Who Could Stay Or Go At St Mary's In The Last two Weeks Of The Transfer Window
Tuesday, 19th Aug 2025 10:16

The summer transfer window will slam shut at 7pm on Monday September 1st, but who will be still at Southampton FC and who will be at a new club by then, we take a look at who may stay or go.

This summers window is complicated in that it will end just as players will be leaving their clubs to join up with their countries for International duty, although most of the World Cup qualifying games don't start until Thursday 4th September.

So International coaches will not be pleased to see that some of their players may be distracted and unable to join up with the squad until the Tuesday at the earliest as they have medicals etc.

But who are in line to leave St Mary's and who will end up staying.

The biggest name in the media is Tyler Dibling and a few weeks ago it looked odds on that he would leave for Everton, but the Toffee's failed to match Saints valuation and now after signing Jack Grealish on loan and with a plethora of other wide men, it looks like Dibling may stay unless Newcastle throw their financial muscle Saints way and before that happens they may need to sell Alexander Isak and that could be a problem.

So after being integrated back into the first team squad and featuring off the bench against Ipswich on Sunday, the chances of Dibling still being here have increased, two weeks ago you would have put the chances of him going at 75/25, now the chances of him staying are probably around that figure.

Matteus Fernandes is the second jewel in Southampton's crown, although most Saints supporters would see him as a more influential player than Dibling, West Ham are still hovering and having already had a bid turned down which was short of Saints valuation, they will have to significantly increase their offer.

Fernandes is said to be open to a move to a Premier League club, although he is also relaxed about staying at St Mary's if a move does not materialise, the club would seem to prefer to keep him and have priced him to put of potential suitors, but as the window nears it's end those suitors might get desperate and up the ante.

Chances of him staying are probably 50/50, but if he does go, then the money raked in will give Saints substantial buying power for a replacement.

It's all been quiet on Taylor Harwood-Bellis at the moment, possibly because of his fitness situation, but his recent return to first team action in the past week may stimulate interest in the final week of the window as those Premier League clubs who have suddenly realised that they may be in a relegation battle seek to shore up their defence.

Again Saints are in no hurry to sell, but if they receive bids in excess of £25 million they may well see that as good business given the number of central defenders on the books, chances of staying are 60/ 40 I would say at the moment.

If THB does stay then a surprise departure may be Nathan Wood, proven at Championship level, he will not be happy being 5th choice central defender as he is at present and if Will Still signs a few wingers and decides to go with a flat back four then his chances of even getting on the bench will be slim.

So I would not rule out Wood leaving in the next couple of weeks and Saints recouping the £3.5 million they paid for him, plus a decent profit.

His chances of staying are around 50/50

Will Smallbone has been the brunt of some criticism from sections of the crowd, but he was a vital part of our promotion squad and we are short in the centre of the midfield, so I would expect him to stay.

Chances of staying 80/20

Joe Aribo is in the last year of his contract and has been training away from the first team squad, given that he will walk for free in a year's time, Saints will look to re coup something for him now, Saints paid around £7 million to sign him from Rangers and we have got good value for money from him over 4 seasons, now we will look to get back £4-5 million and put it in the transfer kitty.

Chance of staying 25/75

Sam Edozie is another who has been training away from the first team squad and it is said he is weighing up offers from Strasbourg in France and Belgium's Club Brugge, Will Still is short of out and out wingers at present, but it seems that either he does not want to keep Edozie or the player himself wants a fresh start.

He was signed for £8 million and we should get at least that back and maybe a little more.

Chances of Staying 10/90

Armel Bella-Kotchap is also up for sale, in fact he has been on the market for 2 years, he was not used much last season despite being fit and is probably the most talented central defender that we have on the books.

We signed him for £10.5 million, but his value has dropped, now it is about £8 million, but with a year left on his contract we will struggle to sell him on a permanent basis.

Chances of staying 10/90, but will move on a season long loan, not a permanent deal.

Yuki Sugawara initially looked a bargain when he joined the club a year ago for about £6 million, but he has struggled to adapt to football in England or at least the way the four managers he has played under in that time want to play it.

He could be a surprise departure and given the bargain price that Saints paid due to his contract status at AZ Alkmaar last summer, we could make a profit on the deal, this one is under the radar at present, but I would not be surprised if it happened and Saints brought in a new right back.

Chances of staying 60/40

Dom Ballard has been touted by some as the answer to Saints scoring problem, mainly due to his scoring a goal at Cambridge United 3 years ago in the Carabao Cup, he has spent the last two years on loan at Reading, where he suffered a season ending injury after scoring 3 goals in 10 games in League One and then the following season at Blackpool who ended his loan spell in January after falling out of favour and then at Cambridge where he fared little better.

With his contract up at the end of the season it is likely that Saints are open to offers, Leyton Orient, Plymouth and Barnsley in League One have been linked and I would expect that he may well be playing for one of them for the next 8 months or so, his current market value is about £400k, I think we might well take that if offered, if no one weighs in then I would expect him to see out his contract on loan somewhere.

Chances of staying 00/100

So with two weeks of the transfer window, Saints have 10 players who could potentially leave the club before the transfer window shuts, in truth we would be happy to see perhaps 6 of them leave and be prepared to lose perhaps another 2 if the price was right that it could not be turned down, out of the 10 perhaps only 3 would go to Premier League clubs, Dibling, Fernandes & Harwood-Bellis

But the reality is that if all 10 left then we could cope in the Championship and with some key new faces in the squad coming in we could still be in the mix for automatic promotion.

If you asked most Southampton fans who they would want to stay should we only be able to keep one of them, 99.9% would say Matteus Fernandes.

All Photos Via Reuters



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redwight added 10:45 - Aug 19
In the words of the song, you took the words right out of my mouth.
1

saintmark1976 added 11:37 - Aug 19
Nick, your very comprehensive review appears to contain an assumption that if some or indeed all of those mentioned leave at least part of the transfer fees obtained will be reinvested in players.

My own view is Sports Republic may just as likely say to Still “ The remaining squad is big enough and talented enough so you get us promoted with what you’ve got and we will keep the money raised “.

If that were to be the case the we will finish mid table at best.

Interesting times ahead.
2

Bowlercow added 11:40 - Aug 19
Of that lot I would keep THB,Fernandez and Ballard Letting Dom go is a massive mistake that will one day bite us on the bum
4

SaintNick added 12:21 - Aug 19
SaintMark, we will have to see what port republic do next, but better to wait until the window is closed before making bold predictions, now you may be able to say "I told you so" but if you cant as we have spent money then you will have egg on your face.

Sport republic have made many mistakes over the past few years, but one thing they have done is spend money, not always wisely but they have spent it.

Bowlercow, It always surprises me the faith that some Saints fans have in Ballard, given that his total playing time for Saints is 2 games in the Premier League as a sub totalling 24 minutes, 1 appearance in the FA Cup totalling 4 minutes and 1 - 15 minute sub appearance in the League cup where he scored a goal.

He has been out on loan last year but never really shone in League one.

At 20 he needs to be playing football, he isn't getting it here in the coming season, so out on loan, I hope it does come up to bite us, I wish him well
3

kenchilds70 added 12:31 - Aug 19
In my lowly opinion I think SR should have a fixed price for anyone who wishes to leave or we want gone. If the buying club cant/wont pay, stick a 33% sell on fee instead. Could make some dosh for the future. Just saying
1

saintmark1976 added 14:04 - Aug 19
Nick,

1. My comment wasn’t a “ bold prediction “, indeed how could it be read as such when it clearly contains the words “ may just as likely” ?

2. As for your comment “ better to wait until the window is closed before making bold predictions“.

Once the window is closed, then who has gone and who has come in and how much has been spent, is obviously a statement of fact rather than opinion is it not ?

Put simply you can’t make a prediction about something that has already happened.

3. Having said the above I’m 100% on side with the content of your second paragraph. Particularly given that you acknowledge that responsibility rests squarely with Sports Republic rather than the individual people they employ in the recruitment department.

0

SaintPaulVW added 17:15 - Aug 19
Think I would rather hang on to Wood and lose THB. Not performed well for ages.

1

Colburn added 17:23 - Aug 19
Of course SR will reinvest some up to the point where there is balance. We can lose 5 and replace with 3 on better wages, maybe better players.
I think Dibling will go, Palace are also interested and Edozie, Aribo and ketchup will go too. I would sell Sugawara and THB too as they will bring in enough cash to replace with better imho.. I just hope we keep Fernandes and Robinson as they are key.
We need a new right back, a striker and two attacking mids/wingers.
We’ve got to send a few out on loan like Diaz and maybe Armstrong. I would keep Smallbone for this season tbh, good man to bring on in second half.
1

SanMarco added 21:28 - Aug 19
Fernandes is the one we need to keep. Dibling is too light-weight for this division and I would pick Robinson ahead of him. I agree with Nick in his spat with saintmark. SR do spend money - it's how they spend it that's the issue!

The other key thing is to sell the big money people in time to be able to spend the proceeds before the window - altogether now - SLAMS SHUT...
1

Monksway added 21:48 - Aug 19
I'm inclined to agree with SaintMark. Relegation comes with a cost. Last time we made £15O million in player sales and brought in loans to balance the books. It's the price of failure and last year was an abject failure. I'm sure some money will be reinvested but if Crystal Palace and West Ham come close to our asking price then Dibling and Fernandes will go.
2

bartley41 added 17:35 - Aug 20
Sorry not connected with topic listed, but very, very interesting comments in Scottish press about Rangers new Manager after they conceded three goals in first thirty minutes last night. Martin has upset the Fans with his style of play and may not last till Christmas!
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