Summer Transfers

[hellava_tough]

There‘s a few obvious ones though. I think the squad is starting to look a bit too big and even if we get Europa League I would start to look to cut numbers. There’s no reason we couldn’t fill the bench in that competition with a lot of youth players.

Agreed.

With us being skint and all that, the main question is how we integrate youth and loan players.

So we've got Sessegnon, Skipp, Clarke and Foyth on loan and Cirkin, Devine, Scarlett as highly-rated youth players.

Skipp will probably find his way into the Senior Squad for next season, although the others is anyone's guess.

In Sessegnon, Clarke, Devine and Scarlett you have predominently attacking players. We already have lots of forwards in the side; I suppose we could sell the likes of Lucas, Lamela, Alli, etc, although you lose a lot of experience in return for freshening the squad up.

Cirkin will probably be out on loan next term, Foyth sold, although Devine and Scarlett could be included in the senior squad.

 

[hellava_tough]

3 managers (including Mason) have been reluctant to use Ndombele, most probably due to his lack of application in training and inconsistent performances when on pitch.

This summer, I want to cut our losses and sell him. Yes, he is a great talent - no questions. But we cant have a great talent who isn't favoured by most managers.

I want us to sell Ndombele and use that to go buy Ruben Neves and solve the CM issue.

Neves, Lo Ceslo, Skipp, Hojbjerg should cover the CM in quality and quantity.

Sell Ndombele, Sissoko, Lamela, Doherty , Davies
Buy Neves, a proper CB, a proper RB.
Make Vinicius loan permanent with lower fee.
Get Bale for another season with Skipp back to the club.

Neves should be our no1 target this summer IMO

It's a difficult one.

He hasn't been great, but obviously has a lot of raw talent and can do things others can only dream of.

Does a new manager get the best out of him and potentially build a side around his talents, or is he dropped/sold because he'll never offer enough over the course of a 50+ game season?

Perhaps we even sign another player who could compliment his ability?

I certainly think there's a role for him vs teams that use the high-press against us; tbh, he probably should have started the final against City, as he's one of the most 'press-resistent' players in the league.

But then the question is, do you really want to make NDombele a squad/rotation player, only coming in for certain games, against certain opposition? And is he even disciplined and strong-willed enough to sit on a bench for 3 or 4 games and then come into the team and do a job?

And finally, if a team offers a chunk of change for him (£40m+), then is it all moot anyway, because that's too good an offer and we can invest that in a less talented, but more reliable, player somewhere else on the pitch?

Like I said, it's a difficult one for the new manager.

 

[shoggy33]

The Ndombele situation is difficult, he is clearly extraordinarily talented but it seems to me just isn't cut out for this league. Our midfield has been dreadful for 2 years, with him him in it for large portions of that time. We are all so quick to point out the obvious limitations of Winks and Sissoko that Ndombele has pretty much got away with it. I'm still keen to seen what he can do under a more progressive attack minded manager, but it's clear there is a problem there and if a good offer came in we might have to consider it.

 

[hellava_tough]

The Ndombele situation is difficult, he is clearly extraordinarily talented but it seems to me just isn't cut out for this league. Our midfield has been dreadful for 2 years, with him him in it for large portions of that time. We are all so quick to point out the obvious limitations of Winks and Sissoko that Ndombele has pretty much got away with it. I'm still keen to seen what he can do under a more progressive attack minded manager, but it's clear there is a problem there and if a good offer came in we might have to consider it.

His key attribute is ball-retention; he likes to receive the ball, keep hold of it and then off-load it to a team-mate.

So if we were playing possession-football, looking to control the game, then he'd fit into that system very well.

But then you have to look at our other midfielders and ask the question, can they fit into this system?

The last time we played like this, was when we had Dembele who was a nighmare to get the ball off and we also had two very good full-backs and Eriksen in his prime.

Perhaps trying to recreate that system might work; I suspect, actually, that's what Poch was thinking when he signed Tanguy, that he'd be playing the Dembele role, although the other pieces of the puzzle didn't fall into place.

At the end of the day, if we've got no cash to spend in the summer, then the new coach is going to have to get the best out of the players he has available; and that certainly means utilising NDombele.

 

[arunspurs]

It's a difficult one.

He hasn't been great, but obviously has a lot of raw talent and can do things others can only dream of.

Does a new manager get the best out of him and potentially build a side around his talents, or is he dropped/sold because he'll never offer enough over the course of a 50+ game season?

Perhaps we even sign another player who could compliment his ability?

I certainly think there's a role for him vs teams that use the high-press against us; tbh, he probably should have started the final against City, as he's one of the most 'press-resistent' players in the league.

But then the question is, do you really want to make NDombele a squad/rotation player, only coming in for certain games, against certain opposition? And is he even disciplined and strong-willed enough to sit on a bench for 3 or 4 games and then come into the team and do a job?

And finally, if a team offers a chunk of change for him (£40m+), then is it all moot anyway, because that's too good an offer and we can invest that in a less talented, but more reliable, player somewhere else on the pitch?

Like I said, it's a difficult one for the new manager.

Problem Ndombele has are 2 folds
i) Tactical - He doesnt understand and adhere to the tactics.
ii) still tries to play like he does in back garden - always goes for the hard ones and makes stray passes on easier ones.

Its been 2 years we have had stability in CM and build up play.
For me, Lo Celso has been wasted in wings - he needs to play in 2 midfield like he did yesterday.

We need proper CM, who is tactically good, physically able and consistent , quality all round. I cant think of better CM than Neves, who is outside top6 team

 

[spursfan77]

Agreed.

With us being skint and all that, the main question is how we integrate youth and loan players.

So we've got Sessegnon, Skipp, Clarke and Foyth on loan and Cirkin, Devine, Scarlett as highly-rated youth players.

Skipp will probably find his way into the Senior Squad for next season, although the others is anyone's guess.

In Sessegnon, Clarke, Devine and Scarlett you have predominently attacking players. We already have lots of forwards in the side; I suppose we could sell the likes of Lucas, Lamela, Alli, etc, although you lose a lot of experience in return for freshening the squad up.

Cirkin will probably be out on loan next term, Foyth sold, although Devine and Scarlett could be included in the senior squad.

I wouldn’t be surprised if we cut our losses on Clarke or sessegnon or both to tell you the truth. I just don’t see where they fit in.

 

[worcestersauce]

3 managers (including Mason) have been reluctant to use Ndombele, most probably due to his lack of application in training and inconsistent performances when on pitch.

This summer, I want to cut our losses and sell him. Yes, he is a great talent - no questions. But we cant have a great talent who isn't favoured by most managers.

I want us to sell Ndombele and use that to go buy Ruben Neves and solve the CM issue.

Neves, Lo Ceslo, Skipp, Hojbjerg should cover the CM in quality and quantity.

Sell Ndombele, Sissoko, Lamela, Doherty , Davies
Buy Neves, a proper CB, a proper RB.
Make Vinicius loan permanent with lower fee.
Get Bale for another season with Skipp back to the club.

Neves should be our no1 target this summer IMO

Really? Keep Vinicius? I'm afraid he hasn't convinced me he's the quality we want.
I wouldn't necessarily argue with anything else you posted though other than if we get Neves I'd still like A N Other.

Edit:
Just read through this post and I'm pretty sure it's the most patronising post I've ever made, sorry

 

[carpediem991]

Has been said before (by me too), but I am not getting tired to point out if we can only fix the most urgent positions it has to be these three:

- Centre Back: Obviously a quality guy who can lead the line with attitude and confidence.

- Right Back: Can be a talent but we surely can not go into another season with Serge/ Matt/ Japhet.

- Central midfield: Replace Winks and Sissoko with someone who brings more to the team. Find our next Dembele or a box to box guy who chips in with goals.

If we keep Bale, and I bloody hope we do, thats it. Maybe get a cheap #9 as emergency option and maybe get a talent or two from the championship if available for a good price.

Outs should include Sissoko and Winks as priorities, with a CB to follow to make space. Dele and Doherty next in line.

 

[arunspurs]

Really? Keep Vinicius? I'm afraid he hasn't convinced me he's the quality we want.
I wouldn't necessarily argue with anything else you posted though other than if we get Neves I'd still like A N Other.

Edit:
Just read through this post and I'm pretty sure it's the most patronising post I've ever made, sorry

I don't get what Vinicius has done wrong though ?

He has scored 10 goals & 3 assists this season. 1 in PL from the 300 odd scrap minutes he got.
I dont understand what else he could do. He needs a run in the team.

I am not saying pay the entire 40m - there were some news reports saying we will try to get him for 17 or 20m. His salary isnt high (sub 40k) either. If Benfica are ok to reduce his fee, by all means, we have to get him. I dont think, there is another striker who is ok to be 2nd choice and yet be good and cheap

Edit : I would add though - If Ings is available for decent money and willing to come, then surely Ings has to be prioritised

 

[raymundo-iow]

Imagine replacing dele with dybala in yesterday's team, when kane drops deep he leads the line and they swap between each other, would be a nightmare for defences

 

[Huddlebone]

Imagine replacing dele with dybala in yesterday's team, when kane drops deep he leads the line and they swap between each other, would be a nightmare for defences

Forsberg is better than dybala

 

[hellava_tough]

Problem Ndombele has are 2 folds
i) Tactical - He doesnt understand and adhere to the tactics.
ii) still tries to play like he does in back garden - always goes for the hard ones and makes stray passes on easier ones.

Its been 2 years we have had stability in CM and build up play.
For me, Lo Celso has been wasted in wings - he needs to play in 2 midfield like he did yesterday.

We need proper CM, who is tactically good, physically able and consistent , quality all round. I cant think of better CM than Neves, who is outside top6 team

Fair enough, but does that mean dropping PEH, if it's a midfield 2 of GLC and Neves?

 

[arunspurs]

Fair enough, but does that mean dropping PEH, if it's a midfield 2 of GLC and Neves?

Yes... If we get Neves, we don't have to start PEH. Both Neves & Lo Celso are good positionally. If required, we can play 3 man midfield of Neves-LoCelso-Skipp/Hobjerg

 

[SecretLemonadeDrinker]

Anyone know anything about Rodrigo Varanda - 18 year old Brazilian winger who plays for Corinthians? Apparently The Sun is claiming that we've held initial talks.

 

[Cochise]

These are all good conversations, but until we have an idea as to who is going to be our manager we can't call it.

Some signings will make sense irrespective of who comes in, like a new CB and an attacking right back. Others like a RWF less so.

As an example, one coach using a 4222 might not fancy N'Dombele or Bale but one using a 433 might like both.

 

[Sputic]

12 out and 9 in, when there’s an international competition coming up and we don’t yet even know what managerial structure will be in place, let alone personnel...?

Very, very optimistic I’d wager.

Absolutely it's optimistic. It's a wishlist, not a prediction.

 

[jpascavitz]

It's so hard to predict, because we probably all want to clear out more players than we actually will. It's a COVID market still, with Levy. When I list out the depth chart for next year's side I would say the transfer list should include: Lamela, Moura, Sissoko, Winks, Davies (questionable), one of Sanchez/Dier, Aurier. Most of these players are in the same boat - reaching that almost peak 30 year old age where their value is as high as it'll go and many of these players only have a year or two left on their deal.

I think we have to take that money and reinvest it in some youth that will pay off in the long term, and show some faith in some successful loan moves this year.

For ins I would target:

Saint-Maxim - Probably unrealistic but I would be looking for a younger winger that can develop into a world class talent so more of the mold of this player. Other options: Leon Bailey, Ihleas Bebou

Denzel Dumfries - A right back that is good mates with Bergwijn, but very physical, decent pace, and can also cover at CB in an emergency situation. Other options: Lamptey, Aarons

Andersen - Obviously been linked heavily from Fulham, but looks to be a solid, young defender that already has some premier league experience. Other options: Ben White

Lastly, I would target a number 10: someone in a creator mould. The few options I came up with were Florian Wirtz or Nkunku from Germany, but I struggle to see who could be available or affordable here.

Anyways, that would leave our depth chart as:
Kane/Parrot OR Scarlett (other one on loan)
Son/Bergwijn - Dele Alli/#10 signing - Bale/Saint-Maxim
Lo Celso/Ndombele - Hojbjerg/Skipp
Reguilion/Sess - Dier/Rodon - Alderweireld/Andersen - Dumfries/Doherty
Lloris/Hart

Thought Process:
1. I think this depth chart shows that we can win in the now while keeping an eye on the future.
2. A lot of people want GLC and TN to play together, I think they can some matches, but also why not rotate them to keep them fresh all season? Similar with PEH and Skipp.
3. I think Toby could be moved on with the right offer but in this scenario I would look to loan Tanganga out to a PL side and keep Toby to steady the ship for another season. After that year, Toby would be on his way out and we'd have a mostly youth movement of Andersen, Tanganga, Rodon, with Dier kept on a long-term deal right now and providing cover.
4. I don't think Doherty will be easy to move on although many want him gone.

 

[Montalbano]

I think it’s pointless predicting targets until we find out where we end up in the league at the end of the season. Our transfer dealings will deviate significantly depending on which European competition [if any] we’re competing in.

 

[Goobers]

Agreed with @Montalbano. We have to work around if we are in Europe, if so which competition and also then how much we make from sales.
Personally I don’t think we spend anything we don’t recoup. And I don’t see us making much more than 50 million if we are lucky.
So perhaps some clever loans and cunning transfers to be done. But I think the squad facelift or rebuild that many think is on the way this summer will be disappointed. We will have plenty of players on our books form August that many would want moved on.

 

[mugpunt]

Agree that it's hard to predict targets without knowing what competition we're in or who is managing us, but this would be my selection assuming we're in the Champions league so have a modest 50m budget and can keep Kane...I'd like Hansi Flick and Ragnick as dof which would balance freshness of approach with top level experience. We're bigger than pendulum swinging to Potter at this stage and I'd doubt Kane would stick around for another 5 year rebuild under someone of that type of stature.

Thinking mainly about players with 1 year remaining on their deals: I think we need another allrounder in midfield with a top ready to go mentality to complement Hojbjergs and nudge N'Dombelle to fulfill his unbelievable potential. Sabitzer is at his peak and has the versatility to play as an 8 in the hole, or cover rw. We also need a commanding CB with pace and I think at our price range with 1 year left on his contract Milenković is the best priced option assuming Konate is going to Liverpool. I'm also open to Demiral, Botman, Rudiger (or even Adarabioyo) but they are more expensive/difficult deals to do for various reasons. I don't dislike Sanchez and have no desperate need to dump him but he'll never be 'commanding' and with our finances such as they are I'd prefer to gamble on Dier (and Rodon) getting to the level we need than him

We need a reliable cover for Kane, and while I think Vincius has been fine and at 15m i'd happily keep him but I wouldn't stretch at the 30m clause. I'd prefer Ings who shouldn't cost much more than that with 1 year left on his deal and is versatile to play all across the front line.

I don't think we could afford the embarrassment of Noni Maduke coming back to the prem and showing up our lack of development track to so I'd go for him as Bales understudy at the 15m speculated. If he refused the chance to return I'd go for Olise at reading, because I think Lucas's time is up and we' should cash in whilst giving a young kid the chance to learn from a legend like Bale.

I think we need to be thinging about bringing in a player to succeed Lloris sooner rather than later and imo the stand out candidates remain Maignan and Onana each with a year remaining on their deals. Onana would be cheaper because of his ban and is perhaps the better player if less reliable imo.

I think after a season on Bundesliga you've got to bring Sess back in or sell and yet Skipp could benefit from a full season at Prem level with Norwich before being pushed into top of table battles here. I doubt we'd be first in line but barnet and Levy have a good relationship and given any chance to bring in Camavinga with 1 year remaining on his deal is a no brainer (as is Kessie)

I'd love to upgrade Doherty but doubt we could shift him, and assuming serge will re-sign I don't see much better out there for us....I also am open to Japhet ultimately making the position his own. Aarons is too short and wooden imo. Maybe one the Brazilians Menino or Emerson perhaps, or Nordie mukiele if we're really gonna spend on the position but we probably do need height at RB if our left backs are to be Regulion and Sess.

I'd send Parrot, Clark, Cirikin, Skipp, Austin out on loan and let Devine and Scarlett train with the first team

Out:
Lamela 3m
Sissoko free
Gazzaniga 5m
Winks 15m
Davies 10m
Foyth 13m
Sanchez 20m
Lucas 12m

78m

In:
Ings 18m
Sabitzer 20m
Onana 5m
Maduke 15m
Milenkovic 20m
Camavinga 40m
Bale Free

118m

Net spend of 40m + agent fees


Son Kane Bale
LoCelso Hojbjerg Sabitzer
Reg. Dier Milenković Aurier
Lloris


Bergwin Ings Maduke
Ali
Camavinga N'Dombelle
Sess Rodon Alderwierld Doherty (Tagagna)
Hart/Onana