Transfer Window Speculation

[Gethin]

6 minutes ago, bsl said:

Mbueno plays for Cameroon 

Hah, fair.
 

But there’s loads of reasons we’d sign a right sided forward. Maybe not this window but it’s gonna have to happen at some point 

[Flasher]

13 minutes ago, Gethin said:

Hah, fair.
 

But there’s loads of reasons we’d sign a right sided forward. Maybe not this window but it’s gonna have to happen at some point 

It did happen, Freddie Church

[Gethin]

1 minute ago, Flasher said:

It did happen, Freddie Church

Hopefully one Slot trusts next time

[Romario]

32 minutes ago, muleskinner said:

Salah isnt leaving why would we want Mbeumo?

He can play down the middle too. 

[Hassony]

20 minutes ago, Gethin said:

Hah, fair.
 

But there’s loads of reasons we’d sign a right sided forward. Maybe not this window but it’s gonna have to happen at some point 

Salah will play every game anyway, so definitely not a priority signing for this summer 

[goodrobotusses]

Think our incomings will be a combination of specialists and multifunctional players. For example, if we do end up signing Kerkez and Huijsen, both specialists, and TAA does leave, I'd expect someone multifunctional to rotate with and/or cover Bradley. Whether that's a winger/RB (e.g. Frimpong), midfielder/RB or CB/RB, who knows? But I doubt we'd buy a pure right-back.

I also think we might buy a forward/attacking midfielder who can do a bit out wide, leaving us with maybe 4-5 senior forwards (Salah, Gakpo, new No.9, Jota, maybe Diaz if he stays) and then the likes of Szobo, Jones and a new AM such as Simons as sometime options in the wide areas. If we do sign Frimpong, though, maybe that doesn't happen and he becomes one of the wide forwards.

My prediction is five in, if TAA leaves and Huijsen ends up choosing us: Kerkez, Huijsen, new No.9, Frimpong, new midfielder of some sort (with Endo and Elliott leaving).

[Falconhoof]

Richard stood near the window, hands in his pockets, looking at the telescopes lined up on the shelves. He was forty-five, thick black hair combed neatly, face set in a way that made people think twice before asking him questions. His Scottish accent came out more when he was serious, which was often. He picked up a telescope, turned it in his hands, and set it down again. He didn’t say much. The shop was quiet except for the hum of the lights and the sound of Milos shifting his weight from one foot to the other.

 

Milos was younger. He smiled more, talked more. They’d met in Bournemouth, but it was astronomy that kept them in touch. Milos pointed at a telescope, said it was the kind he’d wanted as a boy. Richard nodded. They both looked at the price tag. Outside, it was raining. Inside, the glass cases reflected their faces back at them, older and younger, both watching the sky in their own way.

[Molby]

56 minutes ago, Gethin said:

Hah, fair.
 

But there’s loads of reasons we’d sign a right sided forward. Maybe not this window but it’s gonna have to happen at some point 

we have Chiesa

if we sign another one it has to be someone with a v high ceiling - a 2016-style £40m guy who turns out to be a world beater 

no Mbeumo

[honourablegeorge]

Mbuemo's numbers are good - better than Semenyo, pretty close to Diaz. 

 

https://fbref.com/en/stathead/player_comparison.cgi?request=1&sum=0&dom_lg=1&player_id1=6afaebf2&p1yrfrom=2024-2025&player_id2=efd2ec23&p2yrfrom=2024-2025&player_id3=4a1a9578&p3yrfrom=2024-2025

[Swipe]

Think Mbeumo is really good myself. Maybe more of a backup type signing than someone you'd think 'yeah this is the next Salah' mind.

Think we know what kind of profile Edwards and co will bring in though. There was an article a few months ago saying not signing anyone in the last two windows (virtually) suggested they were looking at VVD/Alisson-sized buys, but there's been nothing to back this up really. I thought Etikite felt like the type we'd go for, but obviously can't be spending 80m  for him.

[Gethin]

53 minutes ago, Hassony said:

Salah will play every game anyway, so definitely not a priority signing for this summer 

He’s away for AFCON and the assumption that a player of his age won’t get injured is daft. 

Agree there’s higher priorities but I’d like to get his replacement in for at least a season before Mo leaves 

[Molby]

3 minutes ago, honourablegeorge said:

Mbuemo's numbers are good - better than Semenyo, pretty close to Diaz. 

 

https://fbref.com/en/stathead/player_comparison.cgi?request=1&sum=0&dom_lg=1&player_id1=6afaebf2&p1yrfrom=2024-2025&player_id2=efd2ec23&p2yrfrom=2024-2025&player_id3=4a1a9578&p3yrfrom=2024-2025

too established to be an understudy and not good enough to be a replacement though

[McBain]

8 minutes ago, Molby said:

too established to be an understudy and not good enough to be a replacement though

No est Mbuemo

[Hassony]

Mbuemo and Wissa are both great,  excellent understanding between them

[stressederic]

42 minutes ago, Falconhoof said:

Richard stood near the window, hands in his pockets, looking at the telescopes lined up on the shelves. He was forty-five, thick black hair combed neatly, face set in a way that made people think twice before asking him questions. His Scottish accent came out more when he was serious, which was often. He picked up a telescope, turned it in his hands, and set it down again. He didn’t say much. The shop was quiet except for the hum of the lights and the sound of Milos shifting his weight from one foot to the other.

 

Milos was younger. He smiled more, talked more. They’d met in Bournemouth, but it was astronomy that kept them in touch. Milos pointed at a telescope, said it was the kind he’d wanted as a boy. Richard nodded. They both looked at the price tag. Outside, it was raining. Inside, the glass cases reflected their faces back at them, older and younger, both watching the sky in their own way.

Is this about to turn into porn? It feels like it's about to turn into porn.

[Flasher]

Just now, stressederic said:

Is this about to turn into porn? It feels like it's about to turn into porn.

Do you want it to turn into porn?

[stressederic]

Just now, Flasher said:

Do you want it to turn into porn?

If it mirrors how Hughes negotiates we might all be waiting a very long time for the payoff.

[McBain]

1 minute ago, stressederic said:

Is this about to turn into porn? It feels like it's about to turn into porn.

Especially given the unreliable narrator 

[Falconhoof]

17 minutes ago, stressederic said:

Is this about to turn into porn? It feels like it's about to turn into porn.

Read into it what you will. 

[Martinus]

If Diaz and Nunez leave I think Gordon and Alvarez would be ideal. Pace, goals and flexibility. Gordon could play on the right during Afcon. Gakpo on the left. Alvarez has similar qualities to Bobby can drop deeper and link play, high work rate, high press etc. 

 

[Romario]

13 minutes ago, Martinus said:

If Diaz and Nunez leave I think Gordon and Alvarez would be ideal. Pace, goals and flexibility. Gordon could play on the right during Afcon. Gakpo on the left. Alvarez has similar qualities to Bobby can drop deeper and link play, high work rate, high press etc. 

 

People underestimate Diaz and way over rate Gordon. He can’t even get into a team 20 points behind us. 

[Swipe]

Gordon was better than Diaz last season. The other way around this season (imo).

Don't think it's deeper than that really. Also, Diaz's dad kept banging on about how much his son would be honoured to play for Barca. Wasn't like people just started hating on him.

[DecidedByPoll]

The best guarantee of goals and cover across our forward line this summer would be Ferran Torres. 

[Martinus]

1 minute ago, Swipe said:

Gordon was better than Diaz last season. The other way around this season (imo).

Don't think it's deeper than that really. Also, Diaz's dad kept banging on about how much his son would be honoured to play for Barca. Wasn't like people just started hating on him.

Agreed. Reality is unless we offer Diaz a new contract it's quite possible he departs this summer. I think in a better team Gordon can improve further and think we could really do with some genuine pace up top. 

[Swipe]

Just now, Martinus said:

Agreed. Reality is unless we offer Diaz a new contract it's quite possible he departs this summer. I think in a better team Gordon can improve further and think we could really do with some genuine pace up top. 

yeah im fascinated by what we'll do this summer. 

Could also feasibly just be one in and one out with Nunez getting binned. Get that signing right and that alone will make a huge difference, but would obviously like a bit more new attacking blood in as well.

Who the saudis might fancy could change it all up.