Summer transfer speculative hopes and dreams

[Zatara]

Think we would be better off signing one player for the £20mil it would take for those two myself.

1. Because that's how much that calibre of player is. Kev will only go for around 10m who's similar age, ability.
2. Inter are rebuilding their whole team. Loads of top targets are leaving there including Kovacic plus Mancini is total nut job.

 

[marty mcfly]

Inter signed Kondgobia for £22m last week. Their president is also worth $960m so i dont think money is an issue for Inter.

Just because the president is worth money doesn't mean the club is. What's the net worth of our board and shareholders?

 

[marty mcfly]

Also, Mertens over Shaqiri for me, if we are actually in for either of them.

Martens works a lot harder, and at the moment is the better player.

Shaqiri has the talent, but flatters to deceive a lot of the time for me. Would still have him here in a heartbeat like, but I think he's pretty similar to what we have already in Barkley and Deulofeu. Mertens in with McGeady out would be brilliant. Maybe Kev might be persuaded to stay then... but if he's set on a move/we're ready to sell, I'm sure he'll be off.

I probably do agree with that but I would prefer Shaqiri over keeping Kev. We need someone to break down teams that park the bus.

Kev has tried and failed, Barkley has tried and failed. Whenever we play teams like Palace we get beat easily and that has to be fixed.

 

[BlueToff]

At the moment, our midfield options are as follows:

Holding midfield/centre midfield:
- Barry
- Besic
- McCarthy
- Gibson
- Cleverley
- Barkley (will probably see some match time at a deeper position this season)

Attacking midfield:
- Barkley
- Cleverley
- Osman

Wingers (or players who can play there at least:
- Deuloefu
- Mirallas
- McGeady
- Pienaar
- Osman
- Cleverley

So the way I see it, if we're looking to sign an established/experienced playmaker (but not just assists, but general link up play with Baines and the midfield etc.) who is as comfortable playing out wide left as they are behind the striker - Mertens fits this category perfectly. Shaqiri can also play this position, but is less of a playmaker and more of a Kev/Deuloefu type.

If we signed Mertens (for lack of a better target at this time), and managed to keep Kev, then we'd have a very strong midfield, with a blend of youth and experience.

However, I find it unlikely that we'll keep Kev. I'd love us to, but I think he'll be sold if an offer comes in, in which case we'll go for Lennon - presuming of course we've sold McGeady.

But regardless, I do think we'll see the 'No.10' come in before Mirallas leaves (if he does).

 

[marty mcfly]

Think we would be better off signing one player for the £20mil it would take for those two myself.

It's a tough one. It's also much harder to attract players of that value and their wages also tend to be an issue.

The reality is that we're always shopping in the 10m-20m bracket for a reason.

 

[CahillsCornerFlag]

I would much prefer Mertens to Shaqiri. Mertens is exactly the kind of unselfish playmaker who can spot through balls that we need. Thankfully I think there's more to the Mertens rumour.

 

[BlueToff]

It's a tough one. It's also much harder to attract players of that value and their wages also tend to be an issue.

The reality is that we're always shopping in the 10m-20m bracket for a reason.

True. And in fairness, there's no way players like Isco are valued at £20mil (I know it was Zat that said it, not you). They bought him for £32mil two seasons back, and he's probably one of the best attacking midfielders around at the moment. £40mil easy, at least.

 

[daz4matty]

I probably do agree with that but I would prefer Shaqiri over keeping Kev. We need someone to break down teams that park the bus.

Kev has tried and failed, Barkley has tried and failed. Whenever we play teams like Palace we get beat easily and that has to be fixed.

I agree about shaqiri he could be class.
I still want kev to stay though

 

[marty mcfly]

Without signing anyone and removing the ones we can't rely on or will realistically be sold

Holding midfield/centre midfield:
- Barry
- Besic
- McCarthy
- Cleverley
- Barkley (will probably see some match time at a deeper position this season)

Attacking midfield:
- Barkley
- Cleverley
- Deuloefu

Wingers (or players who can play there at least:
- Deuloefu
- Cleverley

That's what we will have to find players for.

 

[Peter5875]

The same Sky Italia source who has said that Stoke have agreed the 17m euro fee, has said that we've offered 16m euros - hopefully we can outgun Stoke!

Sounds like the bidding we did a few years ago for Shearer

 

[marty mcfly]

True. And in fairness, there's no way players like Isco are valued at £20mil (I know it was Zat that said it, not you). They bought him for £32mil two seasons back, and he's probably one of the best attacking midfielders around at the moment. £40mil easy, at least.

Yarmolenko is rumored to be valued at 20m. I would say he's the absolute maximum of what we could attract but realistically he will be off to someone like Sevilla or Valencia if Chelsea don't take him as a replacement for Cuardrado.

 

[BlueToff]

Without signing anyone and removing the ones we can't rely on or will realistically be sold

Holding midfield/centre midfield:
- Barry
- Besic
- McCarthy
- Cleverley
- Barkley (will probably see some match time at a deeper position this season)

Attacking midfield:
- Barkley
- Cleverley
- Deuloefu
- Playmaker

Wingers (or players who can play there at least:
- Deuloefu
- Cleverley
- Playmaker
- Lennon

That's what we will have to find players for.

Okay, presuming this is the case and Mirallas/McGeady leave. So any 'No.10' that we sign will be able to play wide or in the centre, so that bolsters two positions.

We'd then just need another winger, and my bet would be on Lennon. He offers pace and work-rate, and gives the side balance.

 

[marty mcfly]

Okay, presuming this is the case and Mirallas/McGeady leave. So any 'No.10' that we sign will be able to play wide or in the centre, so that bolsters two positions.

We'd then just need another winger, and my bet would be on Lennon. He offers pace and work-rate, and gives the side balance.

Both him and Deulofeu are more known to play on the right. Do you not think Mertens whol plays on the left would be better?

He's more highly rated and he's also a hard worker.

 

[BlueToff]

Yarmolenko is rumored to be valued at 20m. I would say he's the absolute maximum of what we could attract but realistically he will be off to someone like Sevilla or Valencia if Chelsea don't take him as a replacement for Cuardrado.

Exactly. I reckon that we probably have around £10-12mil left to play with. We need a playmaker and a centre half, so it seems likely that Kev could be sold to enable us to fund a playmaker, a decent centre half back up, plus a winger to fill Kev's boots if he leaves.

 

[ijjysmith]

Still don't think there will be any more transfer action before we go to Asia.