Summer transfer, gossip, speculation thread

[Dante Lavelli]

I actually don't see the point in another centre forward. Playing the way we did last season, we have Wesley, Davis and Kodjia for one position, i'm sure that'll be enough.

Not if Wesley doesn't hit the ground running it's not.

I agree with Griswold.  If we signed both then one is destined to be a failure as our formation cannot accommodate both.  Give Wes the shirt (kodj as back up) and reassess next summer or January worst case.

To put it another way, £15m is a very expensive insurance policy when other areas of the team need addressing.

[sirlordbaltimore]

I actually don't see the point in another centre forward. Playing the way we did last season, we have Wesley, Davis and Kodjia for one position, i'm sure that'll be enough.

WTF .. I bet the PL defences are currently losing sleep over that prospect i'm sure

We know Davis and Kodjia aren't PL starting quality and we have zero idea how Big Wes will fair.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Not being pessimistic but we have to spend money on class players who have an edge eg Benrahma-Lolley-Wilson-Butland-Gail. We need game changers to enhance the quality we already have. Grealish-Mcginn-Wesley. We have got to grasp premiership mentality. And like now !!!!!

I'm not sure we can put Wesley up there with Jack and SJM yet.  Most of us have never seen him play.  None of us have seen him play in the Premier League.  For that matter none of us have seen SJM play in the Premier League.

I’m confused which of you is pessimistic then?

I don't think either of us is.

We are both merely sharing a point of view. Most of the squad have not played in the prem. So technically they are all a "gamble". just feel we need flair & gifted players to survive the first season …….

[Steve67]

I must assume we’ve got our ducks in line, talked to agents and made sure the players are keen and that the team may sell for the right price. But not shown our hands on the deals where we know there’s no competition, to get the best price.... 🤞 could go to deadline day for a couple.

I hope so, it makes things more exciting. 

[JJ-AV]

Davis is a promising young player but unfortunately he cannot score

[cdbearsfan]

I still reckon he will come good but wouldn't want to put too much pressure on him just yet. At least one more forward is essential.

[Des Little]

If we go into this season with Wesley, Kodjia and Davis as our attacking options we will be fighting the drop. That is a nailed on fact. It won’t happen.

[paul_e]

For me you need to be looking at scoring about 45-50 goals to be secure in midtable. I'd back Hourihane, McGinn and Jack and the defenders to get about 20 so for me we need 25 goals from Wesley, El Ghazi, Jota and their backups/competitions. If Wesley can provide about half of that then he'll have done the job we need this season, 12-13 from him, with 5-6 each for the wide players and we're pretty much there. If we could get another goalscorer to play across that 3 then that'd be fantastic but if we play the way we did once our defence was sorted then we'll be fine.

I'm much more interested in getting a couple of centre backs and a defensive midfielder and then we can look further forward.

[ozzjim]

I would be amazed if another striker and a winger don't sign before the window is out. Too important to go in light in forward areas. One injury and you are stuffed.

We desperately need to then add 2 centre halves still (ideally Mings and Webster but that looks very expensive) and in my opinion 2 midfielders who can play the holding role, one specialist holder and one who can get stuck in but cover ground like McGinn. Again, injuries etc, we need cover. Lansbury is not my idea of midfield cover.

[Steve67]

I suspect that Villa wanted to mostly buy British as they fit in quicker but because some of the clubs negotiated with are taking the piss, we might have to rethink, which is why things are taking longer?  Brizzle wanting 20mill for Webster, Brentford the same for Benrahma, Leeds for Phillips, is a financial gamble that we may have to go foreign for to get cheaper deals.  Still a gamble, but a more cost effective one.  If we purchase just one defensive midfielder, we are vulnerable if he gets injured, therefore, I hope we double up on centre backs, midfielders, wingers and strikers.  That might be way too may players to bring in, in this window, but the bench won't be much cop at this level unless we try.

[andyh]

For me you need to be looking at scoring about 45-50 goals to be secure in midtable. I'd back Hourihane, McGinn and Jack and the defenders to get about 20 so for me we need 25 goals from Wesley, El Ghazi, Jota and their backups/competitions. If Wesley can provide about half of that then he'll have done the job we need this season, 12-13 from him, with 5-6 each for the wide players and we're pretty much there. If we could get another goalscorer to play across that 3 then that'd be fantastic but if we play the way we did once our defence was sorted then we'll be fine.

I'm much more interested in getting a couple of centre backs and a defensive midfielder and then we can look further forward.

20 from midfield and defence? Feckin hell, I’ll have a pint of what your on.

[Pat McMahon]

I like my summer signings to arrive as quickly as possible. Gives them time to settle in, be part of the pre-season fitness and tactical sessions, bond with the squad and find somewhere to live so they are as sorted as they can be come the first game.

[Sexual Ealing]

I like my summer signings to arrive as quickly as possible. Gives them time to settle in, be part of the pre-season fitness and tactical sessions, bond with the squad and find somewhere to live so they are as sorted as they can be come the first game.

I like my summer signings like i like my paedophile mezzo-sopranos. On a register only available to dogs.

[garyshawsknee]

I'm with you andyh.

[Clark W Griswold]

I actually don't see the point in another centre forward. Playing the way we did last season, we have Wesley, Davis and Kodjia for one position, i'm sure that'll be enough.

WTF .. I bet the PL defences are currently losing sleep over that prospect i'm sure

We know Davis and Kodjia aren't PL starting quality and we have zero idea how Big Wes will fair.

Honesty, I couldn't give a flying fuck what you're sure about or anything you 'know' without any evidence to back it up.
Put it this way, if when we've spent the £60-£70m we'll probably need to spend on the essential 2 centre backs, holding midfielder and winger and then the £10-£20m on the goalkeeper that is more urgent than a new centre forward and we still have £15m plus to spunk on a 4th/5th centre forward to sit on the bench then I'm all for it. It's not like we've made a habit of having unbalanced squads in recent seasons is it?