janpawel

Hopefully this turbocharges him for next season like it did with Gordon a couple years ago

Was about to comment something similar Even if we aren't the favourites / gonna have most possession If we add Guehi / a fast CB, we can stand 10 yards further up the pitch, meaning our midfield have less space to cover and we aren't as reliant on recovery runs from Joelinton Add Trafford, we retain Popes excellent sweeper keeper ability, but won't need to treat the ball like a bomb if it comes back to us I could see him playing as an 8, he seems to like the ball at his feet, happy to pick it up deep etc. He seems way bigger than I thought too and quite physical, so don't see why he couldn't be effective in our 4-5-1 low block as one of the midfielders etc

80-85 points if we got those in

Also buzzing about the idea of getting Pedro, really wanted an attacking midfielder-sort with a high ceiling Him and Isak in the same 11 would be a nightmare for any team in Europe imo, then add in the pace on the wings, our industrious midfield.. Probably shouldn't get ahead of myself, smokescreen, £50m budget etc.

I think Gordon is absolutely class, and want to keep him (FFP fuckery aside), but I don't think he's good enough for a team who genuinely should be competing for the PL and CL every season

Tino has literally every attribute to be the perfect fullback, not lacking a single thing Which is why I do worry Man City could stump up £80-£100m for him, and the club would accept it

Am I right that Tino would need to be open to moving to City first, for City to even discuss an asking price?

Could see us being happy to use the CL £50m for this year's amortised costs, and making a sale next year. Isak maybe signing with a release clause. Though I really hope not

Getting both Elanga and Pedro would be insane Mitigates most of the reservations I have at just potentially signing Elanga Basically 'more of the same' down the wings, but better, and with someone who can play as a 10, cover for Isak, and hopefully as an 8 if need be.

If we get him, then for me, my verdict depends on how much for, and what else we do with the squad (quality CM / AM addition etc) But focusing on just Elanga, imo - Limits us to our existing style of play, albeit a better version - Clearly our weak point was those good upper mid table sides (Bournemouth, Brighton, Fulham etc), don't see Elanga as a difference maker in these games - Kind of feel we will cap ourselves / hit a ceiling if we just focus on transitional play - Villa, Chelsea etc improve more than us over summer if our signings aren't transformative If we didn't have Gordon, he'd be the perfect signing

Would love him

Same here, can't remember anything from Fulham games Cant see him being cheap exactly, and I'd be surprised if we got an out and out CF, Delap made sense with it being such a good market opportunity Anyway, I'm sure Joel Bland isn't in on our transfer activity

I was talking of similar in the transfer rumour thread CM is the ambiguous one for me, depending on our FFP position, wi we get someone who is versatile etc

Good point. So CL revenue should cover roughly this much of spend for 1 year? Hope we do it then

So rambling out loud here... would people agree that these players would pretty much give us a top 4 level, complete squad? Pedro Elanga Ederson Guehi But the issue is, these would probably cost £200m We have no idea how much we are prepared to spend, but would around £120m be unrealistic? Completely guessing the numbers, but take Ederson out, and buy a AM who can cover CF and CM (Pedro). Say £50m saved Guehi £40m, Pedro £55m, could we find a right winger for around £25M? 🤷 Though this doesn't factor in if we want / get Trafford, but I'd rather have Pope and Dubravka for 1 more year and sufficiently improve our outfield players

The CM recruitment is so much more complicated than the rest, it's a shame that 1 of Longstaff/Willock or Miley (yet...) aren't up to scratch as this would give us so much more flexibility With the links to Cunha/Pedro, makes me think we are trying to get someone who could play as a CM/AM, and also CF. But it's ashame we can't get both in 2 different players. Ideally I'd love to have something like Ederson, Pedro, and a new RW. Sell 1 of Willock/Longstaff, loan Osula We’d have up top - Isak, Pedro, Gordon, Barnes, New RW, Murphy And midfield - Bruno, Tonali, Joelinton, Ederson, Miley, W/L Isak has a quality and like for like replacement, who can also play as an AM giving us more flexibility Miley can start off as deputy to Bruno/Tonali, could see how he fares till January Ederson / Joelinton can rotate in our physically demanding LCM role Shame this is likely impossible cos of FFP, I'd fancy us against anyone with this midfield and forward line

If we balanced getting Anthony Elanga with someone like Joao Pedro, then I wouldn't mind it as we'd be adding more technical ability in the middle of the pitch to coincide our pace merchants out wide Knowing us though it would be Elanga and DCL 😂

Wow only got 1 year left Would think they'd get loads of interest for him

What's people's thoughts on Ousmane Diomande? He used to get hyped loads a year or so ago, now the hype has died down. 21 years old, 6ft 3, rapid, good 1 v 1, amazing in the air, and supposedly very progressive with his passing / making runs. €80m release clause, though he has 2 years left on his deal now, so wonder if it could be negotiated lower. Highly praised, good data metrics but most importantly, he passes the YouTube highlights test

I like the idea of being able to go 4-2-3-1, or 4-4-2 when Howe thinks it would be appropriate, would make us a lot predictable as well, especially considering Howe can coach a good 5 at the back performance Though if we went with Bruno and Sandro in a 2 man midfield, we'd deffo need the pace at RCB so we can push our defensive line higher, meaning less space for them 2 to defend on their own

Yeah good shout Since we were linked with Cunha too, makes me think we really want a right footed, athletic, second striker / AM Would be exciting to have someone like this in the squad

Hahaha true! Didn't consider how shite their talent ID is 😂

Weirdly, Chelsea being linked with Trafford gives me a bit more confidence in him Always found it odd he has no other links to clubs, never mind links to big clubs If we are fancying him to become World class/very good, England's no.1 in due course (which I'd hope for, our previous young English singings have been exceptional, Hall/Tino etc) Then I am suprised there isn't loads of interest in him

Well said, ultimately 2 things can be true at the same time - Mbeumo would be a fantastic signing, further enhancing our current style of play - We could do with someone with a different profile on the RW (the next Olise would be my ideal type of signing)

I'm sure hope and edwards said he's our number 1 RW target