Mid-window review: ins/outs?

[Led Revolver]

I think depending on whether Bentancur recovers and/or Bissouma gets fit after his malaria/ if he can return to form, I’d prioritise a proper number 6, as well as a quick attacking winger. An ITK - I think it might’ve been Hercules - said that proper number 6’s are the hardest to find. If Villa miss out on CL and are struggling with FFP, Douglas Luiz would be perfect. Maybe Johan knows of any clauses he might have in his contract!?

As far as wingers go, Id go for someone with a similar skill set to Jeremy Doku. Infact, Pep is going to need to do quite a balancing act there with Doku and Grealish not given much of a look in. Marcus Rashford may even benefit from a change of scenery, would fit in as another durable forward option, plus is homegrown. Wages for any of those 3 would be significant you’d think.

Perhaps in amongst our group of very young midfielders, an experienced player who’s won lots might be useful to calm everyone down for the last 20 mins of games too. Toni Kroos is out of contract in the summer or Jordan Henderson will only have a year left at Ajax and would be homegrown.

In - Lloyd Kelly (free), Douglas Luiz, Jordan Henderson, top winger
Out - Ryan Sessegnon, Pierre Emile Hojbjerg, Giovani Lo Celso, Bryan Gil

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

BTW - just the thought many of you had of Olise joining Ange at Spurs has caused his hamstrings to go, prematurely.

 

[Snuzzy]

- Not that I think we're perfect in midfield, but I'd be happy not doing anything there in the summer to save our money for elsewhere

I think there's a bit of January brain where being without Bissouma and Sarr for an extended period (after being without Bentancur and Maddison for an extended period) makes us overlook what we're like with a full complement.


- I really don't think we should get another CB in tbh. Davies has been great and 100% deserves his spot, and is the only other senior squad pro weve got apart from Son! His contract being up 2025 works well for squad planning at CB as we've got talented youngsters coming through. Makes far more sense to get a promising LB/LWB in. Conversely I don't think it's a good signal for the young CBs if we go out and get another in. And given how we now play Davies fits more as 4th choice CB than 2nd choice LB.

- I think we could easily spend ~30m and end up with someone who doesn't match Deki or Johnson, let alone exceed. Add in that Richarlison and Son probably will play together plenty with one our wide, I think best strategy is to aim to sign one top level player for big money. Doesn't make sense to me (assuming we're not suddenly doing mad money) to try to buy 2 given the squad options we already have

- we've still got plenty of squad shedding and our transfer team need to earn their pay finding landing spots as much as they have earned it with recruitment.
Rodon+Tanganga+Spence+Reguilon+PEH+Gil (+Parrott?) could all go for fees without directly needing replacement. Even with conservative values you could see ~60m there.
Then wind-down loans for Ndombele and Sessegnon (Solomon too if we keep Werner and sign a top WF) as can't see any chance of transfers.


a GK and a LB for reasonable fees (one or both HG), then chuck everything we can at a top winger - I'd be happy with that.

 

[ItsBoris]

We don't need defenders or midfielders - main thing we need is a top class right winger. I saw we were linked to Pedro Neto, that would be a really good signing imo.

Get Neto or other top quality right winger and Kane back and we'd have a league winning quality squad imo.

 

[Japhet]

Omg I’m like soooo surprised . Not sure why they agreed a deal with Girona when technically he belongs to Troyes and only on loan at Girona but I guess they are all City Group teams so it’s much of a muchness. I wonder how much he will cost, I read earlier he’d be €10 mil, I guess they just pay themselves.

I’m going to be very interested to see them start Doku LW and Savio RW, could be devastating.

Hopefully FFP comes along and kicks them in the nuts and they can be devastating in the lower leagues for at least a couple of seasons.

 

[Snarfalicious]

Patrick Dorgu looks like a Udogie clone. Him, a GK, Ederson and a high quality winger and we are golden, in my mind.

 

[George94]

Call me crazy, but with Grealish looking like he's unhappy at City and probably off in the summer, are we the only real viable Premier League option to make that transfer happen this summer?

We should be going for Neto instead, though...

 

[Frozen_Waffles]

Thing is I'm a bit torn on it tbh. I watch that 20 minute spell in the second half against Brentford and I wonder if spending big is actually the answer to whatever problems we have. It's coaching and familiarity that is needed above all else because that is where the consistency comes from.

I don't think I want to commit to what we need player wise until Sonny, Biss and Pape are back and we see how he really wants to set us up in midfield and across the front three.

This

There are too many players who are still new who are showing a lot of promise.

Werner, Soloman and Johnson are all new. Johnson and werner definitely showing signs of being great additions (but still adapting). Adding Kulusevski and Son and it's pretty strong already. I'd love a top class winger, but the chances are we already have what we need.

With Richy and Veliz to come back we are pretty stacked up top.

In midfield we perhaps could add one, but even then it depends on how Bergval is, Lo Celso back from injury and I haven't give up on Skipp and Hoijberg, all those are not starters if everyone is fit. I'd also be very happy with Kulusevski as the ten.

Add this to Devine and Donley as well.

Which leaves our back line, the only position I see as a need is a back up to Udogie and even then I'd like to give Sess one last chance.

That's even before we get to Emerson and Davies who certainly don't need replacing. Also we have Dorrington and Phillips around as well.

I'm not saying we don't sign anyone, just saying there is enough questions to be quite happy with our current squad. First time I've said that in a while (or ever).

If we do sign a few in the Summer they have to be top draw, or more promising youngsters for the future.

 

[Frozen_Waffles]

Call me crazy, but with Grealish looking like he's unhappy at City and probably off in the summer, are we the only real viable Premier League option to make that transfer happen this summer?

We should be going for Neto instead, though...

I think Grealish has regressed, he's a regular bench player at City these days and while he's still a very good player he's not suited to Anges style of football imo.

 

[Pochemon94]

grealish is great, but all that partying is gonna catch up to him sooner rather than later. I'm not trying to say he can't live his life, but that in London seems like a disaster waiting to happen. I wish him the best and he is a stud player, but I just got a bad feeling about it

 

[Ghost Hardware]

Patrick Dorgu looks like a Udogie clone. Him, a GK, Ederson and a high quality winger and we are golden, in my mind.

Mentioned him earlier, def one of my top picks for LB back up. Still very raw tho and needs a lot of work.

 

[razzmaster]

Mentioned him earlier, def one of my top picks for LB back up. Still very raw tho and needs a lot of work.

Same was said about Udogie and he made an immediate impact, although he did have an extra season out on loan. I think Udogie and Dorgu would be great options next season. I'd keep Davies as 4th choice CB, knowing he can cover at LB if needed. Phillips and Dorrington could then go out on loan for a year, with one of them replacing Davies in the squad the following season.

 

[SDogg]

Bit random but POK has made it to the gossip page on bbc website to say were interested in Raphinia

 

[brasil_spur]

So I'm assuming we will have CL next season, as even if we miss out and it's just EL I'd rather we plan the same.

That means a 25 man squad of players without any dead weight.

For me dead weight players for us are:
PEH - good player and would probably shine at somewhere like Bayern, but not an Ange's style of football player.
Lo Celso - also a good player, but his injury record with us is not good, we need someone reliable.
Gil - not sure if he's a good player or not, certainly not in the prem, a move back to Spain for him seems sensible.
Forster - very dependable deputy but we need someone in the Vicario mould as his back up.
Sessegnon - unfortunately for him injuries are a major issue, so despite being HG we need more reliability there.

That then leaves us with:
HG: Austin/Whiteman, Davies, Maddison, Skipp, Johnson = 5 HG players
Non HG: Vicario, Porro, Emerson, Dragusin, Romero, VDV, Udogie, Bissouma, Sarr*, Deki, Solomon, Bentancur, Son, Richarlison = 14 Non-HG players
U21: Veliz = 1 U21 player

I reckon that means we need to add at least 4 players in the summer, with ideally two of them being HG.

GK: New backup for Vicario.
CB: New CB for rotation (Davies to be LB cover) or New LB for rotation with Udogie (Davies to be CB cover).
No. 6: Key position to fill in midfield IMO, with Sarr and Bentancur our No. 8 options and Skippy being 3rd choice cover for 6 and 8.
No. 10: Someone to rotate and cover for Maddison.

I think bringing in Werner to replace Solomon makes a lot of sense for the pricing being quoted for Werner. Solomon then to be loaned out or sold.

And then finally I'd look to bring in a real "flair" player. Someone that can probably impact a game with pace and the ability to beat a man.

 

[WiganSpur]

Bit random but POK has made it to the gossip page on bbc website to say were interested in Raphinia

I think he'd be a decent buy tbh. A massive upgrade on Bryan.

 

[carpediem991]

So I'm assuming we will have CL next season, as even if we miss out and it's just EL I'd rather we plan the same.

That means a 25 man squad of players without any dead weight.

For me dead weight players for us are:
PEH - good player and would probably shine at somewhere like Bayern, but not an Ange's style of football player.
Lo Celso - also a good player, but his injury record with us is not good, we need someone reliable.
Gil - not sure if he's a good player or not, certainly not in the prem, a move back to Spain for him seems sensible.
Forster - very dependable deputy but we need someone in the Vicario mould as his back up.
Sessegnon - unfortunately for him injuries are a major issue, so despite being HG we need more reliability there.

That then leaves us with:
HG: Austin/Whiteman, Davies, Maddison, Skipp, Johnson = 5 HG players
Non HG: Vicario, Porro, Emerson, Dragusin, Romero, VDV, Udogie, Bissouma, Sarr*, Deki, Solomon, Bentancur, Son, Richarlison = 14 Non-HG players
U21: Veliz = 1 U21 player

I reckon that means we need to add at least 4 players in the summer, with ideally two of them being HG.

GK: New backup for Vicario.
CB: New CB for rotation (Davies to be LB cover) or New LB for rotation with Udogie (Davies to be CB cover).
No. 6: Key position to fill in midfield IMO, with Sarr and Bentancur our No. 8 options and Skippy being 3rd choice cover for 6 and 8.
No. 10: Someone to rotate and cover for Maddison.

I think bringing in Werner to replace Solomon makes a lot of sense for the pricing being quoted for Werner. Solomon then to be loaned out or sold.

And then finally I'd look to bring in a real "flair" player. Someone that can probably impact a game with pace and the ability to beat a man.

I'd rather plan with Werner and Solomon. Agree with the flair player who hopefully has a goal scoring touch and I'd go with him, Werner, Solomon, Johnson, Deki, Richy and Son for the front three options. Possibly add one out of Veliz and Scarlett for additional cover. Basically the "flair" player to replace Bryan and Werner replaces Perisic.

 

[WiganSpur]

So I'm assuming we will have CL next season, as even if we miss out and it's just EL I'd rather we plan the same.

That means a 25 man squad of players without any dead weight.

For me dead weight players for us are:
PEH - good player and would probably shine at somewhere like Bayern, but not an Ange's style of football player.
Lo Celso - also a good player, but his injury record with us is not good, we need someone reliable.
Gil - not sure if he's a good player or not, certainly not in the prem, a move back to Spain for him seems sensible.
Forster - very dependable deputy but we need someone in the Vicario mould as his back up.
Sessegnon - unfortunately for him injuries are a major issue, so despite being HG we need more reliability there.

That then leaves us with:
HG: Austin/Whiteman, Davies, Maddison, Skipp, Johnson = 5 HG players
Non HG: Vicario, Porro, Emerson, Dragusin, Romero, VDV, Udogie, Bissouma, Sarr*, Deki, Solomon, Bentancur, Son, Richarlison = 14 Non-HG players
U21: Veliz = 1 U21 player

I reckon that means we need to add at least 4 players in the summer, with ideally two of them being HG.

GK: New backup for Vicario.
CB: New CB for rotation (Davies to be LB cover) or New LB for rotation with Udogie (Davies to be CB cover).
No. 6: Key position to fill in midfield IMO, with Sarr and Bentancur our No. 8 options and Skippy being 3rd choice cover for 6 and 8.
No. 10: Someone to rotate and cover for Maddison.

I think bringing in Werner to replace Solomon makes a lot of sense for the pricing being quoted for Werner. Solomon then to be loaned out or sold.

And then finally I'd look to bring in a real "flair" player. Someone that can probably impact a game with pace and the ability to beat a man.

LB is an interesting one.

Sessegnon is made of glass and probably should go, Reguilon isn't up to it, i'm not sure Davies is the most like for like for Udogie either and he's struggled there in the limited minutes he's played there under Ange.

Might need to bring in a HG left back. Either that or trust Davies to cover there and potentially give Phillips a spot in the squad at CB as a HG option.

Also i'd keep Solomon if we've got space. Would be good to have two dribblers in the squad. In a CL or EL season i'd loan out Veliz and go for 7 WFs and strikers for 3 positions (Solomon, Werner, Johnson, Son, Richy, New WF, Kulusevski)

 

[Ghost Hardware]

Same was said about Udogie and he made an immediate impact, although he did have an extra season out on loan. I think Udogie and Dorgu would be great options next season. I'd keep Davies as 4th choice CB, knowing he can cover at LB if needed. Phillips and Dorrington could then go out on loan for a year, with one of them replacing Davies in the squad the following season.

But Udogie was a starter for Udinese, Gallo is Lecce’s starting LB, Dorgu has only had 7 starts in the league and makes most of his appearances from the bench. He looks an exciting prospect no doubt but he is still incredibly raw. Certainly a player I like the look of and I listed him previously in this thread as a player we should look at as a back up but he’s currently way below Udogie’s level when he arrived.

 

[Trix]

I think he'd be a decent buy tbh. A massive upgrade on Bryan.

Maybe, but still not worth the money he'd cost though. I also remember us talking to him before he went to Barca and we weren't overly impressed with the way his people dealt with things.

 

[djhotspur]

Get Kelly in on a free. Covers (like Davies) cb and lb and has real pace.
Agree we need a HG younger back up GK but I guess forster can still do the job.
See how werner gets on and then make a call as he’s super cheap.
Gio, see if he can stay fit but I’d keep him as he’s cheap and adds real value when he plays. Would be an excellent option when we need a goal.
We absolutely need to go big on a winger, a Neto or equivalent, pay whatever it takes to get the player in we want, they need to be a real game changer and there’s no reason if we are in the champions league, can shift some players like hojberg, Gil etc we can’t spend big on 1 player.