Transfer Rumours Summer 2020 Transfer Rumours

£8m according to the Torygraph, seems a little cheap considering what we got for Matty Targett.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/footbal...sider-8m-switch-fulham-following-southampton/

 

The fact is that KWP would be a far bigger asset than Pierre would be a loss and an important missing piece in Ralph's jigsaw (as both fullbacks are). He is solid defensively and looks a classy player moving forward and usually chooses the right option on the ball like a previous poster said a mirror of Bertie on the right,

 

Sandy Balls always raises an eyebrow too...

 

Harrison Reed lives there I believe...

 

RE Reed - I'd be inclined to give him a new contract and try and integrate him into the first team. If it didn't work out you'd think we could get not far off £8m next summer anyway. He looks better than Romeu and it may take a while for the Hojbjerg replacement to settle - you'd think there will be plenty of opportunity for him to play and show why he should be starting along side JWP.

 

He's a better passer than Oriol certainly.

 

Yeah, but so are most of this forum

 

Again, given things he’s said, I don’t think that’s on the cards unless Ralph can make a monster pitch to him. Fulham he’s a key player and he’s Parker’s boy. He has a coach who believes in him after all this time. I’m sure he would not want to sign an extension and tread water another year unless he was more assured of playing. He’ll be 26 in January and I think he’s been at Saints for 18 years. It’s past time.

I thought it would probably be 5m + bonuses. He’s out of contract next summer so £8m is about right. I think he’s worth more in convincing him to stay. If that can be done.

 

Yeah, unless Ralph assures Reed of regular first team football next season (and I mean more than just 10 or so PL starts; something akin to 25+ PL starts), I don't see why Reed would sign a new contract. Just leave on a free next summer, and join a team where he will get regular football.

Do I think Ralph will (or should) give Reed such assurance? I'm inclined to think no. In which case, I see Reed in a similar boat to PEH - ie we either sell this summer, or lose him on a free next summer.

 

Or that place down the road, Nether Promoted.

 

Don't we need more than 4 CMs? I felt we were light there this season with just Ward-Prowse, Hojbjerg, Romeu and Smallbone.

With PEH going, we need to replace him (Reed?) and could then use more depth (McKennie?). We were lucky this season that JWP was able to play every minute of the season and none of the others were out for lengthy periods.

If JWP was to get injured and PEH's replacement wasn't up to it, we'd look very poor at CM with just Smallbone and Romeu. Love Armstrong but not convinced he plays a CM role as well as we'd like.

 

I'd bite their hand off tbh. 8mill for Reed with 1 year left on his contract? I'm laughing all the way to bank if I'm Saints.

 

4 is enough depth for 2 positions (unless you are Man City) but the trouble is without Pierre we only have 2 (JWP, Romeu). In our system where the 2 CMs are a little deeper/defensive, Armstrong and Smallbone aren't proper CMs - I see them both better in the 2 attacking midfield roles. Smallbone may end up being able to play CM but he needs to bulk up a little and add that aggressive streak JWP has developed.

So I'd say next season you'd want JWP, New Player, Reed, Romeu. Although as many have correctly pointed out, Reed will want to start and whilst I think he would play a fair bit, he wouldn't be a starter from the first game.

 

I might be wrong but I thought Armstrong preferred CM and had to be persuaded by Ralph to take on the wider role.
Also, with the right person at RB pushing forward, Armstrong is already pushing into more central positions.

 

We do have a little bit of depth at CM with Academy players (Slattery, Alex Jankewitz, O'Connor and Alfie Jones who just played over 30 games at DM for Gillingham). I've always thought that Jack Stephens could do a job there too.

It's down to what Ralph wants though and I think we'll definitely sign someone if Pierre and Reed both leave.

 

There’s that many games available if you think him and McKinnie coming in to replace Romeu/PEH. Between the two they made about 50 appearances.

Yeah I think ideally we need to have a net gain of 1 CM player. Romeu should be phased out this year. He’s a good pro but he’s the most limited and Ralph needs athletes. Ntcham was talked about and he may be priced similarly to Reed but they are very different stylistically. I think the best dynamic for the squad would be JWP/Reed/McKinnie/Smallbone - in that order. Then you have Romeu and Stephens as “Break Glass” options. It’s experimental sure and there’s very little experience but it would be fun!

 

Poor Romeu. Once player of the season.

 

He's good at what he does ie breaking up play and moving it on but it's whether that is enough for Ralph's style of play.

 

I think he's great at the RM moving inside into a CAM role, but not convinced he can play one of our two CDM/CM roles in Ralph's system.

 

As does Upper Dicker