Summer transfer, gossip, speculation thread

[Monty]

This is what I hate about the premier league, stupid transfer fees and the wages that are paid to a lot of very average footballers, it is madness.

It's also why I've been a bit dismayed by the apparent domestic focus of our transfer targets so far. Surely this is not where the value is.

[Toronto Villa]

Butland is 6ft 5 and a big imposing fucker from what I recall, and a very good keeper when I have seen him, but £25 million just seems a lot when we have so much else to do in the team.

This is the point here.

Thing is how does any of us know exactly how much money the club is willing to spend? Dean Smith and the board will have a squad size in mind. They know who still needs be sold. They will have evaluated depth in every position and along with the board identified what it might take to fill those gaps. That number could be anything at all. What appears to be clear is they won’t be going with Kalinic and realize that a long term solution at GK is critical to what will be a tough season ahead. I have no doubt that securing Mings, 2 more CB and LB amongst other needs will have been discussed and planned for.

[SheffieldVillain]

Unless BOTH Kalinic and Nyland have let Smith know that they want to get away I do not understand why we would jeopardise team cohesion by trying to sign an expensive 'keeper ... even if he's worth it. If they have then the current speculation and links to Etheridge and Butland are understandable.

Because Nyland is shit (and injured), Kalinic is debatable and anyone who goes into the Premier League with only one reliable keeper is mad.

[Toronto Villa]

It’s also a business and I for one am delighted we appear to have people in charge who are looking at it that way. Thank you Jed for all you did. Time to bring in better players. And that goes for a few others too.

[AllanW]

Because Nyland is shit (and injured), Kalinic is debatable and anyone who goes into the Premier League with only one reliable keeper is mad.

But by the start of the season Nyland will be fit and available for selection again and Kalinic might have got over his rushed start with the club and be a solid performer. They may well over the summer have regained the confidence that makes them both international selections. Both get the bit between their teeth to prove to the management that they deserve the vest over the incumbent and hit pre-season running giving Smith a selection headache.

The situation may not be so black-and-white as you may think, my friend

[AsTallAsLions]

I'm honestly not even convinced he's very good.

[hilts_coolerking]

Me either.  Some say there were mitigating circumstances but he just didn't look any good to me.

[Sexual Ealing]

Kalinic seems to lack the ability to jump. I guess he's never really had to at 6 ft 7, but it's a real bonus for a goalie if they can.

[The_ads]

This is what I hate about the premier league, stupid transfer fees and the wages that are paid to a lot of very average footballers, it is madness.

It's also why I've been a bit dismayed by the apparent domestic focus of our transfer targets so far. Surely this is not where the value is.

How can you possibly be dismayed, are you actually serious? We’ve signed a back up squad player to replace  Adomah and have signed the guy who came through the Ajax youth system who was absolutely brilliant for us. How do you possibly know what targets we have other than the tripe you’re reading on transfer speculation websites.  Notwithstanding, we are only two weeks into being able to sign anybody. People need to chill the fuck out and trust the proper structure we have in place.

[The_ads]

It’s also a business and I for one am delighted we appear to have people in charge who are looking at it that way. Thank you Jed for all you did. Time to bring in better players. And that goes for a few others too.

Absolutely this. Sentiment will get us relegated, time to invest in people that will keep us in the premier league

[The_ads]

Butland is an extremely good goalkeeper, if the price is £18m for a guy that could potentially save us 8-10 points it’s an absolute no brainer.

[SheffieldVillain]

Because Nyland is shit (and injured), Kalinic is debatable and anyone who goes into the Premier League with only one reliable keeper is mad.

But by the start of the season Nyland will be fit and available for selection again and Kalinic might have got over his rushed start with the club and be a solid performer. They may well over the summer have regained the confidence that makes them both international selections. Both get the bit between their teeth to prove to the management that they deserve the vest over the incumbent and hit pre-season running giving Smith a selection headache.

The situation may not be so black-and-white as you may think, my friend

And Neil Taylor might gain in confidence from the promotion to become a top-class full-back in the style of Roberto Carlos. Aaron Tshibola might suddenly press on and become Xavi after his loan spell to prove that he belongs. Scott Hogan might regain his scoring touch and bag 30 in the Premier.

Unlikely though. So the management will be basing their recruitment on what they see every day in training and matches. Which clearly isn't that Kalinic or Nyland are part of the future, which is why they are looking to bring someone in.

Smith, Pitarch and Cutler's reasoned views based on working with them on a daily basis or your 'might haves' and 'possibiles' based on nothing. I think I'll go with Deano's opinion if you don't mind, my friend

[bjfoster]

Kalinic seems to lack the ability to jump. I guess he's never really had to at 6 ft 7, but it's a real bonus for a goalie if they can.

You'd think it would be in the job description for a keeper. Also, something at the top of our scouting network's list of things he must be able to do or to look for before he signed?!

[Rigadon]

Kalinic seems to lack the ability to jump. I guess he's never really had to at 6 ft 7, but it's a real bonus for a goalie if they can.

Some people want the moon on a stick. 

[Chipsticks]

This is what I hate about the premier league, stupid transfer fees and the wages that are paid to a lot of very average footballers, it is madness.

It's also why I've been a bit dismayed by the apparent domestic focus of our transfer targets so far. Surely this is not where the value is.

As far as I can tell (and based largely on Purslow's comments), I'm pretty sure our transfer strategy has been formed with one eye on the possibility that we go straight back down.

The likes of Butland, Jota, Mings, Lolley, Benrahma etc will all have (relatively) low wage demands and offer strong sell-on value if needed. If we go down, they don't seem the type to be above sticking around and playing in the championship, or alternatively we can sell them on for decent money as they'll be a year more matured and have Premier League experience to the name.

Seems like it ties in with us being a more responsible club in our transfer dealings, rather than going up and putting some Premier League stalwarts on 70k+.