Premier League transfer deadline day LIVE blog – Can Southampton get any last-minute business done?
By Marc Walker
Welcome to Saints Marching’s Live blog on transfer deadline day, where Premier League clubs will be scrambling about trying to get their last-minute deals done.
It remains to be seen whether Southampton will be able to get any business through, but some early links have shown that they are still potentially dealing in the market.
Ralph Hasenhuttl would clearly like to bring in a centre-back today if possible, but that would be dependent on the club shipping out fringe players from the likes of Charlie Austin, Mario Lemina or Guido Carrillo.
As well as the most important news involving Saints, we will be bringing you the biggest news from what is sure to be a hectic day in the English top-flight.
Keep checking ours updates down below as the day progresses!
5:48pm – Saints get deal sheet in as they try to complete a deal!
Daily Echo reporter Adam Leitch is reporting that Saints are trying to get a last-minute deal over the line.
Sky Sports are reporting that the player they are trying to sign is 20-year-old defender Kevin Danso from Augsburg.
Deal sheet has been submitted by #SaintsFC #DeadlineDay
— Adam Leitch (@adamleitchsport) August 8, 2019
4:38pm – Austin completes West Brom move for reported £4m
Charlie Austin has finally secured his move away from Saints with a £4m move to Championship side West Brom.
He signs a two-year deal at the Hawthorns and the sale potentially opens possibilities for a late signing for Saints themselves.
Austin scored 28 goals in 81 appearances for the club.
Read more about this piece of business here: https://saintsmarching.com/2019/08/08/southampton-charlie-austin-completes-move-west-brom/
#SaintsFC can confirm that @chazaustin10 has today completed a permanent transfer to #WBA: https://t.co/09dcUYhvr0
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) August 8, 2019
1:24pm – Middlesbrough reportedly make bid for Elyounoussi
According to Norwegian journalist Arilas Ould-Saada, Championship outfit Middlesbrough have registered their interest in Saints winger Mohamed Elyounoussi.
The Norwegian could be set for a move away from St Mary’s this summer after a disappointing first season in the Premier League.
He failed to score or assist in 19 appearances in 2018/19, and was recently linked to both Besiktas and Stoke City.
Nathan Redmond, Moussa Djenepo and Sofiane Boufal are all now ahead of him in the pecking order in Ralph Hasenhuttl’s squad.
Får opplyst at Middlesbrough har lagt inn et konkret bud til Southampton på Mohamed Elyounoussi i dag. Her kan det skje ting. @vgsporten @SouthamptonFC @Boro
— Arilas Ould-Saada (@arilasos) August 8, 2019
1:19pm – That’s a lot of links!
A transfer window is always full of many, many reports linking players to clubs, but some aren’t always as reliable as others.
Take a look at our compilation of all the players that have been linked to Saints this summer, and the reports that have linked Saints players with moves away here: https://saintsmarching.com/2019/07/07/southampton-premier-league-all-summer-transfer-rumour-updates-involving-saints/
1:02pm – Our contributors’ views on Saints’ window to date
Read the thoughts of three of our contributors on Southampton’s summer to date!
They answer four questions, and these are: Which areas of the squad still need to be strengthened? Which player would be an ideal signing for Saints today? A rating for the window overall and their views on who has been Saints’ best ever deadline day signing!
Alastair Case: https://saintsmarching.com/2019/08/07/southampton-saints-marchings-summer-transfer-window-roundtable-alastair-case/
Harry Tizard: https://saintsmarching.com/2019/08/08/southampton-saints-marchings-summer-transfer-window-roundtable-harry-tizard/
11:36am – Round-up of other Premier League news
BBC journalist David Ornstein is reporting that Spurs’ ambitious move to sign Paulo Dybala from Juventus is off, whilst Arsenal have secured an £8m deal for Chelsea defender David Luiz.
Sky Sports are reporting that Romelu Lukaku is close to completing a £77m move from Manchester United to Inter Milan.
Despite potentially losing out on Dybala, Spurs are reportedly close to signing Real Betis midfielder Giovani Lo Celso according to Sky Sports.
Leicester City look likely to bring in Dennis Praet from Sampdoria, according to Sky Sports.
11:10am (UK time) – Lemina could move to Roma or Sevilla
There are a number of journalists who seem to have great ties with Saints and Sam Wallace is one of them.
Earlier this morning, he reported on the breaking Redmond contract news and also gave an update on Mario Lemina’s situation.
Via the Telegraph’s Live blog (10:03am), Wallace said that a move to Europe is now more likely, with Roma and Sevilla mentioned as showing an interest. The window for European sides ends on 2nd September.
Lemina was subject of interest recently from Wolves, whilst Arsenal and Manchester United were linked earlier in the window.
10:57am (UK time) – Reed set for another Championship loan?
Southampton midfielder Harrison Reed has been part of Ralph Hasenhuttl’s pre-season plans but he could be another player to leave the club on loan today.
Journalist Graeme Bailey is reporting that a number of second-tier clubs are interested in the 24-year-old, but that Fulham are currently in pole position to bring him in.
After some promising early showing when breaking through as a Saints player, Reed has found it difficult to prove his worth as a first-team regular at St Mary’s.
Loan spells with Norwich City and Blackburn Rovers showed his worth in recent years but it appears that Ralph Hasenhuttl may not be convinced.
It remains to be seen whether his potential move will be a loan or a permanent deal, but it could be time for him to move on to a team that will make him a regular starter.
Southampton's Harrison Reed is set for a move to the Championship - hearing Fulham are leading the chase, but others are keen.
— Graeme Bailey (@GraemeBailey) August 8, 2019
10:33am (UK time) – Austin to sign permanent deal with Baggies
According to respected Telegraph journalist Jason Burt, Charlie Austin with sign a permanent deal with West Brom today.
This could be vital for Saints as they look to do their own business. Transfer funds coming in and some of the wage bill freed up.
Austin was frozen out of plans for this season by Ralph Hasenhuttl and has angered some Saints fans on Twitter this summer with some controversial posts.
In his Saints career to date, he has scored 20 goals in 81 appearances and could still be a good goalscorer should he secure a move to the Championship today.
Charlie Austin on his way to West Brom from Southampton to sign on a permanent deal. West Brom also getting two more players today....
— Jason Burt (@JBurtTelegraph) August 8, 2019
10am (UK time) – BREAKING: Nathan Redmond signs new four-year deal!
Now that is a top deadline day signing!
More from Saints Marching
- Grading the Southampton Transfer Window Part 2: Arrivals
- Grading the Southampton Transfer Window Part 1: Departures
- It’s time to talk about Gavin Bazunu
- Rain clouds on the horizon? Southampton beat Plymouth Argyle
- A lament for Southampton legend James Ward-Prowse
Nathan Redmond – the main man under Ralph last season – has signed a new four-year deal to keep him at the club until 2023.
The 25-year-old ended the 2018/19 campaign with nine goals and six assists and really benefited from a boost in belief and change in position after January.
With his confidence high again this year, who know the levels he could reach.
💫 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣3️⃣ 💫#SaintsFC's @NathanRedmond22 has signed a new four-year contract with the club! pic.twitter.com/4Dbahxjinf
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) August 8, 2019
9.46am (UK time) – Sims moves out to New York Red Bulls
One bit of Southampton news that became official last night was Josh Sims’ loan move to MLS side New York Red Bulls.
He joins them on a loan deal until the end of December, which will be after the end of the current MLS season.
With other players like Moussa Djenepo, Nathan Redmond and the returning Sofiane Boufal ahead of him in the pecking order, Sims now gets a chance to impress and prove his worth to Saints once he returns midway through the campaign.
His pace and direct running were useful for Ralph Hasenhuttl last season, and he had a great impact in games against Spurs and Wolves.
Winger @simsjosh12 has agreed to join @NewYorkRedBulls on loan after signing a one-year contract extension with #SaintsFC: https://t.co/rNTjJdJ3nv
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) August 7, 2019
9:34am (UK time) – Austin out the door today?
Early reports this morning have linked Charlie Austin with both West Brom and Bristol City.
Sky Sports (Live blog, 8:23am) are saying that the striker was in talks with the Baggies over a move to the Hawthorns, whilst Football Insider indicated that it was the Robins who were in the race to secure his signature before 5pm this evening.
Getting the 30-year-old out today could be vital in allowing Saints to bring in the cntre-back that they want.
No recent links have been made to central defenders, but right-back Kyle Walker-Peters was linked yesterday. A full-back is probably second on the list of priorities for Hasenhuttl, but a pursuit of the Spurs man would be strange with Yan Valery and Cedric available and playing big parts in pre-season.
Spurs only have Walker-Peters and Serge Aurier to call upon at right-back currently after the sale of Kieran Trippier to Atletico Madrid.