Summer transfer, gossip, speculation and the usual butter ollocks thread

[AsTallAsLions]

FWIW I don't think he meant literally last-minute signings, just late window rather than early window signings. His point about the players not having enough time to acclimate is valid IMO. Signing the likes of Trez and Luiz in late July gave them very little time to adjust. Wesley's work permit situation meant he didn't get to link up with the squad until relatively late in pre-season too.

Our early performances speak to that, falling apart from a winning position against the poorest Spurs team in years and then losing at home to relegation fodder Bournemouth. 1 win across August and September. We'll need to hit the ground running this season or else end up in the same struggle all over again.

No need to panic yet and as you say there are mitigating circumstances outside of our control which have resulted in a squeezed pre-season, but nonetheless we're little more 3 weeks away from kick-off. We need signings this side of September. I'm sure there will be one or two at least, but I'll be worried if not.

[AsTallAsLions]

On the plus side, grateful for another window where we haven't signed Joe Hart.

Very Spursy

[Clampy]

It is different to last season though because we had so many players to replace. Now we just need to add a bit of quality and get a couple out the door. The squad as a whole will have had one season together and that will be a help going into the next one. I personally wouldn't be to worried if no-one is in by the start of the season but I'm sure we will have done business by then anyway.

[Brazilian Villain]

Franco Cervi, Argentine midfielder at Benfica, being linked.

Could make sense if Milot doesn't want to come as he's a winger. Argentine international but holds an Italian passport.

[john2710]

The only players moving are those out of contract, where the deal was already in place or where release clauses are met.

The price of players will drop as we get closer to the window ending. I can see Brentford dropping the asking price for Watkins & Benrahma.

Clubs outside of the Premier League will want to get their business sorted, replacements brought in & more than anything get some cash into their business. It will be the same across Europe. There will be some bargains to be got if we are patient.

We paid top price for some ordinary players last summer to get the numbers in, we won't be over paying again.

[Dave]

Players on holiday / only recently stopped playing

Some clubs are still playing.

And they're clubs that could easily have a direct impact on what we do. If Rashica prefers Leipzig to us, but prefers us to Bremen then he's not going to jump straight to us while Leipizg are still trying to win the Champions League when those results will likely have a bearing on what they do in the summer.

[mr underhill]

he's been pulled from a game tomorrow apparently and according to some reports we have met the asking price

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Franco Cervi, Argentine midfielder at Benfica, being linked.

I missed this yesterday as it was in the press here. Some confusion as to his best position; originally a winger, left side midfielder that can defend or could easily be switched to left back but right now he's surplus to Benfica's requirements. They're asking €15m for him (bought him for €6m). Mixed opinions from the Benficistas about him leaving, most like him, most think he wasn't used well by previous coaches (including Lage) but pretty much all agree technically he's very good and works his balls off but has the occasional brain fart when attacking. A bit like El Ghazi but with 100% effort.
Oh and he's 165cm.

Edit: The barstewards are signing Cavani today.

[gpbarr]

Not liking the rumors so far - we seem to have been linked with many players unproven or suspect at PL level (Watkins, Benhrama, Buendia, Cantwell, Eze, Rashica, Edouard, Brewster, etc) yet I think we all agree that we really do need proven stable PL experience to reduce the risks associated with buying players in the first category.

I guess time will tell.

[Dave]

I think we all agree that we really do need proven stable PL experience

I can guarantee that we don't all agree with this.

[garyellis]

Not liking the rumors so far - we seem to have been linked with many players unproven or suspect at PL level (Watkins, Benhrama, Buendia, Cantwell, Eze, Rashica, Edouard, Brewster, etc) yet I think we all agree that we really do need proven stable PL experience to reduce the risks associated with buying players in the first category.

I guess time will tell.

Not one of them on that list that would not improve us. If you want end of career journeymen after one big pay day then we have learned nothing. If you want proven premier league stars then dream on.

[Mister E]

Not liking the rumors so far - we seem to have been linked with many players unproven or suspect at PL level (Watkins, Benhrama, Buendia, Cantwell, Eze, Rashica, Edouard, Brewster, etc) yet I think we all agree that we really do need proven stable PL experience to reduce the risks associated with buying players in the first category.

I guess time will tell.

We have 4 weeks to go; as does every team.
All teams will probably have to accept that it'll take a part of the new season to properly embed new players into the squad. At least, the squad we now have are all Premier-League savvy, even if the quality is not quite there yet.
After the obvious challenge of keeping in the current players, the main issue is bringing in a decent Centre Forward.

[Drummond]

FWIW I don't think he meant literally last-minute signings, just late window rather than early window signings. His point about the players not having enough time to acclimate is valid IMO. Signing the likes of Trez and Luiz in late July gave them very little time to adjust. Wesley's work permit situation meant he didn't get to link up with the squad until relatively late in pre-season too.

Our early performances speak to that, falling apart from a winning position against the poorest Spurs team in years and then losing at home to relegation fodder Bournemouth. 1 win across August and September. We'll need to hit the ground running this season or else end up in the same struggle all over again.

No need to panic yet and as you say there are mitigating circumstances outside of our control which have resulted in a squeezed pre-season, but nonetheless we're little more 3 weeks away from kick-off. We need signings this side of September. I'm sure there will be one or two at least, but I'll be worried if not.

Just a couple of things. Bournemouth obviously got relegated but they weren't relegation fodder. They finished a respectable 14th and 11 points clear of relegation the previous season. Spurs were Champions League finalists just a short time before, hardly the poorest team in years.

[Smithy]

I think we're in a funny place this summer, transfer wise.  If we want established premier league players, capable of performing for teams in the top half, even the top six maybe, then they're not going to sign for us unless we offer them stupid money - or we get players towards the end of their careers with no resale value, like Brighton have with Lallana.

Our best bet, unfortunately, is signing players from abroad who want to prove themselves in the premier league, or players who've stood out a little in lower teams without setting the world alight. If teams with Champions League ambitions want them, the simple fact is we won't get them. Not yet.

I want us signing established premier league players, obviously. Players who have room to improve and could walk into our first team - but we're probably at least another year (maybe two) from being the sort of club that looks attractive to many players like that, assuming we continue to improve and establish ourselves further up the league.

[SheffieldVillain]

I think we all agree that we really do need proven stable PL experience

I can guarantee that we don't all agree with this.

The last time we tried this we bought the semi-retired Joleon Lescott and Micah Richards, and tried to buy Andros Townsend. So far this summer under the 'proven stable PL experience' banner I've heard the names James McCarthy, Isaac Hayden and Shane Duffy bandied around.

I definitely don't agree with this if 'proven stable PL experience' means 'journeyman, no better than we've already got and never going to get any better'.