Realistic Transfer Targets

[Guest]

Could see Cedric to Leicester with Puel. Surely they're due a Simpson upgrade soon.

[Shearergol]

Players at relegated clubs usually go with massively over-inflated fees don't they? (Sissoko sic)

 

Can't see anyone on that list that is worth the risk tbh. Go in for Mata, he's out of favour. Ensure we get Kenedy, even for another year, go out and buy Europe's top goalscorer etc ;-)

[Twinport53]

Soton fans hate Cedric, Redmond and Tadic. Alot of them also want 33-year-old Steven Davis in midfield over Lemina and Hojberg which says alot.

 

Of the 3 relegated teams I would only want Shaqiri. Even that is under the consideration he could adopt our "team first" philosophy over his occasional maverick greed.

[DJ_NUFC]

With Sissoko coming off the bench for Spurs the other day, do we still get the appearance fee we agreed upon? Should help our transfer budget heaps, which is why I always cheer when he's brought on.

[Twinport53]

With Sissoko coming off the bench for Spurs the other day, do we still get the appearance fee we agreed upon? Should help our transfer budget heaps, which is why I always cheer when he's brought on.

 

It's 6mil a year regardless, isn't it?. Well unless he's sold and they can cut their losses.

[Guest Howaythetoon]

Soton fans hate Cedric, Redmond and Tadic. Alot of them also want 33-year-old Steven Davis in midfield over Lemina and Hojberg which says alot.

 

Of the 3 relegated teams I would only want Shaqiri. Even that is under the consideration he could adopt our "team first" philosophy over his occasional maverick greed.

 

Southampton have looked like us under McClaren for most of the season, players going through the motions etc. Only player I’d have from them is Ward Prowse in place of Hayden as a squad player and Bertrand.

[Guest chopey]

I wasn't very impressed with Rondon yesterday but Matt Phillips could do well in a Rafa team

[mrmojorisin75]

I wasn't very impressed with Rondon yesterday but Matt Phillips could do well in a Rafa team

 

he caused a lot of problems in the bits i saw

[joeyt]

I actually thought Rondon was a handful for our centre backs yesterday. Not sure I really want us to sign him though

[morla84]

If under Ashley:

 

Rafa new contract

 

Key First Teamers

Lascelles, Lejeune, Shelvey, Ritchie

 

Key Loanees to buy

Kenedy, Dubravka

 

Key squad players

Yedlin, Dummett, Diame, Merino, Perez

 

Squad Players

Darlow, Clark, Murphy, Gayle, Hayden, Atsu

 

Free transfers

Gamez, Good, Haidara

 

Sell

Sels, Mbemba, Mitro, Joselu, Colcack, Lazaar, Saivet, Aarons (hopefully get close to £30m in for these if Mitro goes for £15m, Mbemba £6-7m)

 

Loan out

Woodman, Armstrong, Sterry, Barlaser, Gillead

 

Buys/Loans

Striker, No.10, CM, LB, Backup CB

 

Plus some clever cheap deals to improve the backup squad (e.g. Rondon's relegation clause would be a cheap upgrade on Joselu, Cabaye on a free would be an upgrade on Colcack, etc...)

 

Don't really think that's too unreasonable if the tv money is available. Surely they have to get players in earlier this summer too with the window shutting before the season starts

[Mikky]

We need 2 strikers, a number 10, Winger, CM, RB, CB, LB, GK

 

Like the post above, need to be creative in the market: this summer is huge

[joeyt]

I've seen Cabaye mentioned a few times now but I think we should stay well clear of him.

[morla84]

That was just an off the top of my head example

[Minhosa]

I've seen Cabaye mentioned a few times now but I think we should stay well clear of him.

 

Totally agree. Wouldn't even consider him nowadays.

[sempuki]

Batshuayi? Would cost a fair few quid though.

[Guest firetotheworks]

And is spectacularly unrealistic.

[Bimpy474]

From what we've all seen before, even if by some miracle we get to break our transfer record, it's the wages that'll fuck it up next. There will always be an excuse to spend little, as always with this cunt.

[Guest Howaythetoon]

If we are to seriously kick on next season, we need to replace our entire midfield and attack and get the ‘keeper and Kennedy in permanently. As good as Diame, Shelvey, Ritchie and Perez have all been lately, they are bang average. We badly need someone who will get 10-15 league goals up front, a creative playmaker to link midfield and attack and someone who can also get goals from midfield. Next season will be much tougher than this one which is one of the worst season’s in a while when it comes to the quality of teams and players fielded in those teams. The is a good chance we will finish 10th which is great for us, but telling of the league at current and teams around us. Burnley could finish 7th and while they have done very well, they are an average side.

[Conjo]

We don't need to "seriously kick on" next season for me as long as we build and improve with a purpose. I don't think we need new central midfielders for next season. Diame, Shelvey, Merino and Hayden are good players that compliment each other well. We don't need central defenders next season either. Lascelles, Lejuene, Clarke and Mbemba are also good players that compliment each other.

 

Main focus should be to get the striker we need for Rafas system.

Second priority should be to get Dubravka and Kennedy permanently signed.

 

After that, any action that improves us is a bonus for me. If we manage the three first priorities, I would personally like to see competition for Perez, and then full back positions.

[TRon]

We don't need to "seriously kick on" next season for me as long as we build and improve with a purpose. I don't think we need new central midfielders for next season. Diame, Shelvey, Merino and Hayden are good players that compliment each other well. We don't need central defenders next season either. Lascelles, Lejuene, Clarke and Mbemba are also good players that compliment each other.

 

Main focus should be to get the striker we need for Rafas system.

Second priority should be to get Dubravka and Kennedy permanently signed.

 

After that, any action that improves us is a bonus for me. If we manage the three first priorities, I would personally like to see competition for Perez, and then full back positions.

 

I agree that midfield isn't the biggest priority, but one sobering thought is that even with the three loan signings we've looked fairly mediocre. The likes of Hayden, Perez, Ritchie, Yedlin etc are all decent enough squad fillers, but we will need a substantial injection of quality in the first team.

[Guest Howaythetoon]

We don't need to "seriously kick on" next season for me as long as we build and improve with a purpose. I don't think we need new central midfielders for next season. Diame, Shelvey, Merino and Hayden are good players that compliment each other well. We don't need central defenders next season either. Lascelles, Lejuene, Clarke and Mbemba are also good players that compliment each other.

 

Main focus should be to get the striker we need for Rafas system.

Second priority should be to get Dubravka and Kennedy permanently signed.

 

After that, any action that improves us is a bonus for me. If we manage the three first priorities, I would personally like to see competition for Perez, and then full back positions.

 

I can’t see Rafa being happy with another relegation fight/mid-table finish or fans even. If we go into next season with the vast majority of this team it will be another hard slog, we need to improve 3-4 positions for me in the starting 11. A goalscorer that also fits Rafa’s system would obviously help transform us alone, but we need more in midfield IMO. I’m least worried about defence, although Yedlin needs replaced in that back-four as he’s now the weakest link, but that’s kind of nit picking really.

[Guest Howaythetoon]

We don't need to "seriously kick on" next season for me as long as we build and improve with a purpose. I don't think we need new central midfielders for next season. Diame, Shelvey, Merino and Hayden are good players that compliment each other well. We don't need central defenders next season either. Lascelles, Lejuene, Clarke and Mbemba are also good players that compliment each other.

 

Main focus should be to get the striker we need for Rafas system.

Second priority should be to get Dubravka and Kennedy permanently signed.

 

After that, any action that improves us is a bonus for me. If we manage the three first priorities, I would personally like to see competition for Perez, and then full back positions.

 

I agree that midfield isn't the biggest priority, but one sobering thought is that even with the three loan signings we've looked fairly mediocre. The likes of Hayden, Perez, Ritchie, Yedlin etc are all decent enough squad fillers, but we will need a substantial injection of quality in the first team.

 

Shelvey is having arguably his best season and although he’s playing well, statistically his goals and assists record isn’t the best. Diame is playing out of his skin, but can he keep it up? Ritchie is having decent second half of the season, but it’s clear he’s an average player at this level. I think we need a major overhaul in midfield. Our defence is fine and while we don’t score many goals, we don’t get much possession and we are quite pedestrian in midfield. I know Rafa’s system, tactics etc. are also a part of that, but I feel it’s more the players he has at his disposal that dictates how we set up and play.

[Infinitely Content]

We don't need to "seriously kick on" next season for me as long as we build and improve with a purpose. I don't think we need new central midfielders for next season. Diame, Shelvey, Merino and Hayden are good players that compliment each other well. We don't need central defenders next season either. Lascelles, Lejuene, Clarke and Mbemba are also good players that compliment each other.

 

Main focus should be to get the striker we need for Rafas system.

Second priority should be to get Dubravka and Kennedy permanently signed.

 

After that, any action that improves us is a bonus for me. If we manage the three first priorities, I would personally like to see competition for Perez, and then full back positions.

 

 

The idea that we should replace our entire midfield is mental like, we need an attacker(s) & full backs more. Our midfield is relatively balanced & contains quality, youth & experience.

[Dave]

We don't need to "seriously kick on" next season for me as long as we build and improve with a purpose. I don't think we need new central midfielders for next season. Diame, Shelvey, Merino and Hayden are good players that compliment each other well. We don't need central defenders next season either. Lascelles, Lejuene, Clarke and Mbemba are also good players that compliment each other.

 

Main focus should be to get the striker we need for Rafas system.

Second priority should be to get Dubravka and Kennedy permanently signed.

 

After that, any action that improves us is a bonus for me. If we manage the three first priorities, I would personally like to see competition for Perez, and then full back positions.

 

Totally agree with this.

[George Bailey]

Nah we are still short of real quality in central defence and of creativity in midfield.

 

Agree that striker(s) are definite priorities along with full backs and trying to ensure we get Kenedy (I'm assuming Dubravka is a gimme), but lets not kid ourselves that we have enough in the other areas.

It will take maybe two/ three windows to address all the squad deficiencies imo.