He won't make a jot of difference

Mmmm?...every time I turn on the computer I see another new name who Saints are purportedly " interested in signing ", and in this case I have to admit I haven't seen enough of Gibson to make any sort of judgement. The step up from Championship to the Prem. is more than just 3 teams, and seeing that 'Boro didn't make the cut anyway... just how good he might be at the higher level is surely open to a wider debate.

Nick's other point (re) . Who goes / stays..is also open to discussion. We've lost a lot of experience in Fonte and VvD..(and sadly Gardos has been a non-starter for 2 seasons ).

Is it too much to have 4 players fighting for 2 places? ..I think not. Whilst accepting that Yoshida might well be on the move...( I think he deserves more credit than he has been given in the last 2-3 seasons). But the idea of "sacrificing " Jack Stephens isn't one I'd necessarily agree with as he has shown a great deal of spirit (and I'd keep him on if only as a reward for putting one on Wilshere) but those fans who ignore history may have forgotten those dodgy seasons before our relegation (12 years ago,) when we had SIX injured CB's at one stage and the hero who emerged was 5th choice Chris Baird (!).

YES we need another quality CB , but I have been impressed with Hoedt and Bednarek in the final run-in, and Jack genuinely deserved the special Club award he received for his efforts in what has otherwise been a very poor season, and he scored as many goals as some of our strikers.

Names like Mawson and Gibson may be bandied about, but IMO we should sign a 6' 4" CB who is built like a brick outhouse and more mobile than Wanyama turned out to be, and with a somewhat better disciplinary record.

That's my two-pennyworth to the debate, but unfortunately the cost of such a player
- will be far in excess of that amount.

I don't think Bednarek is necessarily better than Stephens. Let's see what happens during pre-season though.

Ben Gibson would be a terrific addition to the squd if the club is really prepared to pay for a player that good. He's certainly a lot better than Hoedt, who is the weak link in the centre of our defence.

For the most part at the end of the season Hughes played with 3CBs. Assuming Hughes stays on then I think we will need 5 CBs to cover injury and suspension so we need at least one more (preferably better quality than we already have) WITHOUT any departures.

Don't think Gibson helped Boro' much in their PL season so no, he is not the answer or even an answer. As for Yoshida, Nick I guess you have been angling for him to go for the past two years but I doubt he will. He is a clubman through an through and I can see hime ending his career her and joining the coaching staff and heaven knows a shake-up at U23 level is long, long overdue.

A wise old head at CB seems to be a necessity at the moment to settle down the youngsters who are still learning their craft. If Villa get beaten by Fulham new weekend, why not invite JT for a season or two? Let's face it he'd soon whip a few of them into shape and we do seem to do rather well with Chelsea cast-offs don't we?

Sadly, Jack Stephens lacks two main requirements to become a Prem c/back..... (1) poor awareness when marking and (2) an inability to win aerial challenges.
Outside of the defensive zone, his tackling & distribution ain't too shabby; but not going to make it as a 'quality' centreback.

John Terry at Saints????
I don’t know what sort of role model you want for the kids.
Maybe we should ask Wayne Rooney and Ched Evens as well.
I have been trying all season to decide which of our CB’s is the best without any success.
They all have their strengths and weaknesses and the three younger one look like they could progress into being good players.
Someone with experience, leadership qualities, strong, good in the air is essential is needed.
Sit down John, not you we are a family club and your too “bigtime”

If there is any truth in this it is very disappointing, going for a lower league player and the only competition to sign was bottom of the league club and a lower division club. And you suggesting that to buy him out of his contract wold cost 20-25 million pounds.
If your wanting saints to be a top 8 club the signing player that the other top 8 are looking to sign should be the target.

luffy22. Of course it's difficult to know which newspaper stories have a basis in fact but clubs rumoured to be interested in Gibson include 2 of the current top 8: Liverpool and Everton as well as the 9th club Leicester. Ben Gibson is a very good player and will probably become one of the England team's regulars. Who do you think we, a club which finished 17th, could get who is better?

The news that we are trying to sign a player as good as Gibson is very positive.

Why the prominent picture of 'The Nose Wiping Boy' when Hughes doesn't even deem him good enough for the first eleven?

The prize a little high, maybe? For a player with little PL experience....
I like the fact that he is british, though.
Why do we have to break our transfer club record everytime these days?