Southampton and Nottingham Forest could finance our summer spending?

It is fair to say that it has not been a quiet start to the summer in SA1.   It is difficult to believe that it is just over four weeks since the season ended with a win over West Brom such has been the “activity” at the club during that time.

Of course I use activity in the loosest term based on the fact that nothing has actually happened other than a belief that Russell Martin could be unveiled as Southampton boss at any time and there are links with a multitude of managers amongst the potential departures that could see two key playing figures depart the club at any stage.

The position of the manager is clearly the most important one to get resolved and there seems to be a growing belief that Martin could get appointed in the next seven days although whether that is an end to the compensation discussions or not remains to be seen.   That particular battle could run for some time if reports are to be believd.

Then there is the small matter of appointing his replacement.  Who that is is anyone’s guess with some suggestions that we have started the search in earnest and others saying that we have maybe only spoken to one or two potential candidates but have not progressed further than that initial discussion.

We have a Chairman who wants to communicate which seemed good but his one attempt at communication landed badly and he has not been seen or heard from since.

And that then brings us to the playing side.   With Paul Watson due into the club supposedly next week and a new manager somewhere on the horizon there is little doubt that there will be some changes on the playing front and that is likely to mean some big name departures from SA1 which will help with the funding of those summer changes.

We all know that it is unlikely that any transfer fees inwards will be passed on in full to the new manager.   With the club losing money year on year we know that this is not possible but it will be hard to attract any manager without offering him a decent sized kitty to play with in the transfer market.

Matt Grimes is one of the players that could leave and it is starting to feel more likely that Russell Martin will want to take his captain with him to Southampton.   Given his desire at Swansea to build a side around Grimes he will see him as a good addition to the Saints midfield as well as an advocate for the Martin style of football.   Grimes isn’t one of those players who you get the impression is desperate to get away from Swansea but with the right deal/move on the table there is always that chance that it may happen.

Joel Piroe it feels is in a different place.  He is said to want to move on and test himself at a higher level and increasing rumours are suggesting that Steve Cooper could well make a move for him to take him to Nottingham Forest.  The cost of Piroe will not be cheap but Forest have another season ahead of them in the Premier League and proved last time around that they are not afraid to spend money.    You can absolutely see this move happening as we start to accept the fact that Piroe is not likely to be leading our line next season.

Financially what does it mean if Piroe and Grimes move on during the summer?  It certainly should mean that Swansea City have a cash injection that should reach eight figures.   Twenty goal seasons at this level don’t come cheap especially not to a Premier League club and Grimes is one of the most influential midfielders at this level and Southampton should pay a premium for that.   Put the two together and the cash injection is good but you do start to wonder how much of that will find its way directly back into the playing squad.   You would like to think at least a decent chunk would be provided to the new manager to finance his squad building.  You would hope being the key phrase.

We have worked for many years on a trading model that allows us to cash in on players when the time is right and improve the squad.   For years it worked and got us success so its a model that should not be knocked but it does depend on us replacing the players that have left to progress the squad.

Something the owners should remember.