Summer transfer, gossip, speculation thread

[Steve67]

When do the players report back for training?

[aev]

What do you propose we do instead?

I think £14m for a left back that couldn’t get into a poor Southampton team and played a few games in a relegated Fulham team is a lot of money.

£180m (or whatever it is) won’t go very far and perhaps the benchmark for fees has caught up with the PL money but it does surprise me that with Pitarch we aren’t looking overseas a bit more.

I wonder what these fees will mean for our pursuit of Mings and how much he will cost?

[Tuscans]

Targett is pretty poor if you believe what they're saying on the Saints forums. Slow and out of position a lot, Championship full back at best...

[Luffbralion]

Anybody know what the Fulham fans are saying?
IIRC Targett was pretty impressive when they went up - and they were very keen to keep him.

[CT]

Targett is pretty poor if you believe what they're saying on the Saints forums. Slow and out of position a lot, Championship full back at best...

Spoke to my mate who is a ST down there, and he said.....

Hello mate. Local Eastleigh lad and a good squad player that I'm disappointed is leaving. Whips a good cross in and a really honest hard working player.

[frank black]

It’s 11 mil plus add ons.

[ronshirt]

If it's true, can I be the first to say "Welcome Matt".

Wahey! Pure feat.

[Ads]

 Now being suggested £11m plus add ons.

[AllanW]

Sigh.

We all know that more resource at Left Back is needed as Taylor is the only specialist there at the moment.
We all know Taylor may not be a complete answer to our needs in this first year back in the PL.
We all know Hause as cover is already in place.

Conclusion; We probably need to spend some money on PL-standard Left Back.

Targett has played in the PL for Southampton many times not just occasionally.
Targett has played a fullish season for Fulham in this position when they were promoted and received good reviews.
Good teams in the Championship are close in standard to those lower in the PL.

A main criticism of his playing calibre is; 'The Soton fanbase sometimes (not unanimously) describe him as not better than Bertrand'. To which I can only say 'The Villa fanbase sometimes described Hause and Mings and Tuanzebe as not good enough in the Championship for the Villa'. In all clubs there are opinions with which we can disagree.

Another criticism is that he has not become the first choice compared to Bertrand. To which I'd say 'That is far more often a decision based not solely on form or calibre by the coaching and management team'. Money, agent, wages and a host of other factors combine to make a player the first choice not just skills.

Conclusion; Our coaching staff see enough in the young player to judge that he will do a job for us this season, fit in with the current staff and players to deliver his skills best and is affordable at the moment. I'll go with their decision and see how it pans out.

The only thing we know for sure is that the fees being quoted may not be accurate so don;t worry; the team know what we can spend.

[LowerNorthStand]

Dean will know what he wants from Matt and it’s clear we need competition and quality in that left back slot. He will probably play more games than Neil and be a starter.

[Damo70]

Just to put Premier League transfer fees into perspective we bought Ashley Young in 2007 for £11,880,000.
In todays prices that would now equate to £38,448,881.

[mr underhill]

if Mings and Webster come in plus a decent DM, i wouldn't be too fussed about splashing big money on a goalkeeper in this window. I think Steer would be fine in front of Guilbert, Webster, Mings and Targett .

[SamTheMouse]

if Mings and Webster come in plus a decent DM, i wouldn't be too fussed about thingsplashing big money on a goalkeeper in this window. I think Steer would be fine in front of Guilbert, Webster, Mings and Targett .

I'd prefer him behind them, myself. ;-)

[mr underhill]

absolutely - my mistake!

[PaulWinch again]

Targett is pretty poor if you believe what they're saying on the Saints forums. Slow and out of position a lot, Championship full back at best...

Are they saying that because he’s potentially leaving now?