Summer transfer, gossip, speculation thread

[cdbearsfan]

The idea that Fulham spent loads and struggled therefore you shouldn't spend loads is bunk. There are far more teams who haven't spent loads and have been shite.

You can't guarantee a good season by spending big. You can pretty much guarantee a shit season by not doing so, though.

[mr underhill]

as ever its who you buy - we at long last seem to have a coherent plan, even if that means paying more for some and less for others who can make a difference -Jota being an example and Hause, another.

[olaftab]

I hear what some of you are saying and hope you are right however I  believe successful teams need to stay together and keep that winning mentality. I also accept that management are doing their best to  get our best loanees, from last season, back. With two new fullbacks and  possibly new goalkeeper we need to restore  the established  central defensive partnership.

[Mister E]

I reckon another centre half, winger, midfielder and striker and we should be done.

Is Jota not a winger?
Would Wes not play wide if we bought in another striker - say, Maupay, for example?
For me, the winger is the lowest priority.

[AsTallAsLions]

If we've been priced out of deals for other centre-halves (beyond what we're willing to pay that is), and we've had to stump up more than expected for Mings, then it stands to reason that we would be looking at Cahill on a free or Tuanzebe on loan again, rather than buying another 20m+ centre-half.

It's not necessarily the best thing for the long term but given the need for a DM, another winger and potentially another striker - and the fact that Smith seems to want a better GK too - we may need to spend big elsewhere. There is a limit to the spending, though I've no idea what that number might be.

Personally I'd gladly take Tuanzebe or Cahill back to round out our CB options if we can also bring in Heaton at 7-8m, Phillips for 20m, Trezeguet for 10m and an unknown striker option at the right price...

[jwarry]

We seem to have placed a £7m bid for Heaton so it sounds like we have told Stoke to shove Butland up your arse

[Mister E]

... I  believe successful teams need to stay together and keep that winning mentality.

True, but teams need a basic level of capability in order to be successful as well. We went into the play-offs with a team that had not been set up for life in the Prem; the need to rapidly upskill was obvious.
With Smith, Terry and the core of last season's team, we should be able to develop the culture and commitment that successful teams also need, despite the influx of a few new characters into the changing room.

[Clark W Griswold]

We seem to have placed a £7m bid for Heaton so it sounds like we have told Stoke to shove Butland up your arse

If Butland is going to be 2.5 - 3 X the price of Heaton i don't blame them.

[Toronto Villa]

Yes, a loan move for Axel is a possibility. I think he'll be back for the start of the season. Should sign Cahill as he's on a free. Need another 2 CB's.

There is no chance Axel is coming back. He just signed a new deal at Man U and will be competing for a starting spot. Plus we’re not taking an loans and certainly not ones where we won’t be buying them at the end.

Wrong. If Ole isn't impressed during their pre-season matches he might well feel that Axel needs more game time which he can't can't guarantee at Utd. It wouldn't be the first time that a young player signs a new deal and then heads out on loan for more experience.

It’s not wrong based on what the CEO and manager have both made very clear is the current approach to player recruitment. That we don’t want to develop a player for someone else. So unless that position has shifted, or unless Man U having just tied him down for the next 4 years then allow a deal to loan with an option to buy it’s not happening.

[danno]

Any possibility Man Yoo have given the kid a new contract just so they can avoid losing him on a free next summer?

[garyshawsknee]

Yeah, they're protecting themselves if he doesn't become a first team regular.

[darren woolley]

Any possibility Man Yoo have given the kid a new contract just so they can avoid losing him on a free next summer?

I agree Danno look what Arsenal have done letting player's contracts run down then getting nothing
for them like Aaron Ramsey this season to Juventus and before him Jack Wilshere so I think Manure are protecting themselves.

[rob_bridge]

I am concerned that our team is/could be totally changed from the team that won promotion, remembering what happened to Fulham?

Fulham didnt need a whole new team as kept most of those who had won promotion and pissed them off woth a load of newbies.

We let 8 first team squad go and otherss back to loan clubs.

So need a minimum of 10

[paul_e]

I reckon another centre half, winger, midfielder and striker and we should be done.

Is Jota not a winger?
Would Wes not play wide if we bought in another striker - say, Maupay, for example?
For me, the winger is the lowest priority.

The key thing on this is that Smith didn't use proper wingers at Brentford, he played with them tucked in on either side as, effectively, inside forwards. Jota worked in that role nut not as winger (which is what Blues tried to use him as) so he is definitely a good option. The other benefit to playing that way is that the 'cover' for the right wing and up front can (and in my opinion should) be the same person.

Wesley, El Ghazi, Kodjia, Jota and a new guy would all need to be in the 25 man squad but Davis, Green and RHM can all add to that as u21 (anyone born in 1998 or later) which would give us plenty of depth

[cdbearsfan]

Winger top priority for me. Wingers are ace. Sign at least one, please.