Summer transfer, gossip and speculation thread

[UK Redsox]

Odegaard is someone who'd have been ideal if Jack had left.

[paul_e]

Odegaard is more right sided really, plays in a similar inside forward role to Snodgrass.

[Iamkmkm]

I remember him when he was 15, people talked about him like he was the new maradona.

[paul_e]

I remember him when he was 15, people talked about him like he was the new maradona.

Me too, I work with lots of Norwegians and they were raving about him, to be fair he has got ridiculously quick feet and great technique so I can understand the excitement.

[OCD]

Sounds like a Traore type. I hope he has a better end product.

[RussellC]

Without meaning it too critically, it does seem like having two number-10 type players on the pitch at the same time would be a bridge too far for someone like Bruce, even though Jack's ability to do the dirty work has improved significantly in recent times.

A lot of 'pundits' cited Everton's struggles last season to having too many players trying to occupy the 'number 10' role. Sigurdsson and Klaassen struggled to play together especially when Rooney was the lone striker, as he'd be looking to drop deep into the same space that they were trying to play-in!

That said, I thought on Saturday that Jack was playing much more like a number 8 (as he often did last season) and at times it meant that Kodjia was ridiculously isolated. We really need either him or McGinn to play 10/15 yards higher-up the pitch, to help encourage the whole team to do so, particularly later-on in games. That didn't really happen on Saturday until Hourihane came on.  Odegaard might be an option to play as an out-and-out number 10 if that's the case, although you;d then be looking to sacrifice a dedicated defensive midfielder (or McGinn)...

[JJ-AV]

Could work, Green and Kodjia can stretch teams and an extra creative type on the right with Elmo on the overlap?

[Matt Collins]

I doubt this is true personally

I think McGinn and jack as two 8s can work. But it requires the strike to hold the ball up and the wingers to offer real penetration

[Matt Collins]

I see batshuayi has gone on loan to Valencia. So perhaps Abraham will stay at Chelsea as third choice CF

Not sure who we're interested in as an alternative? If we are interested in Success I imagine it's as a winger (from the v little I know)

Any other names linked? Nmecha and Hugill have gone now

[tomd2103]

I doubt this is true personally

I think McGinn and jack as two 8s can work. But it requires the strike to hold the ball up and the wingers to offer real penetration

That is how I would go for the time being Matt.  Midfield three with Grealish and McGinn as the attacking midfielders, two wide players and a striker.  I really think if we can get a striker who can hold the ball up and bring the others into play then it could really click.

[Risso]

It's all gone a bit quiet on the rumours front.

[Whiney MacWhineface]

It's all gone a bit quiet on the rumours front.

According to The Guardian we're interested in Abrahams and Snodgrass and, along with Middlesborough, Bolasie. Who was excellent until his bad injury...

[UK Redsox]

Chelsea's squad looks a bit light up front, so I'm not sure if Tammy Abraham is surplus to requirements

[JJ-AV]

Bolasie is such a fun footballer to watch, I'd love him down the Villa

Bolasie and Abraham would be a fantastic duo to add. I can't see Abraham coming though. Chelsea only have three strikers and Sarri is keen to use the younger players.

[Sexual Ealing]

I would love us to get Bolasie. He’d tear it up down here.