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28 minutes ago, SUPERTOON said:

 

Think that's a great signing for that fee. Kudos to Forest.

21 minutes ago, STM said:

Whilst I wouldn't rule out us signing another midfielder, I'm fairly certain that Shelvey will get a new contract with us.

 

He mentioned just wanting to be part of the transition between the past and the future. I think he will probably accept a lesser role in the next couple of years. I get the impression he is settled here.

 

Personally, I've got no problem with Shelvey being a squad player in the future.

 

 

 

It's gone very quiet with Shelvey. I don't know, think he would have been sorted out now if he was here long term. He is 30 years old now.

Both Dummet and Longstaff were sorted out pretty quickly towards the end of the season, but no deal in sight for Shelvey.

Guess we'll find out soon enough though.

I don't remember Winks getting all this grief when he was doing well at Spurs under Poch.

Think this all started due to performances for England, and then also once Mourinho went to Spurs. Both more defensive setups.

From what I can see, if he's not playing for a manger that sets his team up to use the ball more, then he doesn't do well.

Don't really like Lampard, but he's not a defensive manager, and so I think Winks will do well there. Be interesting.

17 minutes ago, Manxst said:

Everton trying to buy Winks. Such a Lampard/Everton overpriced and over rated  transfer. 

Winks was really coming along well under Pochettino, but then Mourinho ...

Think people are really harsh on Winks. Has a lot of decent qualities for a team looking to play and use the ball.

He'll be better than a lot of the midfielders they have over there at Everton.

14 minutes ago, cubaricho said:

Agreed. Not sure we’ll get a replacement in for him and he’ll be one of those names first on the team sheet for at least half of next season. 

Shelvey's going into the last year of his contract, which hasn't been renewed. Don't think he'll be a first teamer.

I think Bruno, will play in the deeper role, and another central midfielder that is a goal threat will be added.

2 hours ago, Ikon said:

Isn’t he left sided? 

Yeah, he is. Danjuma usually cuts in from the left side. He's also played upfront at Villareal at times.

I think ideally, Eddie is looking for a left footer for that right hand side, someone that is a threat to cut inside. Opening up space for the full back to get forward.

I think a potential pickup from Villareal could be Samuel Chukwueze, who is an explosive left footed right winger that looks ready made for the premier league. Think the open spaces in the premier league would really suit him.

Villareal had another young left footed right winger emerge last season, Yeremy Pino, and so I think they'd be open to letting Chukwueze leave.

2 hours ago, HTT II said:

I’d have him, but my Rangers (and NUFC) supporting mate says he would flop massively in the PL and his only value would be his nuisance factor!

I'm not so sure. He's got a lot of strings to his bow. He's very stocky and strong and so holds it up well, and when he does so uses the ball really well in his link up, runs the channels out wide and will carry the ball forward when he gets it, and his movement in the box is really good and gets him in scoring positions.

Rangers have played some decent European sides when he's been there and he's always looked the part, and had really good performances in those games. I'm surprised no one's taken a punt on him. Be interesting to see where he ends up next and how he'll get on.

2 hours ago, Optimistic Nut said:

If we’re not going ‘high end’ this summer for a striker would Morelos be worth a look? Last year of his contract so probably £8-10m? Pushes Wood further down the pecking order, gives us a bit of depth behind Wilson and we can revisit the number 9 position again when we’re competing in Europe hopefully?

I think the guy is so underrated and doesn't get enough credit. Love the fire he plays with. He's like a budget/poor man's Luis Suarez. What really caught my eye with him, were his performances in Europe with Rangers, where he usually rose to the occasion, and performed at a really high level, often carrying them.

Nothing wrong with aiming really high early in the window and then working down from there.

So many good players out there, and confident we will still get a huge upgrade at that position.

At least Diaby was clear and upfront on his stance. Wish Ekitike and his reps would be the same.

Just now, JP said:

 

Yep and World Cup around the corner for Pope.

 

Yeah, for sure. I'm happy with the move.

That Luke Edwards article has a lot of detail in it, I think he might have some pretty good insight.

Makes Ekitike and his representatives sound absolutely terrible, my God man. If you are exploring other options and don't want to join just come out and say so.

4 minutes ago, MrRaspberryJam said:

Didn't realise he was 30! Thought he was mid 20s.

The fact we've gone for someone at that age and experience tells me he's coming in to be number 1, and eventually Dubravka will be replaced with someone younger.

9 minutes ago, Lotus said:

Didn't he a lot on the left wing for Leverkusen?

I thought that's where he set up most of Havertz's goals from?

Anyway, yes, probs best in a 3. No where good enough defensively to be in a midfield 2.

Tbh, he's very much an "Arsenal' type player if you know what I mean. 

Can be great in games but won't necessarily influence the season.

That last season at Leverkusen I recall him usually playing as the left side central midfielder in a midfield three, and so he probably often drifted into the half spaces on the left. I believe Leon Bailey played on the left wing proper that season.

And, yeah, I agree he can be a bit hit and miss, but I think adding his talent and ability to our current team would be a big coup. And if Eddie can improve his consistency that would be a game changer. 

1 minute ago, Lotus said:

If that's a genuine price then I would say yes. He certainly has his problems though. He has some great skill but also has some pretty serious brain farts.

Is also (oddly) appalling at trying to control the ball if he's facing the pass (mostly if his back is to goal). If he's on the turn he's awesome. 

In my opinion he's best as a central midfielder in a midfield three, as one of the two more forward central midfielders (as a number 8). This is where he played for Leverkusen and he was an absolute terror.

It's never quite clicked for him at Dortmund because they either played him as a 6 i.e. too deep, in their 3-4-2-1. or as number 10 in various formations, where as you said, he is having to receive the ball facing the pass too often. They also occasionally used him out wide, where he probably has given his best at Dortmund, but then in that role he's not quite as influential. Dortmund hasn't really played a 4-3-3 setup since he joined, but it's really the setup that suits him really well.

5 minutes ago, McCormick said:

I really like him. Very gifted athletically with his height and speed, also very decent on the ball. Seems like the kind of prospect that could have excelled in any position; currently looks like he could do a job anywhere in the backline.

I agree. I think he is an elite talent physically.

If he had come through at any other club he'd probably be an established top premier league player by now. At City he had Kompany, Laporte, Otamendi and I think Mangala all in front of him, which slowed his progress.

Honestly, it's the kind of clever signing clubs should be looking at, hopefully it's us.

7 minutes ago, Nine said:

That’s fair enough but that’s a stat that gets pretty inflated when teams play like we were the last 6 months of the season, Willock and Longstaff actually have higher numbers than Joe does per 90. Playing a 3 of Bruno, Longstaff and Willock wouldn’t exactly fill me confidence that we have enough overall in midfield to stay in it vs a high energy press that they would be up against a lot of the time in the PL, I guess all I’m saying is that I think it’s got to run a bit deeper than what those stats suggest on the surface of things.

 

A 3 of Paqueta and Bruno ahead of a beast DM is dreamland stuff but also the most effective way to play them together imo. 

Not sure I understand. Are you saying that a three of Bruno, Joe and Paqueta would not be good enough pressing?

After seeing how effectively we pressed against Arsenal with Bruno, Joe and Longstaff, I'd think Paqueta stepping in for Longstaff would be an upgrade if anything.

Just now, r0cafella said:

I don’t know anything about him but upon checking it seems he represented England at a few youth age groups. 
 

An Ashworth one maybe?

Yeah, he was very highly rated as a youngster. Was with Man City as a youth.

Pep liked him and promoted him to the first team, but there were just too many options ahead of him at Man City and so ultimately left for a first team opportunity in the prem with newly promoted Fulham.

Always felt after a few seasons he'd end up getting a move to a better club. He's going into the last year of his contract and so is probably looking for such a move. 

Could see him as a long term partner for Botman ... if Botman ever joins of course.

3 minutes ago, SUPERTOON said:

 

The Tosin link is interesting, because Lascelles has also been linked with Fulham this morning.

If some kind of swap happens there, that would be a good deal for both parties. I like Tosin's game a lot. He's really quick and is also comfortable with the ball.

3 minutes ago, Nine said:

I actually disagree with this. I don’t think that midfield 3 is industrious enough vs the better sides of the PL, it would probably work decently against the bottom 6-8 sides but would struggle against the rest. To play Bruno and Paqueta in the same midfield I think they need to both be the front 2 with a very good Fabinho type DM behind them, a lot of us have our heart set on Paqueta but for me I just can’t see how he fits into this side in his natural position if Bruno is to play as the DLP.

 

 

 

Surprisingly enough, it would be one of the more industrious trios in the league. Take a look at each of their statistical breakdowns on fbref.com, the last box shows their stats for pressures and tackles, and they all rank highly in those.

https://fbref.com/en/players/c17bfb65/Joelinton

https://fbref.com/en/players/82518f62/Bruno-Guimaraes

https://fbref.com/en/players/9b6f7fd5/Lucas-Paqueta

1 minute ago, Ikon said:

I’m sure we can afford Paqueta. It should be done imo. Too good to miss out on. 

You're not sure though. No one is 

We are about to pay somewhere around £60 million for Ekitike and Botman, Paqueta for £50 million takes us to £110 million already, on just three players. Ans we'd need to bring in a high quality wide player still.

Now, in my opinion, I would probably have preferred to look at less expensive options than Ekitike and Botman, in order to add Paqueta to the first team. For example, the striker Forest just signed Taiwo Awoniyi cost £17 million and Evan Ndicka is available for £19 million. If getting those two instead of Eitike and Botman meant we could add Paqueta, I think I'd do that instead.

If we keep the 4-3-3, Paqueta is the best option for the third midfielder. Made even sweeter because he is left footed. Bruno deep, with Paqueta and Joelinton as the more forward central midfielders would be ridiculous.

He'd cost a lot though, and so just not sure it's feasible for us right now. Because of the other signings we are trying to make, I don't think we are looking to spend more than around £30 million for that position.

5 minutes ago, relámpago blanco said:

We should be all over him at that price

I agree. There's a lot of value out there this summer for some seriously talented players, albeit those with a few kinks to iron out, but those sorts of players really suit us right now. Even Rabiot, who yes, has had some issues, mostly from not really getting consistent minutes on the pitch, is available for £12 million. These are crazy prices for players with their ability, and both are 26 years old this year.

7 hours ago, TRC said:

Brandt is a classy player, would be all over that

Yeah, his talent is way up there with some of the top players, but has just struggled with consistency and a clear role. He's the kind of player that is plenty good enough for where we are at right now, but could then even really find a higher level with Howe's style of individual coaching and direction.

He'd be a great alternative to Eriksen, and he can play out wide too. Like him a lot.

Apparently available for £14 million, which is pretty outrageous.

1 hour ago, Lotus said:

I’ve watched all the Dortmund games I can since the Klopp days.

I can’t think what Hazard would bring to the team. 
There are other Dortmund under-achievers I would look at before him.

Think they may be linking us with the wrong Dortmund player.

They recently made Julian Brandt available, and he's far more in line with the kind of player we'd be looking at.

8 minutes ago, Kid Icarus said:

I was alright with not getting Raphina if he was going to Barcelona or even Spurs, but Arsenal getting him is a strange one when they have Saka and Martinelli. We should be all over that™

The Edu connection has worked well for them on that one I think. I imagine he's got an inside track with the Brazilians.