Winter Transfer Window Scouting Thread 23/24

[Ghost Hardware]

Lo Celso and Raphinha swap deal?

Think that would suit all parties.

He’s on €240 k p/w and is really not particularly good 1v1. Seen him numerous times for Barca as i watch them fairly regularly and he often looses the ball trying to take too many players on. What you end up with is great highlight reels but if you actually watch him he will look more like Antony at times, trying too many tricks and running down blind allies. It really can be infuriating. At his best he’s more of a pass and move winger who uses his excellent pace to get in behind rather then someone who skins his FB to create passing or shooting opportunities. In general his decision making is often very questionable and he has constancy issues. His G/A numbers are solid for last season, but he would not fill our current gap of a tricky winger who excels 1 v 1. Plus Barca are looking for around 60-70 mil for him supposedly so even if you swapped Gio they would want a good chunk of money on top. For the money involved Raphinha feels very much like a Man Utd kind of transfer to me. If we didn't have Johnson I could see the point as he is a solid player and probably slightly underrated at Barca, his speed and defensive work rate is very good and certainly something Ange would like. He will never be an elite talent tho and even without Johnson he wouldn't be worth 60 mil and 240k pw in wages.

 

[funkycoldmedina]

One in before the United game should be a priority.

It isn't really the time to be mucking about over a few million. ESPECIALLY as we are so light and didn't get one in last July.

We dragged the Porro deal out although it worked in our favour eventually and we weren't light there.

We surely have identified players from last summer so we SHOULD be able to act fast.

And, most importantly, we created space by selling Sanchez. Ange was prepared to take the hit in his squad which he's paid for, the club should reward that by getting him his preferred CB in as quickly as possible.

 

[StanSpur]

I dont see much in Jan bar a CB. For that i think we will go for a Tosin, Godfrey or Kelly to tick the HG and young quota. Maybe we see Everton as somewhere we can do business by renegotiating the Dele deal in favour of a defender discount. I think we will go for a bigger name CB in the summer when i think Romero will be tempted to Spain (it might not be the worst thing given his inability to stay calm). Forward wise i cannot see much change, the outlier is Richi and Saudi money but with Son gone for a month i dont think we will sell in Jan and put that deal off until the summer. With Solomon and Maddison coming back the front 4 is decent and i cant see us being able to significantly upgrade it in the winter window. As others have said, more options and better value in the summer.

 

[Wig]

He’s on €240 k p/w and is really not particularly good 1v1. Seen him numerous times for Barca as i watch them fairly regularly and he often looses the ball trying to take too many players on. What you end up with is great highlight reels but if you actually watch him he will look more like Antony at times, trying too many tricks and running down blind allies. It really can be infuriating. At his best he’s more of a pass and move winger who uses his excellent pace to get in behind then someone who skins his FB to create passing or shooting opportunities. In general his decision making is often very questionable and he has constancy issues. His G/A numbers are solid for last season, but he would not fill our current gap of a tricky winger who excels 1 v 1. Plus Barca are looking for around 60-70 mil for him supposedly so even if you swapped Gio they would want a good chunk of money on top. For the money involved Raphinha feels very much like a Man Utd kind of transfer to me. If we didn't have Johnson I could see the point as he is a solid player and probably slightly underrated at Barca, his speed and defensive work rate is very good and certainly something Ange would like. He will never be an elite talent tho and even without Johnson he wouldn't be worth 60 mil and 240k pw in wages.

You're right, we should push for a swap for Lamine Yamal instead!

 

[rossdapep]

And, most importantly, we created space by selling Sanchez. Ange was prepared to take the hit in his squad which he's paid for, the club should reward that by getting him his preferred CB in as quickly as possible.

That is actually a great point.

Levy cannot betray that and allow any incomings to be dragged out. I realise that it is now down to the new sporting director but it will inevitably be down to money.

If we have targetted the correct player and Ange wants that player, we can't be spending the month trying to reduce the fee because of the situation we put ourselves in.
If it is a late one, I am pretty sure Ange will be getting a little irritated

 

[rossdapep]

He’s on €240 k p/w and is really not particularly good 1v1. Seen him numerous times for Barca as i watch them fairly regularly and he often looses the ball trying to take too many players on. What you end up with is great highlight reels but if you actually watch him he will look more like Antony at times, trying too many tricks and running down blind allies. It really can be infuriating. At his best he’s more of a pass and move winger who uses his excellent pace to get in behind then someone who skins his FB to create passing or shooting opportunities. In general his decision making is often very questionable and he has constancy issues. His G/A numbers are solid for last season, but he would not fill our current gap of a tricky winger who excels 1 v 1. Plus Barca are looking for around 60-70 mil for him supposedly so even if you swapped Gio they would want a good chunk of money on top. For the money involved Raphinha feels very much like a Man Utd kind of transfer to me. If we didn't have Johnson I could see the point as he is a solid player and probably slightly underrated at Barca, his speed and defensive work rate is very good and certainly something Ange would like. He will never be an elite talent tho and even without Johnson he wouldn't be worth 60 mil and 240k pw in wages.

I like Raphinha but I agree.

We shoud be looking at players on their way up anyway.

 

[Japhet]

Yes, I just worry that Barca value Lo Celso at 10m and Raphinha at 70m despite them being of comparable quality

Can bet your life on that.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

I mean he quite literally was a gooner, he played for them. There's also a picture of him wearing an Arsenal shirt. I doubt you can find pictures of any other Spurs fans wearing Arsenal shirts in their younger days.

I don't have an issue with it, he was young and was playing at youth level for them, then they let him go from their academy and he joined Spurs and the rest is history.

But there's no way you can tell me that on the day this picture was taken if you asked that young Harry who he supported he would have said anything other than Arsenal.

View attachment 135022

My son has kits of lots of different teams - several English ones. But he's a Spurs fan.

Not that I have any firm views on this point, I literally don't care

 

[Ron Burgundy]

It’ll be over £100m+. So no chance we get him unfortunately, but you never know!

I think it would take over £100m, and IMO, he absolutely is not (yet) proven to be worth something like that.

He might well go on to become a world class player, but he may not. If we have £100m burning a hole in our pocket, I could think of ways to spend it that would (in all probability) have a great impact on the squad.

Don't get me wrong: great player, great prospect, might very well go on to make £100m look a bargain, but it's definitely a big risk

 

[WorthATry]

The article linked in the tweet is apparently the biggest sports site in Romania

 

[Stoof]

The article linked in the tweet is apparently the biggest sports site in Romania

Looks like they're trying to Dragusin to a transfer tussle.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

I like Raphinha but I agree.

We shoud be looking at players on their way up anyway.

Exactly and realistically we could buy and offer contracts to any two of Nusa, Soule, Bakyoko, Bardghji etc for the same price as him. Not that we necessarily need two more WF's but just make a point about value. TBH I don't really expect us to be spending over 40/50 mil on players very often going forward in general.

 

[GetSpurredOn]

2 + 2 could be making 5, but perhaps this rumour landing is why Ange was so open about the need for a CB, try and get ahead of the media leak.

 

[Wig]

The article linked in the tweet is apparently the biggest sports site in Romania

We've clearly had some good connections within Serie A, via Paratici, so there could be some truth in this.

I have no idea about the player's quality but wouldn't it be amazing if we've identified and can bring in the new CB on the first day of the January window, so they can get to work asap.

 

[curlacious]

We've clearly had some good connections within Serie A, via Paratici, so there could be some truth in this.

I have no idea about the player's quality but wouldn't it be amazing if we've identified and can bring in the new CB on the first day of the January window, so they can get to work asap.

Juventus connection too.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

The article linked in the tweet is apparently the biggest sports site in Romania

His agent said this in Nov "I have been in London for some time and have almost weekly meetings with important teams. We are getting closer. I spoke with Newcastle, with Arsenal, with Tottenham. I also have messages with them, conversations. There are teams that ask [about Dragusin].” So if true its obv been brewing for a while. I think there is very likely truth in this because he used to be at Juve so very likely another Paratici recommendation to us. Looks a very exciting talent from matches i've seen of him. Only 21. He's big (6.3), strong, fast and has very good anticipation for his age. Needs work a little on the possession side of his game tho. He's right footed but can play ether side and i think he's even played as a FB a few times. For the price and age I can understand the link.

 

[brasil_spur]

I dont see much in Jan bar a CB. For that i think we will go for a Tosin, Godfrey or Kelly to tick the HG and young quota.

Couple of points here:

1. Kelly is out injured right now so I don't think that deal makes sense.
2. We're not much in need of HG as we currently have Skipp, Maddison, Forster, 3rd Keeper, Davies, Johnson and Phillips, along with Sarr from next season. Personally I think we go for the best value CB we can get, and not worry too much about HG at this point.

 

[djhotspur]

Couple of points here:

1. Kelly is out injured right now so I don't think that deal makes sense.
2. We're not much in need of HG as we currently have Skipp, Maddison, Forster, 3rd Keeper, Davies, Johnson and Phillips, along with Sarr from next season. Personally I think we go for the best value CB we can get, and not worry too much about HG at this point.

Kelly makes sense on a free in summer and move Davies on imo.

 

[felmani26]

The article linked in the tweet is apparently the biggest sports site in Romania

Same agency as Vicario too.

 

[Japhet]

The article linked in the tweet is apparently the biggest sports site in Romania

Looks a really good fit for what we're after. Big, strong, quick, loves a tackle and composed on the ball. Likes a forward run too and looks like he can play either side. Price looks OK but I bet it goes up.