Southampton's smart transfer deals

[the coming of gary]

".. Saints have bought both England under 21 centre halves .. Taylor Harwood Bellis, (Man City), and Ronnie Edwards (Peterborough). Total £ 24 million . Will stay up and double their value. I can see Leicester staying up too. Got promoted with very good players. Could be a surprise relegation somewhere. ."

[w4hammer]

"they are looking to offload kyle walker-peters, to us . I think he's a massive meeeeh - ryan fredericks mk 2, for £20 M with a season left on his contract and will be buying a right back from santos for errrrr £20 million Cant help thinking thhis is a very west ham kind of deal ie backhanders everywhere"

[Russ of the BML]

Fauxstralian 12:05 Fri Jul 26 Noted. Fair point.

[Fauxstralian]

The deal with Southampton was a season loan with an OBLIGATION to buy for £20m if Southampton were promoted Sounds like Pep had virtually given up on him and obviously the promotion requirement was because Southampton couldnt afford £20m if they were in the Championship for another season

[Russ of the BML]

"ludo21 9:45 Fri Jul 26 Well, the fact City didn't sell him to us and sent him out on loan obviously tells you Pep held some hope for him. He obviously needed to smash it at Soton for Pep to consider a recall. But anyway, that's by the by, as you say still a good signing for them."

[Fauxstralian]

Burnley is probably a good comparison Looked at their squad list and like Ipswich they look to be making a big jump to compete against PL teams Think Leicester have more of a group of PL players but is Vardy still going to able to do it at 37 ..... 3 goals in 37 PL appearances 2 years ago

[goose]

I can see them being next years Burnley. Neat & tidy but not cutting edge and will give the ball away in bad positions.

[Eerie Descent]

"Harwood-Bellis hasn't played a single minute of Premier League football, apparently. Ronnie Edwards has actually played in the Championship, was relegated from it 2 years ago. The things you learn. We've missed out big time here."

[ludo21]

THB spent last season on loan at Southampton and there was an obligation to buy if they got promoted so Pep can’t have been very desperate to keep him… not to say that he’s still a good signing for them.

[Russ of the BML]

"We got heavily linked to THB last season. Very good player. Almost got it over the line until City went cold on it and kept him. Maybe Pep was thinking he may develop into a starter for this season but hasn't quite got there? But yes, agree with OP. Good signings."

[Nagel]

England's first choice Under 21 centre halves in 2016 were Dominic Iorfa and Kortney Hause. Just saying. You look back at the last 10-12 years of Under 21 regulars and I expect not much more than half of them will be regularly playing in the top flight now. It's no guarantee of a successful career.

[Lee Trundle]

"Ironically, Guilherme is probably the most RED BULL model player we've ever bought."

[Eerie Descent]

"Shows how much I follow the Championship. So that's a Championship centre half, and a Division 1 centre half. Blinding. Would be quite something to witness the meltdown on here if that was our business this summer. Are we following the Red Bull model? Who said that? Weren't it groundskeeper Willie, and we took the piss out of him for it? I know it'll be time to make hay for some of you if we have a bad season, but I hope you'll enjoy it if it's a really good one. After the last 2 years, I'm really struggling to understand how any West Ham fan can't find it in themselves to look forward to a new manager, back the new signings, and a not have to watch the worst football in the league. Each to their own though."

[Lee Trundle]

Jaan Kenbrovin 8:23 Thu Jul 25 Didn't the Red Bull model go out of the window when Moyes left?

[ludo21]

I hate Southampton but they have bought well and have shown some gumption in the transfer market so I hope they are rewarded. I have a funny feeling Fulham will struggle. I don't think that Smith Rowe will be up for a relegation fight and unless they replace Paulinho well they could be in trouble.

[Jaan Kenbrovin]

Far more in touch with the Red Bull model we supposedly were meant to be following. We’ll probably be in for them for 3 times that if they have a modicum of success next season.

[Lee Trundle]

Harwood Bellis got promoted last season. If he finished midtable next season then he could easily be worth double that.

[Eerie Descent]

"A centre back who got relegated last season, and another who hasn't even played in the Championship. Everyone else must be quaking in their boots."

[daveyg]

I love the look of Harwood Bellis.won the U21 Euro's last year and won promotion. he's a fine center back and built to take on PL forwards.I'm afraid Caset is to light weight currently.To skinny and a bean pole. Needs a season out on loan unless he has an amazing pre-season. Both ipswich and Southampton have signed well but needed too.

[Gary Strodders shank]

I've got a couple of saints mates who never fancied them to go up in the first place and now think they will go straight down. An easy three points on boxing day then.

[Fauxstralian]

Not sure they will stay up but the two centre halves and Downes is longer term thinking if they DO go down These teams need to buy promising young types for the future ... or possibly develop and sell at a profit Was hoping we would go for Edwards ... lets see how he turns out Not sure if Southampton will score enough goals. I see Che Adams has gone to Torino

[Takashi Miike]

"I wouldn't say they're guaranteed to stay up, but yes, it must be nice for a manager to target who he wants without the player having to be tied to an agent with connections to our fucking dwarf owner"

[Takashi Miike]

"I wouldn't say they're guaranteed to stay up, but yes, it must be nice for a manager to target who he wants without the player having to be tied to an agent with connections to our fucking dwarf owner"

[Side of Ham]

I'm hoping none of this shit will be relevant to West Ham United's upcoming campaign......

[Manuel]

"Yea interesting, there seem to be an opinion out there that the tractor boys will stay up too. forest will go I reckon."

[Lee Trundle]

£40m for England's 10th choice centre back. *winces*