The question on everyones lips is what is the club going to do in the transfer market.

Firstly the difficulty in predicting what Saints do in the transfer window is dictated by whether Saints reap a large windfall by selling Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain or dont, firstly lets assume that they dont.

If Saints keep Oxo then it will be a boost in many ways to a promotion push, but it will only be a meaninful boost if the Club invests in players in key positions to back up a promotion push, so how much might they have in their pockets.

A look at the increase in prices shows that prices have gone up across the board by a third, of course its difficult to work out eactly how much extra revenue that might bring in because not every ticket costs the same, if we took a rough guess and said that on average 22,000 people per game would pay £4 more per game that would bring in about £88k  x 23 = £2 million give or take a few quid.

At a very basic level that would provide Saints with just about enough to make one decent signing, so anything above that figure would have to be funded by the owners, we would then get a very good idea as to how comitted both they and Nicola Cortese are to the club, I think most Saints fans would agree that just to finish in the top half of the table Saints would need to consider spending at least £5 million.

If Oxo should be sold however that would bring in at least £10 million, although some of that would be payable in installments, the fact is most transfers are so we would be able to buy in on a similar deal, the question though would be what is the guaranteed transfer value and what is reliant on appearances etc, we should only spend the guaranteed figure rather than gamble as to if and when he would reach appearance targets.

If he was sold for £10 million then most would expect to see that spent and more, this is where we would really see the commitment or not of the owners to the cause, at least the increased ticket revenue added to the transfer figure giving a minimul of £12 million to spend, if not now definately over the next 12 months.

If all of that was spent now though I would say it would give Saints a massive boost in the hunt for promotion, £12 million could buy around 5-6 very good proven Championship quality players in the key positions we need and to be blunt we do need those positions filling, rrors in these key positions made last season much harder than it should have beenm football is a harsh game, if we want promotion then we have to be harsh.  

So in conclusion how much Saints have all depends on Chamberlain, but sold or staying Saints fans will want to see that the owners are now prepared to make significant investment of their own if they are serious about the so called five year plan and a return to the premiership.   

Photo: Action Images

Kiwifiedpom added 11:44 - Jun 27 As uaual, Nick you are making presumptions. How do you know for sure which player will make the grade in the higher level. OK, I admit there will be some but who? Do you have a Crystal Ball? I maintain that the third option will be that this season will be one of consolidation. If we do well and reach the playoffs or even do a Norwich all that will be a bonus.
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simmo400 added 12:50 - Jun 27 Saints need a striker and a Midfielder. This will depend whos availible and who wants to come here. If oxo goes we should spend all the cash on these two positions.
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legod7 added 13:20 - Jun 27 It's o.k us all identifying players who WE think we should sign.It's common knowledge that most Saints supporters think like simmo400 we need a striker and midfielder. It's another thing NA identifying positions HE thinks need strengthening. But ,once identified ,the hardest thing about the close season is does the player actually want to come here and fight for a place. The only position up for grabs would be right midfield if Alex goes.Only Gobern has left Saints so far. Last season we had Bart , Richardson, Dickson, Martin,Seabourne, Puncheon and Connelly not getting many games.Would any player want to come here and fight for a place. Any player coming in would have to be of a high enough profile that he would be virtually guaranteed a starting place every week.

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SaintNick added 15:53 - Jun 27 football is all about presumptions, ther eis nothing in football that can be certain. I dont have a crystal ball but i can see areas that need strengthening whether its a season of promotion challenging or otherwise. The problem Saints have is can they afford a season of consolidation, will they be in a stronger position in a years time, or is this the time to go for it now

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Kiwifiedpom added 22:08 - Jun 27 I agree with you that nothing is certain in football and that if Chamberlain goes we will need a replacement. I'm sure that Adkins and Cortese are aware of that situation more than we. Either way we can't lose so far as Chamberlain is concerned. As far as the rest of the squad is concerned I think, until proved otherwise they have to have their chance, they've earnt it. I'm sure each member of the squad will have, or have had an interview as to where they stand for the new season. But there is nothing so demoralising for a squad than to suggest that some of them might be replaced. On the subject of consolidation, we will have to agree to disagree. I accept that Football is changing and that the goal posts are continually shifting, but within those parameters I think we do have time otherwise we will become a yo-yo club. But at the end of the day we can only speculate and Adkins and Cortese between them will have the final say

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st_bangkok added 03:00 - Jun 28 The more i think about it the more i think really we may only need one midfielder and maybe one striker, but then with Connolly fit, Lambert and Barnard (if he stays out of stir) at least 2 of those three i think will make the grade if not all of them. The only area that worries me, from the limited number of live games i saw on internet etc last season is Hammond. But then i even think there that Chaplow and Morgan make a great pairing so perhaps we do not need much there either, just back up.

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