If we are under new owners soon, I'd like to think that they'd be ready to splash the cash around to turn around this train-wreck of a squad, particularly in their first season. Not sure Lambert is the right man to be trusted with a 'war chest'... but the glaring problems that need to be immediately addressed is an international standard CB to partner Vlaar/Okore/Clark(in the worst case scenario). Someone said Howedes earlier - would be an excellent signing, and the kind of player we need to be looking at - capped for Germany, experienced (but not aged) and a centre half who can most importantly play out from the back. One of the main problems this year has been the CB's inability (Nathan Baker I'm looking at you) to have any wherewithal to start moves from the back, which leads to the much-maligned passing-between-the-centre-halves that usually causes an error/goal. Wouldn't be averse to a player like Lescott taking a pay cut to play regularly and joining us - but you'd like to think whoever comes in will be able to look further afield for a player like Howedes or Astori (at Cagliari).
The other imperative signing is a number 10 who can play in front of Delph/Westwood and offer an option between the lines that those two do not. In a 4-2-3-1 behind Benteke a player like Holtby would be perfect for us (I'm mystified as to why he wasn't a priority in January). Again you'd hope that we'd look outside of the British Isles for a player like this because they are in short supply (and expensive) over here - Feghouli has been excellent for Valencia recently but he plays a little bit deeper, or someone like Florenzi at Roma who has been out of favour and might not be against a move to a (rich?!) PL club. Stoke made a similar signing in Arnautovic from Bremen last summer, and although he's played a little wider and is a bit mental, a signing of that kind is the sort of thing we should be looking at.
I'm sure that with Albrighton/Weimann/Grealish(?) and a quality no. 10 around Benteke, with the midfield axis of Delph/Westy we could - with the right system and manager - have a very good midfield/attack and play some attractive football in the process.
