The opening of the January transfer window may still be almost two months awa, we may not have a manager, but we have our first link of the run in to the madness, with a fight with Middlesbrough for the player predicted.

Media outlet sportswitness.co.uk are claiming that Saints have made an offer for FC Metz’s Cheikh Sabaly.

They say :

"Middlesbrough came close to reaching an agreement for Sabaly’s transfer. It’s unclear why the move didn’t go through.

"Middlesbrough are still interested in the winger. They aren’t alone as Southampton are also keen on securing his services.

"The Senegal international is in his final year of contract and that makes him an attractive target in the market.

"Southampton are said to be in advanced talks and have already outlined their plan for him. It’s claimed the Saints are considering offering a two-year contract with ‘certain guarantees’, without providing any further explanations.

"Sabaly was linked to Brighton & Hove Albion, Crystal Palace and Brentford a few months ago. "

So this one could have some substance or it could be his agent ramping up interest ready for January.

From this perspective the players current value is around £4 million not a great amount for a player who would turn 27 a couple of months after we would potentially sign him in January.

He is somewhat a late starter, he signed for Metz in 2019 and for the first 3 years spent it away from the club on loan in the French lower leagues.

In 2022/23 with Metz in Ligue 2, he broke into their first team and played a major part in their promotion to Ligue 1, the following season they were back in Ligue 2 and he played a major part, scoring 15 goals and 3 assists as they once again went back up to the top flight.

This term he has found it harder with just 2 assists and Metz are again fighting relegation.

Primarily a left winger he also has 8 caps for Senegal, as in January he would be entering the last 6 months of his contract, Saints could potentially get him very cheap.

All Photos Via Reuters

IanRC added 09:42 - Nov 4 Any chance we can ship Jack Stephens out - I am sure he will be one of the agitators behind the scenes.
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highfield49 added 10:09 - Nov 4 No disrespect to Sabaly but he looks like just another addition to the squad who won't solve the inherent goal scoring problem.
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Centurion added 10:58 - Nov 4 We NEED A CF AND A GOALKEEPER !!!!
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RedandWight added 11:18 - Nov 4 We need a Number 9
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dirk_doone added 11:28 - Nov 4 Not another winger! We had 4 players trying to play on the wing in our last game and no centre forward for them to pass the ball too. If this is true, Spors needs to be sacked. Anybody with an ounce of common sense knows we need a centre forward and a goalkeeper, not another winger.
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dirk_doone added 11:53 - Nov 4 A left winger, who's scored 3 goals in 45 games in Ligue 1, none of them this season. Sounds like a typical Sport Republic transfer target. They'll probably pay 4 times what he's worth as well.
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redwight added 11:55 - Nov 4 Couldn't believe this. Scrolled down to say as much, only to find dirk doone had beaten me to it. Another winger.....what planet are these people on?
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davenbennett added 12:00 - Nov 4 Agree with other posters. No better than what we have. Blindingly obviously, apart from SR, we need at least one proper CF. I would buy 2. Cover, and also maybe sub 1 at 70 mins. Get rid of all those agitating for Martin back this window, along with Archer and Downs. Aim this season just to stay up, and stabilise. Hope to see some if the U21s break through.
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InTimeAddedOn added 12:06 - Nov 4 Why? As has already been said above, what we really need is an experienced centre forward and a decent keeper, most certainly not yet another winger. Also, the person responsible for driving this initiative forwards is the same person who will have a lot to do with the choice of the successful candidate when it comes to the appointment of our next permanent manager. That does not exactly fill one with confidence does it??

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dirk_doone added 12:43 - Nov 4 Cheikh Sabaly is 5' 6". Just what we don't need: another small player. We already get beaten to nearly every high ball. Take a look at the current Championship league table after looking at this. If only Johannes Spors knew how to do something like that: Tallest Championship Teams (2025/26) Rank Team Approx. Avg Height 1️⃣ Coventry City 185 cm (6'1") 2️⃣ Millwall 185 cm (6'1") 3️⃣ Stoke City 184.8 cm (6'0.8") 4️⃣ Middlesbrough 184.5 cm (6'0.7") 5️⃣ Bristol City 184.3 cm (6'0.6")

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underweststand added 13:02 - Nov 4 Almost everyone (above) has made the same points. What is the reasoning behind buying YET another winger, when there is no big striker to capitalise on the crosses they provide. Every fan has the same complaint...where are the new strikers?. We had the nightmare period trying to play Onuachu, yet had no wingers to supply him. After returning to Turkey ..he is back to scoring for fun. Where the sense in that?. Now we seem overloaded with wingers, but have no genuine striker to take advantage. It took ages to get Ross Stewart fit, and for a couple of games it looked like we'd found one. Archer is almost invisible when he plays up front, and clearly Damion Downs has a lot to learn about English football. Adam Armstrong is the only player with a proven record in this league, but he failed miserably against Blackburn and has not even rediscovered his old " Championship goalscoring form ", as is not a patch on " his former self ".

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redwight added 15:07 - Nov 4 At a time when optimism is hard to come by, it is perhaps worth remembering that 6 months ago, we were ranked higher than Sunderland. Now they are 37 places above us. Things can be turned around with proper planning and good recruitment. No, I'm not holding my breath either.
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Block8 added 18:23 - Nov 4 Another winger at last, thank god for that I thought we'd waste the money on a big striker who could hold the ball!
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