More transfer rumours

[The College Dropout]

1 hour ago, STM said:

 

I agree with your assessment of that era, but I disagree that what worked then will work now. As you said yourself, Villa were challenging for 5th. Where as now, Arsenal and Man Utd look likely to finish 5th and 6th.

 

As for weakening the "top 6" clubs, how do you suggest we do that? 130m for Harry Kane, who most probably wouldn't move to us? Why go after, say Bruno Fernandes or Odegard for example when we have already proven we can go to the French league and pay half the price for comparable players.

 

IMO, the elephant in the room is our commercial power. Right now we are financially weakened by having shite sponsors, no business direction (because of ashley) and very little coming into the club from other avenues.

 

My guess, and it's just a guess, is that our new owners have a two stage plan. Phase one is moving the club up the league within the confines of FFP, whilst building a massive commercial model, spending on infrastructure etc.  Once we get into Europe and start showing that we mean business, we can start going after big hitters, in the way that City took Sterling off Liverpool.

 

We have to prove to good players that this is a place to come and play football and we have already started that process.

We haven't proven anything. Bruno F joined Man U in January and scored 12 goals in 5 months. Bruno G is still establishing himself ahead of Jonjo Shelvey and Joe Willock. Manchester City signed the likes of Joleon Lescott, James Milner & Gareth Barry. Proven quality outside of the top teams. People would snub the likes of Zaha, Phillips & Raphinha. I'm not against going into Ligue 1 for talent but are we getting the very best that division has to offer?

 

There's 4 leagues within the league. Title challengers, European challengers, midtable and relegation. There's a good 7 teams in that top 2 bracket. There's no point in going for anything else. We need to get into Europe ASAP, then look to sign the very best young talent money can buy. Once in Europe we can go for players' that might otherwise sign for Man Utd and the like.

 

1 hour ago, STM said:

FWIW, you can absolutely be smart with money, whilst also being ambitious. Liverpool selling Coutinho and using the money to buy the best CB and best GK in PL is an example of that.

 

Salah and KDB are largely regarded as the two best players in the league but neither were on the radars of other top clubs, both had been let go by Chelsea and had scars next to their names to some degree. Both Liverpool and City pulled masterstrokes by ignoring their past.

KDB was Bundesliga player of the year at like.. 23. He was a serious wonderkid.

 

Salah yeh. I think they were hoping for 13-18 goals from him but he's perfect for Klopp's system and a real winner.

[Ikon]

Doubt anyone would say no to Raphinha or Phillips. Or be upset or anything  Some might prefer other ways to go. But I think a lot of that depends on how much we will spend. 

 

 

Edited April 14, 2022 by Ikon

[STM]

I wouldn't snub Zaha, Raphinha or Phillips. I'd absolutely love the latter two.

 

Zaha would be a decent signing but I'd not see much value in going after him age wise.

 

Out of interest @The College Dropoutwho would be your main targets, given the choice?

[Tiresias]

Would love Philips

[STM]

I keep looking at targets and thinking "he'd be good with Bruno". 

 

Think I've man crushed on the sexy Brazilian magician.

[LionOfGosforth]

Are the top players from other (not top 6) PL clubs realistic? Raphinha and Phillips are excellent in their positions and would improve us hugely but, now that Leeds are almost certainly staying up with us, are they likely to move? Better question, would Leeds sell them to us? I don't know. Not trying to be negative but i'd think the PL would be our toughest market to work in and those type of players, we'd be quoted 50m+ each.

 

That said, I don't know what is realistic in the summer full stop. If someone had told me in January that our top 5 targets were Burn, Wood, Targett, Bruno and Trippier, i'd have said the first 3 are pretty realistic and the others just aren't. And yet, absurdly, we convinced both to move to a side in the bottom 3. So who the hell knows what we should expect but it will be exciting to say the least to find out.

[STM]

4 minutes ago, LionOfGosforth said:

Are the top players from other (not top 6) PL clubs realistic? Raphinha and Phillips are excellent in their positions and would improve us hugely but, now that Leeds are almost certainly staying up with us, are they likely to move? Better question, would Leeds sell them to us? I don't know. Not trying to be negative but i'd think the PL would be our toughest market to work in and those type of players, we'd be quoted 50m+ each.

 

That said, I don't know what is realistic in the summer full stop. If someone had told me in January that our top 5 targets were Burn, Wood, Targett, Bruno and Trippier, i'd have said the first 3 are pretty realistic and the others just aren't. And yet, absurdly, we convinced both to move to a side in the bottom 3. So who the hell knows what we should expect but it will be exciting to say the least to find out.

Precisely my point.

 

The PL market is virtually impossible unless we are signing Burn/Targett standard.

 

There are areas we could exploit mind. Clubs with financial issues (Everton: Calvert Lewin, Pickford), clubs in turmoil (Man Utd: Henderson, Rashford), players out of contract (Lingard, Tarkowski), clubs getting relegated (Sarr, Dennis, Aarons, Cornet) and most importantly players coming to within 2 years of their contracts ending (Tielmans).

 

There is also the outside possibility we could sell our vision to players like Conor Coady, who might be prepared to move on. In such case they may hold leverage with their clubs.

 

But again, I always come back to the idea of their being better value abroad. For example Wolves might demand 40m for Coady, where as we know we could likely get Diego Carlos for less.

 

It's all food for thought, ultimately we need to put the feelers out far and wide for best value.

[Super Duper Branko Strupar]

4 hours ago, Shak said:

Definitely some post-Ashley trauma in here

 

I'm fairly certain we'll spend a shitload this summer and my trousers are down and I'm ready for it.

 

I think youre recent post on Craigslist must read "Fun, inquisitive, Irish male looking for a bit of adventure and hope to finish in the top 8 next season"

[LionOfGosforth]

2 minutes ago, STM said:

Precisely my point.

 

The PL market is virtually impossible unless we are signing Burn/Targett standard.

 

There are areas we could exploit mind. Clubs with financial issues (Everton: Calvert Lewin, Pickford), clubs in turmoil (Man Utd: Henderson, Rashford), players out of contract (Lingard, Tarkowski), clubs getting relegated (Sarr, Dennis, Aarons, Cornet) and most importantly players coming to within 2 years of their contracts ending (Tielmans).

 

There is also the outside possibility we could sell our vision to players like Conor Coady, who might be prepared to move on. In such case they may hold leverage with their clubs.

 

But again, I always come back to the idea of their being better value abroad. For example Wolves might demand 40m for Coady, where as we know we could likely get Diego Carlos for less.

 

It's all food for thought, ultimately we need to put the feelers out far and wide for best value.

 

Good points. Tielemans is one i'd break the bank for if there was any possibility at all. Brilliant player, different to what we have, huge PL experience and quality. One of my favorite current non-Toon PL players.

[STM]

This is why signing Eriksen on a free would be such a class move. We will have got an elite player for nothing, allowing us extra wriggle room to go after our biggest targets.

[STM]

Just now, LionOfGosforth said:

 

Good points. Tielemans is one i'd break the bank for if there was any possibility at all. Brilliant player, different to what we have, huge PL experience and quality. One of my favorite current non-Toon PL players.

Apparently wants CL football but again... can we sell our vision?

[LionOfGosforth]

1 minute ago, STM said:

This is why signing Eriksen on a free would be such a class move. We will have got an elite player for nothing, allowing us extra wriggle room to go after our biggest targets.

 

Totally agree but seems to be a "prefer to stay in London" type. Maybe i'm wrong, nothing wrong with going after him.

[LionOfGosforth]

1 minute ago, STM said:

Apparently wants CL football but again... can we sell our vision?

 

Another reason it was so absurd we convinced Bruno to move, you'd have thought CL football would have been a pre-requisite to him moving to England. Maybe the same vision would convince Teels. We can only hope, very excited to see that vision start to gain ground, this season was always about staying up and it's a borderline miracle we are where we are and can dream again.

[STM]

That's why I suggested that if we could just get another 2 like Tripper and Bruno, of that standard, it would be a successful window. Provided we reinforce the squad too.

 

I actually think another CM seems probably our easiest area to target. It's strikers and CBs where I'm unsure we will find anyone good enough.

[LionOfGosforth]

A top striker with enough quality and experience to hit the ground running is something we badly need but will cost the earth (probably 60m+, not that we won't have the funds). Huge fan of Nunez, reminds me of a pacy Berbatov and we certainly have the money, but wage structure and lack of Europe will surely hamper going after those elite types, especially in CF position.

 

I don't know who is realistic, Isak maybe? Shick? A striker closer to home like DCL? We can't rely on Wilson, good as he is. He'd be a top partner/cover for a new forward though, especially since he only plays 20-25 games a season.

[andyc35i]

14 minutes ago, LionOfGosforth said:

A top striker with enough quality and experience to hit the ground running is something we badly need but will cost the earth (probably 60m+, not that we won't have the funds). Huge fan of Nunez, reminds me of a pacy Berbatov and we certainly have the money, but wage structure and lack of Europe will surely hamper going after those elite types, especially in CF position.

 

I don't know who is realistic, Isak maybe? Shick? A striker closer to home like DCL? We can't rely on Wilson, good as he is. He'd be a top partner/cover for a new forward though, especially since he only plays 20-25 games a season.

I have always been a huge fan of Wilson, but he is made of glass and can’t be relied upon. We need three top players in the central spine of the team (defender, midfielder and striker). A top quality striker arriving to take the starting spot is essential with Wilson and Wood coming off the bench 

[STM]

Wouldn't be the worst day to stick a phone call into Paquetas agent. 

[Mikky]

Kostic please 

[Kid Icarus]

I'm just looking forward to being gutted about missing out on players I wasn't aware of 3 weeks earlier.

[LionOfGosforth]

1 minute ago, Kid Icarus said:

I'm just looking forward to being gutted about missing out on players I wasn't aware of 3 weeks earlier.

 

At least you'll know the attempts to sign him were genuine, instead of a smokescreen to keep the masses happy and sell season tickets based on nothing substantial at all

[Kid Icarus]

6 minutes ago, LionOfGosforth said:

 

At least you'll know the attempts to sign him were genuine, instead of a smokescreen to keep the masses happy and sell season tickets based on nothing substantial at all

Ah god yeah, I'm being serious as well! Even that long stretch of frustration between signing Wood and signing Bruno was still loads of fun. Think I became aware of about 50 players more than I was in December.

[RodneyCisse]

25 minutes ago, STM said:

Wouldn't be the worst day to stick a phone call into Paquetas agent. 

For Bruno I’m glad Lyon are going out as it might have been in the back of his mind if they’d gone on to win it all.

[Whitley mag]

I’m as guilty as anyone for watching the Paqueta highlight reel and thinking sign him up. However, I have this feeling he might be like a lot of flair players and a bit inconsistent, slightly concerns me that Lyon would drop him for their biggest game of the season.

 

We clearly need someone to unlock the door moving forward, but for 50 million i’d rather see that go on a top striker or centre half to strengthen the spine of team.

[LionOfGosforth]

4 minutes ago, Whitley mag said:

I’m as guilty as anyone for watching the Paqueta highlight reel and thinking sign him up. However, I have this feeling he might be like a lot of flair players and a bit inconsistent, slightly concerns me that Lyon would drop him for their biggest game of the season.

 

We clearly need someone to unlock the door moving forward, but for 50 million i’d rather see that go on a top striker or centre half to strengthen the spine of team.

 

He wasn't dropped, there was a covid issue apparently.

[STM]

5 minutes ago, Whitley mag said:

I’m as guilty as anyone for watching the Paqueta highlight reel and thinking sign him up. However, I have this feeling he might be like a lot of flair players and a bit inconsistent, slightly concerns me that Lyon would drop him for their biggest game of the season.

 

We clearly need someone to unlock the door moving forward, but for 50 million i’d rather see that go on a top striker or centre half to strengthen the spine of team.

He has covid that's why he didn't start.