Would require a formation change as I would be nervous about having our two “6’s” as JWP and Svanberg based on what I have read I’m not sure Ralph will do that but you never know
I’d be quite happy with Lokonga on loan, can see it working out like the KWP deal We have 2 loan slots and I guess we’d want them to be used on either a number 10/striker/CM
Plus if we are thinking we are still looking for 1 x FB 1 x CB (assuming at least one leaves) 1 x CM ? x AM (at least 1 but possibly up to 3 depending on departures) 2 x ST And we’ve already spent £20m roughly we aren’t going to cover all those bases with perm signings. We aren’t going to cover all those bases in one window you’d suspect so am happy with them to utilise the loan market in anyway they see fit. They’ve not exactly been bad with the loanees in recent years
I very much hope we will be using both loan slots this year. Mainly for the reasons you mention - can’t stretch the budget with permanent signings The rumours suggested we wanted to use a loan for the right back especially is that should hopefully only be temporary. It really wouldn’t make sense to add another permanently to the books unless it is another promising option because we really expect Tino to go next summer. But that assumes a lot - timely return from injury and picking form right back up Also in the positions where we need multiple signings - striker and 10 (arguably) the fees tend to be higher. So multiple permanent options seem less likely there We will wait and see. Hopefully the list is that long as some restructuring really is needed. Is your 1 x CM not including Svanberg? I too would like to see another CB. That Richards link was interesting in that I read he can cover both full back roles. I also read at least one person suggest they thought he would struggle in a back four
Immense in both senses of the word You have to imagine Brighton would beat us if he isn’t going to an elite club. Depressing to say of course. Unless there really are more funds that we realise A Spurs move would be daft for him unless man United have lost their minds and pay stupid money for Kane. And even then he probably wouldn’t go
No I think it will just be 1 CM total, unless one of the others leave. I’m not completely giving up on Diallo either, think he can be a good player for us. Having spoken to a few Swedish guys on my recent trip away I’m not fussed about Svanberg signing or not. They were all very surprised he was being linked to the PL and thought lower Serie A was about his level. Although they did also say that he looked very promising when he was a teenager and the next big hope for Sweden so maybe he just hasn’t panned out as they expected and that equals him being **** in their eyes
That would nice but this is Saints remember. I think we have enough players to cover the back line but yes, Chris Richards please if Bedders is off to US as rumoured. One creative midfielder with an attacking mind would also be useful. As for the strikers, I think we have two decent strikers in Adams and Adam Armstrong and if they get a run of games together they will improve (and assuming the coaching team recognise their strengths and get the team to play to them!). That said, I would be delighted to sign someone who we can rely on to get a goal every 150 minutes for less. The Polish guy (see above) would be an amazing signing!
This guys is apparently linked to Bayern, Man United, Chelsea and Spurs. So I’d assume no chance I assume we are showing an interest in much the same way as I would show an interest in Margot Robbie or Gal Gadot
I’d still like to see us try 4–3-3 instead of 4-4-2 all the time. It would suit the players we have IMO. Diallo Romeu JWP is a solid midfield 3.
But it would also rule out the suggestion it is wage related since they only have one player earning more than Redmond apparently does here Unless it is one of those bizarre situations where he will play in france for X per week but for the premier league It would have to be 1.5X or something (seems to happen with transfer fees a lot )
Our valuation of JWP is £75m apparently. Southampton have attempted to deter interest from Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham and West Ham in 27-year-old England midfielder James Ward-Prowse with a £75m valuation. (Give Me Sport)
Fair enough from our end, only side I could see going for that is Newcastle, the ‘big 6’ will probably have preferable options to JWP at that price.
Agreed. Spurs apparently don’t need a CM - hence shifting Winks. They have added Bissouma and now have 4 in that role - Hoj, Skipp, Bentacur and Bissouma City will not bite at that price - they will go for Philips and seemingly a lower one. Man United won’t even pay that for their number one midfield target. West Ham can only afford that if they sell Rice Liverpool don’t have enough cast offs to sell for inflated fees to fund that even if they want to. And if they did they would go for Bellingham Chelsea seem well stocked there
Assuming all 3 of the current ones count then this is close to what magic said above - which would have been 8 excluding a variable number of AMs. So maybe it is 2 with: CB RB (most likely loan) CM 2 x AM 2 x ST That would look good to me. Albeit getting greedy and adding Lavia to Svanburg for 2 CMs. Unless the CB is someone who covers at right back. But it seems increasingly unlikely that there will be many CBs who can play the “modern full back” role - the much more attacking one edit: My midfield comments should be refined to suggest those 2 if either: - Diallo is moving on; or - Svanberg is being converted to a 10 in our system like Armstrong I’d only expect us to have 4 players for the “number 6” roles but would like someone who can stand in for and eventually replace Romeu. It was the only gap (at least in term of numbers) in the squad last season. And Svanberg isn’t it
