If we can replace Gray and bring Gronto in that's a great deal.
If we can bring a striker like Toure or Iheanacho, I think we can start looking at the midfield
If we signed El Bilal and Gnonto with only Gray the attacking player out the door then we'd have:
DCL
El Bilal
Cannon(?)
McNeil
Doucoure
iwobi
Gnonto
Mills
8 players for 4 positions.
In central midfield though we'd have Garner, Onana and Gana for 2 positions which leaves us 1 short. I think this is why we were linked to Scott and Wharton.
Wouldn't say it's as simple as that. Let's say its a £30m deal and he's on that £4m a year wage that's rumoured. The deal would likely be stacked heavier at the start, even slightly. All in all first year's payment from us would probably be around £20m all things considered.
Also Gbamin isn't on £100k a week, probably more so £60k. Getting both him and Gomes out would still not even bring in £10m in savings, nevermind be enough on their own to pay for him. I think if we are to be getting rid of any, or all, of those 3 we'll at least be paying a part of their wages too.
All that to say I don't think it's as simple as shifting them out to bring in new faces based on their wages. Gray for Gnonto makes sense, they'd be roughly equivalent around a few million, with Toure though it's a different animal in terms of trying to structure it.
Remember, new stadium in a season which should increase revenue (or what was the point of it) along with funds were owed over the next few seasons.
There will be short term issues it seems but for large gains soon enough.
Personally Id have questions on Kelechi too, but similarly feel the Toure interest a bit off. I am fine if we simply look to usurp DCL as a starter. But Toure to me is kind of a head stracher as the justification is a little hard to parse. He is an engaging prospect with upside more so than a proven commodity. Im definitely fine with a huge ceiling future focused signing but the rumored price is reflecting more of a proven commodity or a level of assurance I don't quite have. Is he by distinction better than a handful of names with similar potential who may be less costly? Hard for me to think we couldn't find something cheaper in that vein or at least a prospect with a little more assurance in output at the same price.
This kind of extends to Gnonto as well. He is a very engaging prospect but he would also be being purchased post an initial large move. We'd be paying for Leeds identification, at British market rates. Some can argue the drop effects the price, but personally think there isn't all that great value deals in the Championship anymore to begin with. Why are we simply not looking at players akin to Gnonto coming from Zurich then Leeds?
Broadly speaking Thelwell is targeting interesting profiles but his value calculations and or specificity of given names oppose to a larger profile or price range I find questionable. Struggling to see the fingerprints of logic or discernment of market and resources. We can make good signings zeroing in but the methods become harder to repeat which id argue appears in future windows.
If we signed a Gnonto type they still could take a season to adapt. Not to mention players Brighton sign such as Caicedo and Mitoma have 1/2 to 1 season of being integrated.
Paying higher fees for those younger players who are further along in their development should lessen the risk and adaptation time.
Obviously we all want players who come in and score immediately, and want any of our forward signings to be prolific. I also get that people want to bring in proven goalscorers. But we cant on one hand fans cant say "We need to find those players at 5m before they cost 20m" and then "We need to get proven top league players", as the two are almost mutually exclusive. Richarlison had 5 top flight goals in his career at the time we paid 35m for him.
The reality as we have clearly seen is buying "proven" guys like Maupay does nothing for you if they dont produce. What we really need is good scouting, who can do what other clubs do and find players who HAVENT produced much yet(like Gnonto) so are pretty affordable, but have the talent, ability, and are ready to break out. Im not bothered in the least by signing some young unproven player who only has a few goals as I think ultimately thats how we compete for europe. Im bothered because the people making decisions, the board, have been the same who have shown they have no ability to do so and always make the wrong decisions.
Also the profile of player. Meaning how their attributes combine with others.
We know El Bilal, Danjuma and Gnonto are quick and can affect things around the box. We know Doucoure can score and run all day into the box.
Even small margins like a fit Patterson/Garner and Onana playing in his correct position can improve us now theyve adapted.
Add up the small margins could see a big improvement not to mention
Branthwaite instead of Keane.
