From memory he chose Bournemouth over us and then failed his medical, so they didn’t sign him. Seem to remember fans on social media laughing about it as Bournemouth fans were trying to laud it over Saints fans when he chose to go there
Out of the relagated teams who’s had the best strategy so far in the transfer window? Leeds Loaning out a majority of players Leicester in old money fire selling Saints, sticking to guns on prices (at the moment)
Leicester, by far. Getting good if not spectacular fees for players they know won’t be there for the season and moving quickly to replace the players so can have a reasonably settled squad in time for the season. Piroe going there this week I expect to add to some other decent signings Whilst our stance is admirable in a way, I just feel that we are going to end up losing a lot of players late in the window, and not for big enough fees to warrant holding out for so long. Time will tell of course but that is my suspicion of how the window is going to turn out
Whilst I agree. Part of me does think that many of these players will hold their value late I to the window - I don't think we'll be panic selling. JWP a great example of someone a Fulham or West Ham will see as a plug and play option if they still need a starter come the end of August. And a fast start to the season is what we need above anything - its vital for relegated teams. If we get to play JWP, Lavia, Tino etc for a month before they dissappear it needn't be a bad thing. (I know replacing them etc etc just making the point) Leeds, for example, will be starting the season with a very different starting 11 to that that of last season.
I agree they will still be sought after, but “holding their value” all depends on what you think their value is. Is JWP the £40-50m player we supposedly want for him, or closer to the £20-£25m that teams supposedly are bidding for him. Is Livramento really a £40m+ player? Lavia £50m? Etc The closer we get to the end of the window it will be interesting to see who blinks first on these players (and probably some others aswell). Will teams get closer to our valuation or stick to their guns, will the players start getting twitchy when we get into the last week or so of the window and start asking wtf Saints are asking for double what any team is willing to pay for them and start throwing toys out the pram. As I said time will tell but my suspicion is we will end up losing a decent chunk of our better players and not for fees big enough to warrant not just selling them in early July and reinvesting earlier. Even if we do get the big fees we are demanding and teams buckle to our demands. It still leaves us with losing a player later on in the window and not having much time to sign/bed in the replacement. The best outcome by asking for these big fees is we keep the player and they don’t kick off about staying
Did I mention that Salisu’s nickname at Saints behind the scenes from fellow players (and some staff) was Mr Hardworkingman… make of that what you will
I think it is all down to whether our strategy pays off. If we end up keeping JWP/KWP and others because we didn't get suitable offers, I'd say it was Saints by far! If we end up selling them cheap or late in the window and struggling to replace them, then Leicester will have made the right call. Just have to wait and see!
Also depends on who we lose, when and the replacements (which I know goes without saying). But say we are talking about Livramento not KWP. Unless we sell both we have the other and Bree who has got used to the systems. For Lavia there is Charles. Ward Prowse I assume Smallbone. I’m not sure there are many parts where a new signings absolutely has to be thrown in straight away. Maybe central striker And then if we bring in players who played under Martin or are able to identify those we think can easily adapt that will help. I’d expect Piroe, Downes or Grimes could step straight in. But whether we’d be able to get any of them is another matter. I gather there was some tension about us getting Martin but I missed the details as I was busy at the time and not following the boards / story
700m euro contract... for just a one-year deal, meaning he can have his free transfer to Real Madrid in 2024 **** the bed.
This was coming. Doesn’t surprise me at all. He’ll probably go as well. Real cat amongst the pigeons. That or Neymar will go
Surely he’d want another year like that! Was about to include in my reply that it would be an easier path to Real as well
Truly outrageous if true. Be interesting to see what Mbappe would want to do considering he only has 1 year left on his contract. I wonder whether PSG would freeze him out if he decided to see out his contract. Mbappe has made no secret of his desire to go to Real Madrid.
