16 Feb 2026 07:09:29
Could we have up to 50m to play with this summer?
ABK and Edwards sales covered a year 2 parachute payment loss. Arma left for 7m, if Baz, Archer, Smallbone, Diaz, Sugawara and Downs go for similar that lands 50m (+ Larios), without selling the family jewels like Rambo, THB, Scienza and Charles.
25m to boost attack, 25m for defence, 2 smart loans and we could mount a good push next year, whatever happens now.
17 Feb 2026 21:44:53
I think the following is realistic, freeing up both fees and wages
McCarthy (free)
Ramsdale will want another PL gig. Maybe whoever goes up will buy him for £18m
One of Downes (£12m) and THB (£15m) I could see going to Coventry. Just feels like a good fit
Archer (£5m)
Edozie? Depends how he finishes the season, maybe £4m
Aribo (free but frees up wages)
Larios (£2m)
Smallbone (£7m)
Sugawara (£5m)
Brereton (£10m if he stays in form)
Taylor (free)
Bazunu (£7m)
Downs (£6m)
That’s wildly optimistic and totals about £75m, but sees two of our top players going. It also sees almost all of the aforementioned going for a net loss over the course of their contract which shows the mess we’ve been put in.
It would also leave about 9 spots in the squad for incomings - assuming we buy players on less extortionate wages maybe we can put a good chunk of that £75m back into the club.
In terms of incomings;
Resign Bree, Stewart, sign Peretz and Larin permanently (£5m and £8m? No idea if we have obligation fees or what they are)
That leaves five further spaces with a good £40m as a conservative estimate.
I think one has to look objectively and say how could £15-18m be better spent, on keeping Harwood-Bellis, or selling him and buying three players. I think it’s the latter, and the same applies to Ramsdale. There’s also the risk of Jander going, which would be at a significant markup that we could reinvest.
So we’d need a back up keeper, a CB, a midfielder and an attacker. That doesn’t feel too ridiculous an ask. Again, it relies on sensible sales and recruitment which simply won’t happen.
But I think it would put us in a good place with a best XI of Peretz, Bree, new CB, Wood/Quarshie, Welington/Manning, Charles, new mid/Jander, Azaz, Scienza, Fellows/new attacker, Stewart/Larin. Plus a decent bench with good competition.
Having said all of that. We’ll instead go and buy a Ligue 2 17 year old for £20m bc it helps out our sister club and end next season in 14th.
18 Feb 2026 13:45:53
Smallbone is out of contract at the end of the season so Saints unfortunately get no fee.
I think Downs BBD Larios and Archer will go for lower fees but all have sell on clauses in their contracts. The rest all pretty much makes sense.
Bree and Stewart must be retained and Edozie reintroduced permanently to the squad.
I have heard that Mallorca are desperate to get Larins 4 million euro salary off their books so don’t be surprised if he was a free or very small fee.
Not sure Saints will sign Peretz, that one will be interesting.
The remainder of this and next seasons are very important to Robinson and Digiba, both could become top quality players. Bragg and Williams could also come into the long term picture.
18 Feb 2026 23:05:17
Shame about Smallbone but made up for by that info on Larin.
Hoping we do properly get an academy line into the squad again, Robinson started the season well but hasn’t been seen as much recently, but that FA cup win showed there’s promise there.
I honestly don’t know what to expect from our keepers. We could well have none at one point in July but Perera has been solid without being a disaster or a world beater and if he’s cheap then that’ll be fine by me. Absolutely amazed we never went in for Patterson. Maybe we could go Johnstone once Wolves are down?
20 Feb 2026 13:53:25
The most important figure is the 30 million shaved off salaries compared to last season and allowing that all our loan players return to the club and Larin/ Elart return to their clubs.
If all our loan players are sold then the wage savings jumps to 70 million including national insurance, then the transfer fees received can all be spent on new playing staff.
24 Feb 2026 06:22:04
Thanks for the info.
With the emergence of Bragg, I can see Jander, Charles or Downes going and THB or Rambo will probably go, so there could be quite a treasure chest. Hope we can keep Fellows, Scienza and Charles for next year.
