Summer Transfer Thread and Gustavo Cisneros Type Rumours.

[Drummond]

Yep, he wanted the Chinese move but Real blocked it. It was all over the media.

Maddison isn't out of the question, he knows we're on the up, his best buddy and now England player is here too. Of he's out of favour at Leicester we could be perfect.

As for Son, I absolutely agree that won't happen as one of the Champs League teams would have him.

[Mister E]

More realistically, I'm expecting 1, maybe 2 names that I've heard of before (to replace Barkley and possibly upgrade Nakamba), and maybe 3 or 4 players that I'm mostly/completely unaware of at the moment.  As others have said, no point spending loads of money on beefing up a recruitment team to buy players that Tony Cascarino could point out to you.

If Jack Grealish stays, then I think Berge from Sheffield United and David Brooks from Bournemouth (depending on the medical) would do enough to improve us in terms of the starting XI, we would then just need some better squad options than we currently have in certain positions. 

It's a no to Brooks for me, if he was 18-19 I'd be more willing to look at him but he's a 23 year old who hasn't stood out in the championship. Olise is the attacking championship player I'd be looking at and he'd be my 2nd signing behind someone with more top level experience. Last year I'd have loved us to sign Eze but I thought he'd be too much of a gamble given we needed our signings to 'land' to make sure we weren't in another relegation battle. This summer is very different and we can afford to pick up a couple of players with an eye on them pushing into the team over 12months so I'll be pretty upset if we miss out on him.

Olise and Pereira would be great, and less expensive than Buendia.
Add a really commanding DMF (a la Declan Rice) and we'd be definitely much-improved. I don't know who the DMF would be though.

[paul_e]

More realistically, I'm expecting 1, maybe 2 names that I've heard of before (to replace Barkley and possibly upgrade Nakamba), and maybe 3 or 4 players that I'm mostly/completely unaware of at the moment.  As others have said, no point spending loads of money on beefing up a recruitment team to buy players that Tony Cascarino could point out to you.

If Jack Grealish stays, then I think Berge from Sheffield United and David Brooks from Bournemouth (depending on the medical) would do enough to improve us in terms of the starting XI, we would then just need some better squad options than we currently have in certain positions. 

It's a no to Brooks for me, if he was 18-19 I'd be more willing to look at him but he's a 23 year old who hasn't stood out in the championship. Olise is the attacking championship player I'd be looking at and he'd be my 2nd signing behind someone with more top level experience. Last year I'd have loved us to sign Eze but I thought he'd be too much of a gamble given we needed our signings to 'land' to make sure we weren't in another relegation battle. This summer is very different and we can afford to pick up a couple of players with an eye on them pushing into the team over 12months so I'll be pretty upset if we miss out on him.

Olise and Pereira would be great, and less expensive than Buendia.
Add a really commanding DMF (a la Declan Rice) and we'd be definitely much-improved. I don't know who the DMF would be though.

I don't think Pereira is good enough to be the big attacking player I want us to bring in and I want it to be someone that could play as our main striker if Watkins is injured, suspended or out of form but will also be good playing wide or deeper.

[Smithy]

More realistically, I'm expecting 1, maybe 2 names that I've heard of before (to replace Barkley and possibly upgrade Nakamba), and maybe 3 or 4 players that I'm mostly/completely unaware of at the moment.  As others have said, no point spending loads of money on beefing up a recruitment team to buy players that Tony Cascarino could point out to you.

If Jack Grealish stays, then I think Berge from Sheffield United and David Brooks from Bournemouth (depending on the medical) would do enough to improve us in terms of the starting XI, we would then just need some better squad options than we currently have in certain positions. 

It's a no to Brooks for me, if he was 18-19 I'd be more willing to look at him but he's a 23 year old who hasn't stood out in the championship. Olise is the attacking championship player I'd be looking at and he'd be my 2nd signing behind someone with more top level experience. Last year I'd have loved us to sign Eze but I thought he'd be too much of a gamble given we needed our signings to 'land' to make sure we weren't in another relegation battle. This summer is very different and we can afford to pick up a couple of players with an eye on them pushing into the team over 12months so I'll be pretty upset if we miss out on him.

Eze ruptured his Achilles in training, so likely won't play again until 2022, so if he's going to remain a target, it'll be next summer at the very earliest.  Hope he makes a full recovery, he's a fun player to watch (when he's not playing against you).

[Steve67]

Maddison would be a great signing. Set piece specialist too would be welcome.  Yes please!

[pauliewalnuts]

Hm. Starting to look a bit MONish.

Eh?

Just, like, there are other countries to sign players from, many of whom won't cost three times what they should

MON also wouldn’t have had a bloke like Lange heading up his recruitment. Rather it would have sent chain smoker John Robertson out there to find our newest reserve right back for £8m

On the bright side, covid wouldn't have been a problem as MON's scouting 'team' clearly never left the fucking country.

[eamonn]

Not worth a new thread but Darren Bent still making money out of his time at the Villa - podcasts/Talksport appear to be fulfilling the role left vacant by after-dinner speeches...

[tomd2103]

More realistically, I'm expecting 1, maybe 2 names that I've heard of before (to replace Barkley and possibly upgrade Nakamba), and maybe 3 or 4 players that I'm mostly/completely unaware of at the moment.  As others have said, no point spending loads of money on beefing up a recruitment team to buy players that Tony Cascarino could point out to you.

If Jack Grealish stays, then I think Berge from Sheffield United and David Brooks from Bournemouth (depending on the medical) would do enough to improve us in terms of the starting XI, we would then just need some better squad options than we currently have in certain positions. 

It's a no to Brooks for me, if he was 18-19 I'd be more willing to look at him but he's a 23 year old who hasn't stood out in the championship. Olise is the attacking championship player I'd be looking at and he'd be my 2nd signing behind someone with more top level experience. Last year I'd have loved us to sign Eze but I thought he'd be too much of a gamble given we needed our signings to 'land' to make sure we weren't in another relegation battle. This summer is very different and we can afford to pick up a couple of players with an eye on them pushing into the team over 12months so I'll be pretty upset if we miss out on him.

It was more those type of players than the actual players themselves.  David Brooks primarily plays on the right, but can play across the attacking midfield line which is the kind of player I think we need really.   He’s had some bad luck with injuries, but hopefully he can remain fit and feature in the Euros. 

[SamTheMouse]

Still want Saint-Maximin. Still think he's gettable.

[Dave]

Still want Saint-Maximin. Still think he's gettable.

Is he *that* different to Traore? Doesn't he do more or less the same thing, dribble round a couple more players and be injured a bit more?

I mean, I wouldn't be upset if we bought him. But I'm not sure we'd really be spending £30m on much of an upgrade.

[cdbearsfan]

I love Saint Maximin, he looks brilliant in a shit team he'd be class for us. I'd rather have Maddison but that seems somewhat fanciful.

They'd both have the Ciaran Clark issue, admittedly.

[SoccerHQ]

Still want Saint-Maximin. Still think he's gettable.

Is he *that* different to Traore? Doesn't he do more or less the same thing, dribble round a couple more players and be injured a bit more?

I mean, I wouldn't be upset if we bought him. But I'm not sure we'd really be spending £30m on much of an upgrade.

He has better vision than Adama imo, can properly pick a pass. Set up a few Wilson goals since he returned from injury.

This would be dream sort of summer for me if we're looking for more high profile signings

David Neres (Ajax)- 24, Brazil international, starter for Ajax in their big european ties still and can play LW or CF. Two years left on his deal so I reckon something like 20m would get him. Ajax signed Haller for 40m in Jan so they'll have to sell a couple to pay for that.

Sergj Milenkovic-Savic (Lazio)- 25, box to box midfielder and also 6ft + (think of that Soucek guy at West Ham but more technically skilled). Scored 13 goals in Serie A a few years back and 8 this season. Lazio missed out on CL so they may well sell him and again think he has two years left on his deal. Linked to Man. United, Juventus and PSG in last few years but he's still there and Serbs usually do well and enjoy playing in premier league.

Vincius Jr (season long loan)- Seems to veer from being essential Real Madrid player (was excellent for them in first leg v Liverpool) to being derided for having little end product. Possible he'll go out on loan if Zidane leaves and they get in a big name upfront, Arsenal got Odegaard off them so you'd like to think that's the sort of deal we can eventually pull off aswell. Still only 20 but already played 82 games for Madrid.

Pull off 2 signings this summer of that standard and imo we fight for top 6 and perhaps even top 4 next season if we get off to a good start and defence performs to similar standard as we'd be very exciting in attack then.

[TonyD]

Who is currently the best defensive midfielder/sweeper in the world?
That’s who we need to sign.
Then next season bring through Chucky, Barry, Young, A Ramsey and Kesler.
Job done. 

[Dave]

Still want Saint-Maximin. Still think he's gettable.

Is he *that* different to Traore? Doesn't he do more or less the same thing, dribble round a couple more players and be injured a bit more?

I mean, I wouldn't be upset if we bought him. But I'm not sure we'd really be spending £30m on much of an upgrade.

He has better vision than Adama imo, can properly pick a pass. Set up a few Wilson goals since he returned from injury.

I'm not all that fussed about how he compares to a Traore that *doesn't* play for us...

[cdbearsfan]

I thought it was a joke referencing my annoyance at people getting names wrong? I may be being generous.