02/08/03
With the new season almost upon us, will Rupert be dipping into his wallet to strengthen the side ?

In

Javier De Pedro
Saints are waiting for Sociadad to become desperate enough for the cash to lower their asking price, while Sociadad are waiting for Saints to realise that they desperately need someone on the left side of midfield with De Pedro's class.

As things stand, it doesn't look likely that this one will be going ahead. I was also a bit alarmed at the suggestion that my club made a direct contact with the player without the knowledge of his club. Naughty Saints.

Jermaine De Foe
The young West Ham starlet (they have all retained this tag in the press despite not being good enough to keep their side up) could be ours. And isn't he just like a younger Pahars ?

While we all think fondly of how good it would be to see a classy back up to Beattie for next season, let's remember two things.

1/ Pahars may finally get fit at some point this season. I hope so 'cause I'm getting a little worried for his long term health here.

2/ There isn't Pompey's chance in the Premiership that Rupes will fork out five million quid in the current climate. So just forget about this one.

Kim Kallstrom
Always keen to utilise technology to it's utmost to enhance their investigative techniques, the hacks are in a better position than ever to really provide informative transfer rumours.

That's right, they've been busily playing Championship Manager over the close season. "By God, his bloke Kallstrom's a bloody good player on this", they must have said. "Let's check who's on tour in Sweden." And so rumours are born. Easy isn't it ? You can purchase "How to be a hack on five pints a day" from my bookshop section.

Dexter Blackstock
Apparently Saints have had a bid for this Oxford player rejected. Not a bad thing, as at least it gives me a chance to dust of my pile of Rothman's and find out who the hell he is.

Turns out he's a youth player at Oxford. He's come on as a sub in a couple of the preseason friendlies and done pretty well up front. Still hasn't got a squad number though. Ex. Saints Matthew Bound and Steve Basham do though, which has no bearing on this whatsoever.

Phrases such as "awesome potential" have been used in describing Blackstock, but then the phrase is used so often now that it's almost meaningless.

Showing how up on my news I am, Saints apparently made a £75 000 bid for him back in May. WGS was watching his son Craig play and spotted Blackstock.

Dexter is believed to be ready to make regular appearances in the third division next season. He's only 16 or 17 and to be honest he's probably better off doing that than rotting away in our Academy system and being touted as yet another "one for the future." If he's any good Saints could do worse than arrange to purchase the lad and then loan him straight back to Oxford.

For anyone who's interested, following the antics of tin pot Oxford chairman Kassam is certainly entertaining. Unless you're an Oxford supporter of course.

Out
Not really a sniff of anyone else leaving the club. The press are just letting us get over the shock of losing Bridge. They have moved on to link the star players from other clubs with Chelsea instead.

Ah well, at least it keeps them away from Niemi and Beattie for a while I suppose.