arsenal I think, and ended up at Steve Bruce’s Newcastle. I always assume it’s money related, and if he can get a bigger contract somewhere that isn’t here I would expect him to take that. To go on strike when he was an important player for Bournemouth and they were in a relegation fight is terrible regardless of motive, I can imagine the reaction here with the way people talked about ABK last season for example Anyway we will have to wait and see what happens with him. Personally I’m not fussed if he stays or goes
Wasn't his contract up at Bournemouth? Due to covid the season was extended and they wanted him to extend his contract until the end of the season but he declined because he didn't want to risk getting injured.
Yeah, this is what happened. He didn't "go on strike". He signed a contract, honoured that contract and left when it expired.
He'll cost hardly anything, and he has 8 goals and 3 assists this season, despite mostly being used as a sub. Been one of our better signings in recent times.
He won't get offers from clubs much better than Saints. It will come down to whether he wants to squeeze the last year of his newcastle contract out or just sign a long term deal with Saints whilst his stock his relatively high. Transfer won't be an issue, Newcastle may well let him go for free. Pretty sure he likes it down this way as he has he settled during his Bournemouth days.
Mrs Fraser is from Dorset I believe, and coming to Saints meant he moved back into his Dorset home (which he loves) so these are all factors too.
Some good free players available next season. Johnson from West Ham to replace KWP with Bree as competition. O Hare from Coventry, Will Hughes from Palace. Fabianski from West Ham. All players you would think we’d have a chance of signing especially with a lot of big wages being cleared again this summer?
