Summer Transfer Window (2024/25)

[Jas10]

1 minute ago, PaulMcGrath_5 said:

He played an awful lot just behind (Kenneth) Vlahovic as a front 2 last season, so could be targeted for that role, as would Felix.

That’s good, but I personally think his best/natural position is LW/LM. So much quality regardless, a proper match winner.

Love his attitude too, works so hard for such a talented player.

[Jas10]

I can’t see it… we have so many players as it is, especially in forward areas.

But Chiesa at LM and Felix at SS, supporting Watkins… playing for Unai Emery…

That is CL class.

[PaulMcGrath_5]

2 minutes ago, Jas10 said:

That’s good, but I personally think his best/natural position is LW/LM. So much quality regardless, a proper match winner.

Love his attitude too, works so hard for such a talented player.

Big IF, but if we are interested I'd imagine it's more dictated by circumstances--an exceptionally low price for a player of his quality, entering the final 12 months of his deal. 

Not sure it's a particularly vital area for us to recruit, however. 

Edited July 8 by PaulMcGrath_5

[Jas10]

Just now, PaulMcGrath_5 said:

Big IF, but if we are interested I'd imagine it's more dictated by circumstances--an exceptionally low price for a player of his quality, entering the final 12 months of his deal. 

Not sure it's a particularly vital area for us to recruit, however. 

Yeah, it’s a very attractive opportunity… and one that we could exploit, to our benefit.

People often say that Unai is a specialist in turning player’s careers around or elevating them.

Can’t think of many better or higher quality options.

-

It’s just that if we move for players like this (especially if there is genuine value to be had, low cost deals for players who would otherwise/previously be highly valued or even unobtainable), who are we moving on?

[Jas10]

I’m more concerned with central midfield than attack or the wings though… and adding some steel to our defence.

We have to be harder to score against.

[one_ian_taylor]

3 minutes ago, PaulMcGrath_5 said:

Big IF, but if we are interested I'd imagine it's more dictated by circumstances--an exceptionally low price for a player of his quality, entering the final 12 months of his deal. 

Not sure it's a particularly vital area for us to recruit. 

I also am not sure if we would be interested in him or Felix right now,  and presumably would need to sell someone, but if we were, would definitely go for Chiesa over Felix.

[Jas10]

It’s funny… that we’ve come so far that we can actually even have conversations about players like this. And it’s not beyond the realms of possibility.

A bit of fun… so much progress in such a short time.

King Unai is great

Edited July 8 by Jas10

[Zatman]

18 minutes ago, PaulMcGrath_5 said:

He played an awful lot just behind (Kenneth) Vlahovic as a front 2 last season, so could be targeted for that role, as would Felix.

He wasnt very good though and Allegri sort of lost confidence in him while Motta wants nothing do with him

Sad to see a talented player lose ability but I think he wouldnt be as good as Zaniolo was here and he wasnt good

[BOF]

Based on nothing other than gut feeling and on how left lopsided our squad is at the moment, I can't shake the feeling that if we do end up buying one of the high-priced players we've been linked with towards the front end of the pitch, that it will mean cashing in on JJ to Spurs.

EDIT : Actually I just remembered he's our only club trained player for the CL squad who is first team viable, so perhaps not. Otherwise we've a 21 man squad for the CL.

[PaulMcGrath_5]

4 minutes ago, Zatman said:

He wasnt very good though and Allegri sort of lost confidence in him while Motta wants nothing do with him

Sad to see a talented player lose ability but I think he wouldnt be as good as Zaniolo was here and he wasnt good

I disagree with the highlighted, but hey, all about opinions.

I think the situation with Motta may well lean towards the player not renewing and him looking to cash in now to use funds towards further additions. 

[Hobsons Choice]

7 minutes ago, BOF said:

Based on nothing other than gut feeling and on how left lopsided our squad is at the moment, I can't shake the feeling that if we do end up buying one of the high-priced players we've been linked with towards the front end of the pitch, that it will mean cashing in on JJ to Spurs.

EDIT : Actually I just remembered he's our only club trained player for the CL squad who is first team viable, so perhaps not. Otherwise we've a 21 man squad for the CL.

You never know where these rumours come from. It could be that we've lined up multiple players just in case we end up having no choice but to lose someone. We might not ever have an intention of buying unless our hand was forced, but the media wouldn't know our intentions. Word getting out that we are scouting might be misconstrued as proof positive that we are going to bid.

[lexicon]

19 minutes ago, BOF said:

Based on nothing other than gut feeling and on how left lopsided our squad is at the moment, I can't shake the feeling that if we do end up buying one of the high-priced players we've been linked with towards the front end of the pitch, that it will mean cashing in on JJ to Spurs.

EDIT : Actually I just remembered he's our only club trained player for the CL squad who is first team viable, so perhaps not. Otherwise we've a 21 man squad for the CL.

It's not so much gut feeling as critical thinking tbh - I don't think we'll make any high-priced signings for this reason, but rather we'll look to keep a low net spend as we sell and buy accordingly. Otherwise we'll be in the situation next summer having to sell a valuable squad member and I'm sure we don't want that again. 

Edited July 8 by lexicon

[Supervillan78]

Felix would most likely end up at Barca again next season. Both the player and the club seem eager to make that happen. 
Cheisa would be an interesting move, especially if he is available for a relatively modest cost. I personally feel most of Cheisa’s issues are psychological and Juve’ were far too impatient with him. 
 Emery would be the perfect coach for him. 
 

[JAMAICAN-VILLAN]

45 minutes ago, Jas10 said:

I’m more concerned with central midfield than attack or the wings though… and adding some steel to our defence.

We have to be harder to score against.

Based on the links... It seems we may be experimenting with an innovative Oval formation.

No midfield, just Wingbacks, Wingers, Forwards and strikers

[fightoffyour]

1 hour ago, Delphinho123 said:

What we don't have is that archetypal no.10 who is comfortable on the half turn and in tight spaces to unlock defences.

Sounds like Buendia

[RicRic]

1 hour ago, HKP90 said:

He's played on both wings, but mostly when I've seen clips of him at Atletico he's been central, and appears to have made most appearances (165) as a central SS, whether drifting in from left or right from a number 10 spot. He's also right footed, so if we played him centrally, he's gonna move into the right hand channel. With Iling, and Maatsen, I doubt we'd play him out left except when there is an injury. 

Let's face it he's versatile and can play anywhere along the front line. 

He is versatile but he’s played mostly on the left, maatsen and illing jr would have no interference with where felix plays, those are wing backs and felix is a forward but would be positioned to the left or maybe central sometimes 

[Hobsons Choice]

Just now, RicRic said:

He is versatile but he’s played mostly on the left, maatsen and illing jr would have no interference with where felix plays, those are wing backs and felix is a forward but would be positioned to the left or maybe central sometimes 

Maatsen and Illing will both want to start. I'm assuming we'll be pushing one further forward (probably illing) and keeping one as full back/wing back? 

[Hobsons Choice]

9 minutes ago, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said:

Based on the links... It seems we may be experimenting with an innovative Oval formation.

No midfield, just Wingbacks, Wingers, Forwards and strikers

[PaulMcGrath_5]

Something needs to fill that big hole. 

[Hobsons Choice]

1 minute ago, PaulMcGrath_5 said:

Something needs to fill that big hole. 

Come on, you're just Kenneth fishing now.