Transfer Rumours The Summer Transfer Rumour Thread 2016

Yep, Schad's nailed it there.

 

Absolutely; Nagy would be a great buy, even though I'd prefer a little more steel in midfield to replace Wanyama, as would the Romanian whose name I will not attempt to spell from memory. But if we need someone ready now (and I really think we need an accomplished creative player or two who can step in this season), those aren't cheap. And those we should spend on without hesitation, if need be. Same with a striker.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football...ave-southampton-for-china-in-13-million-deal/

Not sure if posted already, but Jeremy Wilson saying it is Claude's decision not to pursue a new striker immediately as Pellè departs. Puel thinks he has enough with Austin, Long and Rodriguez - whom he rates - for one striking position for now, plus academy forwards.

 

Whiteley, there seems to be a feeling that neither stepped are good enough for where we want to get. Personally I think we need a RB because despite my man love for Cuco. I don't think he I good enough. Did well. Exceeded expectations, but they were very low. Cedric on the other hand seemed to be out of favour. I thought he looked good going forward and ok at the back but he did get caught out a few times. For me Cedric and a new RB to fight out that spot is what we need.

 

I do not watch Chinese football, but may tune in to watch Pelle against a couple of Chinese CBs

 

Sidebar: was Seager's injury less severe than thought? I was under the impression that he probably wouldn't even play at the U21 level until well after Christmas.

 

Whole thing is silly. But the basic underlying issue is the same. Both sides think Southampton is somehow special.

But they aren't. They aren't being run in a particularly unique or different way. They're being run in a pretty normal way. The board is just doing a good job of it.

Players get older, their contracts run down, they become unhappy and want to leave. There are weak spots in the lineup that need to be addressed. You change managers every 2-3 years. This happens to every club in every league.

 

Stanciu (who would fit your creative player wish).

 

Came on again tonight and saw that there were so many new pages and honestly thought there must have been some transfer news, only it was the same gripes we have every season between those expressing negativity over the perceived lack of activity and those wiser heads preaching reason... just have a little faith everyone; the management know more about this than we collectively ever will. Signing of now until there is some actual news to discuss.

 

I'd like another beyond him. Great looking talent, but it's asking an awful lot for him to step into the shoes of Mane straightaway, and Redmond is still very much a work in progress.

Plus, we need more options in attacking midfield to begin with. Stanciu as an option in the central role and a very good winger would be my hope.

 

Agree on Austin, was just saying on PL board that I'm cautiously optimistic of him being fit for the start of the season.

As for Jrod, sad to say but don't think he'll ever get anywhere near the level of 13/14. So unfortunate for him even more than us but was probably always going to be that way after that injury

 

I think there are too many people who are panicking over the RB situation. Cuco isn't really that bad, and Soares is actually quite good at times, just inconsistent due to positional awareness issues. We could go into the season with just those two RB's (and Yoshida/Gardos in a pinch) and be okay.

But we are looking to be more than just "okay." So while I still think there's a good chance Soares comes good, I agree that we need to bring in another potential starting RB and let them duke it out.

Level One/Immediate needs for me right now are: 1) High quality attacking guy. Without knowing how we plan to play, I don't know what kind of player or what position even, but we definitely need a player upfront, and 2) RB

Level Two/mixed immediate/future: I would like to see us add some young players with high potential to for the future. If all goes well, maybe they could nab a starting spot this season. Otherwise, hopefully next year. The two priority positions for me are 1) another attacking guy (but Redmond may have filled this need already), 2) DM. I'm happy to trade future potential for present ability here, but they need at a minimum to be able to play as backups/rotation guys and add depth for cup matches.

Level 2.5-- CB and GK. Depends on how the club feels about Gardos/academy guys at CB and Gazzaniga at GK. But we MAY need to strengthen here.

Level 3-- We need to beef up the academy/U21 pipeline. And I'm all about future talent here. Doesn't matter what position they play.

I feel like the club can spend 70m. Not saying I'm demanding we spend that much. Just that that much should be available worse comes to worst and we have to pay through the nose.

35m for a striker and RB should take care of our immediate attacking and RB needs. 25m on 2-3 players would take care of our intermediate/level 2 needs. That would leave us with 10m to take some shots at 2-3 starlets for the U21/academy pipeline.

So yeah, I'm not too worried. I'm nervous about who specifically we end up bringing in and if they can do the job we're asking. There's always that risk we buy some duds.

But I'm fine with the club's overall picture. We have some work to do, but we have the funds and the time to do it. And I feel like we even if we do splunk 25m on a striker who ends up stinking, we still won't get relegated or anything. We'll just have wasted 25m and taken a step back. It happens. We already messed up with Ramirez and Osvaldo and still came out okay.

 

I can kind of see where Puel is coming from. Whether we play 5 at the back or 4, we'll almost always only play with 1 up front so 3 + youth is OK, even if one extra is ideal. Wait and see if someone becomes available/try to entice a young striker with potential but not panic buy and overpay for a target just because.

Goals from wide/number 10 more important to address for me.

 

My exact tactics with Saints on FM bring in European talent nurture my own and move in and out first teamers with 1 or 2 1st teamers coming in each season. Before you ask, yes I will be applying for the position when Claude has moved on

Sounds like an exciting direction for me. Any ideas on who we are looking at from Europe? Stanicu, Nagy, and Kaplutska all seem to fit the bill and have been linked so far this summer.

 

Sidibe has signed for Monaco.

 

Replacing Mané must be the priority. That bit of spark and unpredictability. I liked the look of Boufal from the YouTube and seems the kind of player we need. Bolasie has a bit about him and added PL experience. So from the whispers we seem to be shopping in the right store.

Think we need about 7/8 players who can operate in the front three positions
Jay/Shane/Charlie/Dusan/Nathan thus far, so that mane replacement and another player with potential and that represents decent depth before adding academy lads and keeping a pathway open

 

Could be moving on from Boufal. He seems to be stringing us along.

 

Oh well, time to go back in for Ziyech.

 

Oh. Is he aware j-rod has not played a full 90 minutes (or even 45) since cruciate and foot injury? Is he aware Austin has not played a full 90 min since arriving in Jan and missed more games through injury than was available for.
Risky. Thrifty. The Southampton Way.

 

Someone mentioned earlier that Long as our number one striker is not as good as keeping hold of Pelle as he is more prolific but when I looked up the goals scored from games played, Pelle has 8 more Prem goals from 8 more games, so I would argue not much in it.

Also Pelle always plays as the striker whereas Long plays around the striker as well.

If we are going to play 1 up front, then the 3 we have are more than capable with the right service. So on that note I feel replacing Mane and adding to the creative options from midfield is where to go.

A lot of players being linked-Walcott, the Ox etc could be used as the striker if we had an injury or 2, plus the youngsters, who's to say we won't have a player from nowhere come through, maybe this season is Gallaghers year!