Free transfers

[LCFCJohn]

9 minutes ago, honeybradger said:

34 year old who managed 1000 minutes for Bristol City last season?

 

What does he bring apart from being yet another blocker for the likes of Braybrooke and Page? Let's not forget the likes of Logan briggs either. Especially given we aren't guaranteed to offload Skipp and Winks.

 

More players winding down their career and being brought in as personality hires is not how we fix the culture at this club, it can only be fixed by trusting young hungry players looking to prove themselves.

Joined in January on a short term deal and played in 20 games so the minutes in terms of Bristol City is slightly misleading without that context.

 

To be fair, for all the ‘experienced’ players we have signed, none of them are both good characters and leaders. None are leaders. It’d be a bit harsh to refer to say Skipp though as a bad character. 
 

I am also scarred from Coady particularly who was meant to be that. But Morsy did captain Ipswich from L1 to the PL and has a bit of the bastard on the pitch about him.

 

I’m done trusting our recruitment until I see them perform but Morsy seems more the type Pearson would have picked up on a free to complement a younger squad. And that is the key, someone like Morsy to replace Winks/Skipp and complement the younger lads would be good.

[kingfox]

5 minutes ago, honeybradger said:

34 year old who managed 1000 minutes for Bristol City last season?

 

What does he bring apart from being yet another blocker for the likes of Braybrooke and Page? Let's not forget the likes of Logan briggs either. Especially given we aren't guaranteed to offload Skipp and Winks.

 

More players winding down their career and being brought in as personality hires is not how we fix the culture at this club, it can only be fixed by trusting young hungry players looking to prove themselves.

I really don’t get why some fans are so against signing the odd experienced player. As I said in my previous post, yes we have mental scars over some of our more recent experienced signings, but look at our Nigel Pearson days for example and some of the names he signed. 
 

If we end up appointing Russell Martin, then throughout his career he’s signed some very decent young players, but he even signed the occasional experienced player, Cameron Jerome and Andrew Surman at MK, Joe Allen at Swansea. 
 

A lot will of course depend on departures, but at the end of the day, our leadership group in recent times has been appalling, and imo it badly needs rectifying this summer. 
 

Many players “winding down their careers” are still doing the business in League 1, take Oli Norwood for example.

 

Whether Sam Morsy or someone similar, we are going to need a couple of experienced players walking through the door whether some fans like it or not.

[Brizzle Fox]

50 minutes ago, kingfox said:

Beat me to it!
 

I know we all have mental scars with the signings of Coady, BDCR and Ayew.

 

But 2-3 experienced signings to get our leadership group right, will be extremely important this summer imo.

 

I’d take Morsy on a one year deal, option of a second, could be an ideal mentor for the likes of Braybrooke.

Looked like he was running in treacle when he played for Bristol City last season.

 

Not quick enough for even walking football these days. 

 

Makes Ayew look dynamic.

 

It's a hard no from me.

 

However I'd be interested in Mark Sykes who Bristol City have also released today.

 

Versatile and has goals and assists in him.

[Stadt]

Us not signing any frees at all so far is a sign of things to come. There is no good reason not have a few lined up to pack put the squad where we need it.

[moore_94]

I don't mind signing some experienced players, but if we did I would much prefer for them to be around 30-32 rather than someone about to turn 35

 

Ben Osborn available on a free from Derby after a season on loan at Stockport, had a very good season playing in quite a few different positions and occassionally captained them

 

From the midlands so he would probably be happy to stay local as well

[kingfox]

11 minutes ago, moore_94 said:

I don't mind signing some experienced players, but if we did I would much prefer for them to be around 30-32 rather than someone about to turn 35

 

Ben Osborn available on a free from Derby after a season on loan at Stockport, had a very good season playing in quite a few different positions and occassionally captained them

 

From the midlands so he would probably be happy to stay local as well

Fair shout. There’s a few candidates that have become free agents that would fit the bill. 
 

There’s two key things to get right this summer imo, 1. Signing young players with resale value, 2. Rectifying our leadership group.

 

We need a couple of players that are captain material, because right now, Souttar is about the only one I’d trust with the armband, if he leaves, then it will probably end up being Hamza if he stays 🤢

[Shane]

Massimo Luongo (CDM)

 

Was a big player for Ipswich a couple seasons back. Think he made the most tackles/interceptions in 23/24.

 

We’re going to need a destroyer type of midfielder to compliment Braybrooke, Page, etc.  

[moore_94]

4 minutes ago, kingfox said:

Fair shout. There’s a few candidates that have become free agents that would fit the bill. 
 

There’s two key things to get right this summer imo, 1. Signing young players with resale value, 2. Rectifying our leadership group.

 

We need a couple of players that are captain material, because right now, Souttar is about the only one I’d trust with the armband, if he leaves, then it will probably end up being Hamza if he stays 🤢

The idea of Lascelles was correct from the club, he just wasn't really up to it which is no real surprise with how little he had played in previous seasons

[Cropwellfox]

McCarthy, Smallbone, Charlie Taylor all at the top of Martyn Glover’s list for us 

[kingfox]

59 minutes ago, moore_94 said:

The idea of Lascelles was correct from the club, he just wasn't really up to it which is no real surprise with how little he had played in previous seasons

Agreed, I fully understood the Lascelles signing, just a shame it didn’t work out.

 

But we’re definitely going to need a couple of signings this summer that know what it takes in League 1.

 

Take Sunderland and Brentford in the Premier League for example, two of the youngest squads in the division, but in recent times they’ve added players like Granit Xhaka and Jordan Henderson.

[General Smuts]

On 04/06/2026 at 13:58, General Smuts said:

I believe David Ozoh is out of contract at Palace. Played 33 games on loan at Derby last season. Had game time in the Prem with Palace. Only 21 and would be great if he’d drop down for guaranteed game time. 

I was close here looks like it was David Obou out of contract not David Ozoh. Was definitely too good to be an option for us anyway.

[AjcW]

6 minutes ago, General Smuts said:

I was close here looks like it was David Obou out of contract not David Ozoh. Was definitely too good to be an option for us anyway.

[honeybradger]

3 hours ago, kingfox said:

I really don’t get why some fans are so against signing the odd experienced player. As I said in my previous post, yes we have mental scars over some of our more recent experienced signings, but look at our Nigel Pearson days for example and some of the names he signed. 
 

If we end up appointing Russell Martin, then throughout his career he’s signed some very decent young players, but he even signed the occasional experienced player, Cameron Jerome and Andrew Surman at MK, Joe Allen at Swansea. 
 

A lot will of course depend on departures, but at the end of the day, our leadership group in recent times has been appalling, and imo it badly needs rectifying this summer. 
 

Many players “winding down their careers” are still doing the business in League 1, take Oli Norwood for example.

 

Whether Sam Morsy or someone similar, we are going to need a couple of experienced players walking through the door whether some fans like it or not.

I just can't comprehend how any Leicester fans can see us be outrun by every team in the league last season and think that Sam Morsey would be a good addition.

 

The question is also where does he fit into the squad, would we want him as a starter? As above we would struggle without bringing in a runner to cover for him in midfield. Does he come off from the bench? If so then who drops out of the matchday squad for him? Probably Braybrooke or Briggs which would be a disaster. If he doesn't make the match Day squad then what is the point of bringing in a player for the dressing room, doubt he would be happy either.

 

 

Edited 21 hours ago by honeybradger

[kingfox]

54 minutes ago, honeybradger said:

I just can't comprehend how any Leicester fans can see us be outrun by every team in the league last season and think that Sam Morsey would be a good addition.

 

The question is also where does he fit into the squad, would we want him as a starter? As above we would struggle without bringing in a runner to cover for him in midfield. Does he come off from the bench? If so then who drops out of the matchday squad for him? Probably Braybrooke or Briggs which would be a disaster. If he doesn't make the match Day squad then what is the point of bringing in a player for the dressing room, doubt he would be happy either.

 

 

Because he brings certain qualities that we’ve been missing. 
 

For the type of player he is, his competition would be Braybrooke, you seriously expecting Braybrooke to start 40+ games next season?

 

If Skipp or Winks stay, then we probably wouldn’t need anybody in that position, but if they both go, then Braybrooke would need competition. Personally my first choice would be Archie Collins who’s now a free agent, if Martin gets appointed then he’d be a no-brainer imo.

 

But would  you rather we go down the Chelsea type route, rely heavily on youngsters and hope it sticks? Not done them much good has it.
 

It’s why I mentioned the likes of Brentford and Sunderland in another post, two teams that have recruited sensibly by adding the right experienced players to fairly young squads. 
 

Pearson recruited sensibly while he was here, and imo we need to get back to similar. Were you against the signings of Chris Powell and Kevin Phillips for example?

I’d very much rather we go into next season with a pretty young squad, but 2-3 experienced heads have to be added to it whether you like it or not mate 

[Lambert09]

4 hours ago, kingfox said:

I really don’t get why some fans are so against signing the odd experienced player. As I said in my previous post, yes we have mental scars over some of our more recent experienced signings, but look at our Nigel Pearson days for example and some of the names he signed. 
 

If we end up appointing Russell Martin, then throughout his career he’s signed some very decent young players, but he even signed the occasional experienced player, Cameron Jerome and Andrew Surman at MK, Joe Allen at Swansea. 
 

A lot will of course depend on departures, but at the end of the day, our leadership group in recent times has been appalling, and imo it badly needs rectifying this summer. 
 

Many players “winding down their careers” are still doing the business in League 1, take Oli Norwood for example.

 

Whether Sam Morsy or someone similar, we are going to need a couple of experienced players walking through the door whether some fans like it or not.

We’ve been burnt recently so forget how vital it can be. Matt Oakley helped kingy through his break through season. Steve Howard complimented fryatt perfectly. Bruno berner, nobby solano…. They all offered so much for us.  
 

it’s not the age I care about, it’s the personality and the quality.  If they are genuinely motivated then i have no issue adding an experienced head to what will likely be a very young core group. 

Edited 20 hours ago by Lambert09

[kingfox]

17 minutes ago, Lambert09 said:

We’ve been burnt recently so forget how vital it can be. Matt Oakley helped kingy through his break through season. Steve Howard complimented fryatt perfectly. Bruno berner, nobby solano…. They all offered so much for us.  
 

it’s not the age I care about, it’s the personality and the quality.  If they are genuinely motivated then i have no issue adding an experienced head to what will likely be a very young core group. 

It’s understandable that some fans have mental scars regarding some of the experienced players we’ve signed recently, but as you say, it’s all about getting the right personalities into the squad, something which we’ve failed to do consistently since the likes of Morgan, Fuchs and Schmeichel left. 
 

All those names you’ve mentioned offered something, and of course you can add a few others to that list too. 
 

I watched a lot of RB Salzburg in the Champions League a few years back, they averaged the youngest squad in the Champions League, their captain though was a 30+ year old, Andreas Ulmer. 
 

And you can list so many examples of that being the case at numerous clubs with young squads, it’s why I mentioned Sunderland getting in Xhaka. 
 

Arsenal another example with signing Christian Norgaard, has hardly played for them, but Declan Rice praised his influence in the dressing room. 
 

Just like the last time we were in League 1, we’re going to need a few experienced heads to support what we expect will be a pretty young group.

[honeybradger]

1 hour ago, kingfox said:

Because he brings certain qualities that we’ve been missing. 
 

For the type of player he is, his competition would be Braybrooke, you seriously expecting Braybrooke to start 40+ games next season?

I would hope Braybrooke would be starting 40 games next season. Sadly as we have all come to expect with this club our midfield will likely be Skipp and a Morsy equivalent (or god forbid Winks is still here) with Braybrooke struggling to make the bench.

1 hour ago, kingfox said:

 

If Skipp or Winks stay, then we probably wouldn’t need anybody in that position, but if they both go, then Braybrooke would need competition. Personally my first choice would be Archie Collins who’s now a free agent, if Martin gets appointed then he’d be a no-brainer imo.

 

But would  you rather we go down the Chelsea type route, rely heavily on youngsters and hope it sticks? Not done them much good has it.

Interesting how Chelsea is an example of why not to trust young players, but you can't use Cordova Reid, Ayew, Coady etc as examples of banking on experienced players not delivering.

 

Chelsea also aren't a good example of sticking by academy players, if they had stuck by Guehi, Lewis Hall etc they would likely be far better off, instead they suffer from "grass is greener" syndrome and have to buy the hottest prospect on the market. We are in a similar situation where if we go for the likes of Archie Collins we will regret not simply leaving the pathway open for Braybrooke, Page etc.

1 hour ago, kingfox said:

 

It’s why I mentioned the likes of Brentford and Sunderland in another post, two teams that have recruited sensibly by adding the right experienced players to fairly young squads. 
 

Pearson recruited sensibly while he was here, and imo we need to get back to similar. Were you against the signings of Chris Powell and Kevin Phillips for example?

The difference with Kevin Phillips was that he came in to get a nervous but high performing squad over the line. The squad mentality and hunger was already there.

 

Our situation is completely different, we need hunger and desire, not a cool head. That hunger can only come from younger players. Bringing in older players for a culture reset does not work.

1 hour ago, kingfox said:

I’d very much rather we go into next season with a pretty young squad, but 2-3 experienced heads have to be added to it whether you like it or not mate 

2-3 experienced heads coming in means 2-3 academy players don't make the bench. We don't have an infinitely large squad, we need to be giving as many of our young talents the best opportunity to succeed here as possible. In Braybrooke, Aluko, Jayden Joseph, Wilson Brown, Page, Alves, Briggs, Cartwright, Evans, Kevon Gray, Hutchinson, Otchere we already have 12 players who should be given a proper chance next season. Considering players like Skipp, Cordova Reid, Choudhury, Vestergaard will probably still be here next season there just isn't room for 2-3 more players.

 

That's not allowing for the likes of Motsi and Nelson potentially still being here next season either.

Edited 19 hours ago by honeybradger

[Merchant_Banker]

34 minutes ago, honeybradger said:

I would hope Braybrooke would be starting 40 games next season. Sadly as we have all come to expect with this club our midfield will likely be Skipp and a Morsy equivalent (or god forbid Winks is still here) with Braybrooke struggling to make the bench.

Interesting how Chelsea is an example of why not to trust young players, but you can't use Cordova Reid, Ayew, Coady etc as examples of banking on experienced players not delivering.

 

Chelsea also aren't a good example of sticking by academy players, if they had stuck by Guehi, Lewis Hall etc they would likely be far better off, instead they suffer from "grass is greener" syndrome and have to buy the hottest prospect on the market. We are in a similar situation where if we go for the likes of Archie Collins we will regret not simply leaving the pathway open for Braybrooke, Page etc.

The difference with Kevin Phillips was that he came in to get a nervous but high performing squad over the line. The squad mentality and hunger was already there.

 

Our situation is completely different, we need hunger and desire, not a cool head. That hunger can only come from younger players. Bringing in older players for a culture reset does not work.

2-3 experienced heads coming in means 2-3 academy players don't make the bench. We don't have an infinitely large squad, we need to be giving as many of our young talents the best opportunity to succeed here as possible. In Braybrooke, Aluko, Jayden Joseph, Wilson Brown, Page, Alves, Briggs, Cartwright, Evans, Kevon Gray, Hutchinson, Otchere we already have 12 players who should be given a proper chance next season. Considering players like Skipp, Cordova Reid, Choudhury, Vestergaard will probably still be here next season there just isn't room for 2-3 more players.

 

That's not allowing for the likes of Motsi and Nelson potentially still being here next season either.

Not sure Hutchinson, Otchere and Briggs have done enough to say they should get a proper chance, wouldn’t they be better going on loan?

[kingfox]

19 minutes ago, honeybradger said:

I would hope Braybrooke would be starting 40 games next season. Sadly as we have all come to expect with this club our midfield will likely be Skipp and a Morsy equivalent (or god forbid Winks is still here) with Braybrooke struggling to make the bench.

Interesting how Chelsea is an example of why not to trust young players, but you can't use Cordova Reid, Ayew, Coady etc as examples of banking on experienced players not delivering.

 

Chelsea also aren't a good example of sticking by academy players, if they had stuck by Guehi, Lewis Hall etc they would likely be far better off, instead they suffer from "grass is greener" syndrome and have to buy the hottest prospect on the market. We are in a similar situation where if we go for the likes of Archie Collins we will regret not simply leaving the pathway open for Braybrooke, Page etc.

The difference with Kevin Phillips was that he came in to get a nervous but high performing squad over the line. The squad mentality and hunger was already there.

 

Our situation is completely different, we need hunger and desire, not a cool head. That hunger can only come from younger players. Bringing in older players for a culture reset does not work.

2-3 experienced heads coming in means 2-3 academy players don't make the bench. We don't have an infinitely large squad, we need to be giving as many of our young talents the best opportunity to succeed here as possible. In Braybrooke, Aluko, Jayden Joseph, Wilson Brown, Page, Alves, Briggs, Cartwright, Evans, Kevon Gray, Hutchinson, Otchere we already have 12 players who should be given a proper chance next season. Considering players like Skipp, Cordova Reid, Choudhury, Vestergaard will probably still be here next season there just isn't room for 2-3 more players.

 

That's not allowing for the likes of Motsi and Nelson potentially still being here next season either.

We have absolutely zero idea how Braybrooke will fare in League 1, but you can guarantee that if Skipp or Winks stick around, then one of them along with Braybrooke will be our 6 options, if both Skipp and Winks leave, then we’ll need to sign someone.

 

You can rack off the likes of BDCR and Ayew as being negatives, but as I’ve stated, you can use many examples where experienced players, especially under Pearson have helped us massively. We’ve lost some very important experienced characters over the years, haven’t replaced them with similar, and it’s left us in the shit. 
 

Look at the squad we had the last time we were in League 1, you could say we struck the perfect balance of experience and youth. The same needs to happen again imo. 
 

All those young players that you mention, how do you know that some of them are even ready for League 1 level? I guarantee a number of our youngsters won’t feature regularly next season, just because they aren’t ready to play consistently at League 1 level yet. 
 

I’d say that Braybrooke, Aluko, Page and Alves will be the four that will likely feature the most, the rest, I’d put a question mark against every single one of them. Presuming most of our CB’s leave, I’d still look at someone like Kevon Gray being 4th/5th choice at this moment in time.

[honeybradger]

19 minutes ago, kingfox said:

We have absolutely zero idea how Braybrooke will fare in League 1, but you can guarantee that if Skipp or Winks stick around, then one of them along with Braybrooke will be our 6 options, if both Skipp and Winks leave, then we’ll need to sign someone.

 

You can rack off the likes of BDCR and Ayew as being negatives, but as I’ve stated, you can use many examples where experienced players, especially under Pearson have helped us massively. We’ve lost some very important experienced characters over the years, haven’t replaced them with similar, and it’s left us in the shit. 
 

Look at the squad we had the last time we were in League 1, you could say we struck the perfect balance of experience and youth. The same needs to happen again imo. 
 

All those young players that you mention, how do you know that some of them are even ready for League 1 level? I guarantee a number of our youngsters won’t feature regularly next season, just because they aren’t ready to play consistently at League 1 level yet. 
 

I’d say that Braybrooke, Aluko, Page and Alves will be the four that will likely feature the most, the rest, I’d put a question mark against every single one of them. Presuming most of our CB’s leave, I’d still look at someone like Kevon Gray being 4th/5th choice at this moment in time.

Weren't you the one banging on about how we should loan Eli Kroupi Jr last summer who went on to score 16 goals in the PL? Perhaps you might reconsider that you might be a bit too conservative when assessing whether young players are ready or not.

 

Realistically if we were looking for loans for the likes of Jayden Joseph, Briggs, Evans, Hutchinson and Otchere we would be looking at league one. Now we are at that level ourselves it's more than worth considering them for ourselves.

 

Put it this way: I would be far more comfortable going into next season playing the likes of Braybrooke, Briggs, Page than bringing in Archie Collins who is playing league one football at 26. The former 3 will leap frog him ability wise in no time.

[kingfox]

21 minutes ago, honeybradger said:

Weren't you the one banging on about how we should loan Eli Kroupi Jr last summer who went on to score 16 goals in the PL? Perhaps you might reconsider that you might be a bit too conservative when assessing whether young players are ready or not.

 

Realistically if we were looking for loans for the likes of Jayden Joseph, Briggs, Evans, Hutchinson and Otchere we would be looking at league one. Now we are at that level ourselves it's more than worth considering them for ourselves.

 

Put it this way: I would be far more comfortable going into next season playing the likes of Braybrooke, Briggs, Page than bringing in Archie Collins who is playing league one football at 26. The former 3 will leap frog him ability wise in no time.

So you’d be happy with Evans, Hutchinson and Otchere as our striker options for next season then? 
 

And I really don’t know why you include Briggs and Page in the conversation, when they play completely different roles to Archie Collins.

 

We really should avoid signing players like Archie Collins 🙄 https://www.theposh.com/news/collins-triple-award-winner

[Wasyls Pec Deck]

I’ve seen links to Will Smallbone on a free if Martin becomes manager. As far as I’m concerned, irrespective of if he’d he a good signing at this level, we must avoid him at all costs as I’ve spent years taking the piss out of him based on spurious rumours of his teeny weeny.

[honeybradger]

47 minutes ago, kingfox said:

So you’d be happy with Evans, Hutchinson and Otchere as our striker options for next season then? 
 

And I really don’t know why you include Briggs and Page in the conversation, when they play completely different roles to Archie Collins.

 

We really should avoid signing players like Archie Collins 🙄 https://www.theposh.com/news/collins-triple-award-winner

Yes I'd be happy with Evans, Hutchinson and Otchere. Evans last season is essentially 24/25 Dom Ballard, I expect him to be among the best in the league next season. Hutchinson similarly is further back in his development but has the potential to make a similar leap. Otchere is less talented but has good momentum at the moment.

 

Aribo plays a different role to Page but he still kept him off the bench last season. They're all fighting for positions in the squad even if they aren't like for like which is why I'm hesitant about being in new players.

 

I just don't see the point in someone like Archie Collins, yes he was the best player for the 17th best team in league one but Page and Braybrooke should be competing at the top end of the league next season. Archie Collins is currently the better player but he's not worth it if he slows down Braybrooke's development who will be better in the medium to long term.

[Danizen]

https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/news/article/mens-retained-list-published-for-2026

 

A sneak peak at our summer signings. 

[kingfox]

16 minutes ago, honeybradger said:

Yes I'd be happy with Evans, Hutchinson and Otchere. Evans last season is essentially 24/25 Dom Ballard, I expect him to be among the best in the league next season. Hutchinson similarly is further back in his development but has the potential to make a similar leap. Otchere is less talented but has good momentum at the moment.

 

Aribo plays a different role to Page but he still kept him off the bench last season. They're all fighting for positions in the squad even if they aren't like for like which is why I'm hesitant about being in new players.

 

I just don't see the point in someone like Archie Collins, yes he was the best player for the 17th best team in league one but Page and Braybrooke should be competing at the top end of the league next season. Archie Collins is currently the better player but he's not worth it if he slows down Braybrooke's development who will be better in the medium to long term.

So you want to rely on a 17, 18 and 19 year old to fire us back to the Championship. 
 

We shouldn’t make any signings in case they stifle the development of our younger players. 
 

We shouldn’t sign one of the best midfielders in League 1 over the past few season’s in Archie Collins. 
 

Do you only like them young? Are you Leonardo DiCaprio in disguise?