Summer Transfer Thread and Gustavo Cisneros Type Rumours.

[Mister E]

Really can't see us spending another 80-100m on top of what we have. I'd be delighted to be wrong but whatever the wealth of the owners I don't think they're going to go down that route. Possibly 20-30m max i'd guess if they actually do.

You could be right. But in that case it's a net spend of very modest proportions and it then seems rather fanciful to have Europe as the stated goal.

I think the 'net spend' argument is a little misleading given that we brought £100m in.
Anyway, we will not be spending £80-100m on one player, that's for sure, IMO. More likely - and hopefully - Lange has his sights on a £20-25m player who can play DMF and grow into the role (as Kante did).
More concerning would be the view that Smith et al do not see the need for a DMF.

[mr underhill]

or that they are not going to trust him with any more money?

[Big Ming]

If we don't end up buying a specialist DCM for Nakamba to cover I had a weird idea that maybe Ash could play there.
He quite likes a tackle and can certainly carry and distribute the ball.

[Sexual Ealing]

or that they are not going to trust him with any more money?

We have a director of football and a recruitment team. None of the money spent has been entrusted to DS.

[cdbearsfan]

If we don't end up buying a specialist DCM for Nakamba to cover I had a weird idea that maybe Ash could play there.
He quite likes a tackle and can certainly carry and distribute the ball.

I think that's the twenty-seventh different player that's been suggested to play there. Just Martinez and Steer left.

I'd rather we just spent some money and bought a proper defensive midfielder, please.

[AV82EC]

If we don't end up buying a specialist DCM for Nakamba to cover I had a weird idea that maybe Ash could play there.
He quite likes a tackle and can certainly carry and distribute the ball.

I think that's the twenty-seventh different player that's been suggested to play there. Just Martinez and Steer left.

I'd rather we just spent some money and bought a proper defensive midfielder, please.

This isn’t hard is it. It’s been quite apparent bar the odd good backs to the wall performance Marv just isnt up to it. Fair play to the lad he’s been willing to come and give it a go but he just hasn’t got the quality on the ball to  ever make the position his own. I don’t care how hard it is, I don’t care how much it’s going to cost, the club need to get this sorted. FFS.

[jwarry]

‘TheHotelEnd’, yes I had to read the name of their fans forum twice, don’t seem to rate big Chuck at all

[dave shelley]

It's been evident that defensive midfield needs to be addressed since our return to the Premier League, whether those in charge see it the same way as the fans is moot.  If they continue to ignore it, not saying they are, they do so at their peril.

[chrisw1]

Then pay them 80 mil. These owners are meant to mean business so let's make a proper statement signing

Rice is one of the best young players in England.  West Ham have been fighting off the likes of Chelsea for him for a few years.  They generally shop in the same market as us (£25-£35m) and at the moment have a better team.  We have just sold our best player.  Right now I cannot see a single reason why West Ham would contemplate selling his to us or why he would contemplate joining us.

Where I do agree is that he is an excellent player and just what we need.

[ozzjim]

Really can't see us spending another 80-100m on top of what we have. I'd be delighted to be wrong but whatever the wealth of the owners I don't think they're going to go down that route. Possibly 20-30m max i'd guess if they actually do.

You could be right. But in that case it's a net spend of very modest proportions and it then seems rather fanciful to have Europe as the stated goal.

I think the 'net spend' argument is a little misleading given that we brought £100m in.
Anyway, we will not be spending £80-100m on one player, that's for sure, IMO. More likely - and hopefully - Lange has his sights on a £20-25m player who can play DMF and grow into the role (as Kante did).
More concerning would be the view that Smith et al do not see the need for a DMF.

I find it strange. Barkley was bought in to play 10, and has not been replaced, and the holding midfield role has clearly been a weakness for a while. Accepting that Buendia and Bailey are essentially your replacements for Jack and Trez, Ings is the much needed quality competition for Watkins, and the other 2 are backup essentially, then it still leaves holding mid and 10 having not been addressed. I love McGinn but he's an 8 not a 10 surely, and long term should not be a certain starter. Luiz has potential. Carney has potential at 10 I would think.

Hate myself for suggesting this, but after his spell at West Ham would Lingard be worth a couple of seasons at 10 while Chuck jnr develops?

[chrisw1]

The Lingard who burst on the scene for his first 10 games or so at West Ham certainly would be.  The one who was shit for a few seasons before that and seemingly finished the season at West Ham notsomuch.

He's clearly a very talented player, but not one I'd risk £30m ish on.

[algy]

Really can't see us spending another 80-100m on top of what we have. I'd be delighted to be wrong but whatever the wealth of the owners I don't think they're going to go down that route. Possibly 20-30m max i'd guess if they actually do.

You could be right. But in that case it's a net spend of very modest proportions and it then seems rather fanciful to have Europe as the stated goal.

I think the 'net spend' argument is a little misleading given that we brought £100m in.
Anyway, we will not be spending £80-100m on one player, that's for sure, IMO. More likely - and hopefully - Lange has his sights on a £20-25m player who can play DMF and grow into the role (as Kante did).
More concerning would be the view that Smith et al do not see the need for a DMF.

I find it strange. Barkley was bought in to play 10, and has not been replaced, and the holding midfield role has clearly been a weakness for a while. Accepting that Buendia and Bailey are essentially your replacements for Jack and Trez, Ings is the much needed quality competition for Watkins, and the other 2 are backup essentially, then it still leaves holding mid and 10 having not been addressed. I love McGinn but he's an 8 not a 10 surely, and long term should not be a certain starter. Luiz has potential. Carney has potential at 10 I would think.

Hate myself for suggesting this, but after his spell at West Ham would Lingard be worth a couple of seasons at 10 while Chuck jnr develops?

To be fair, Vinnie suggested a few pages back that we were still in the market for 2 midfielders and a backup gk, so it's quite possible that this problem is being addressed.

[Vegas]

Nailed on Ings and Watkins will play in the same team imo. So no 2 up front, no 3 man midfield, but probably Watkins stuck in the 3 of a 4-2-3-1.

I think Ings is going to play ten with a 2 man midfield. I don't think it will work, but it's what I think we will try and do.

yeah. Its going to be some variation on that theme. I don't think it will work either to be frank.

I also think this is the plan, very disappointing if true. If we’ve spent £30m on a 28 / 29 year old poacher to play them as a 10, is a really underwhelming transfer plan.

[Risso]

I like Ings as a player, and while we absolutely did need another striker, I’d rather have seen somebody a bit more mobile in the manner of Ollie coming in. Ings was like a statue on Saturday, so if he’s going to stand around in the area like he did against Watford, then Ollie is going to have to play wider, which means no room in the team for either Buendia or Bailey, which would be odd. After the initial excitement, the Ings purchase looks a teensy bit like an emergency signing on the back of selling Greasy, in order to placate the natives.

[Bobby Boy]

The Lingard who burst on the scene for his first 10 games or so at West Ham certainly would be.  The one who was shit for a few seasons before that and seemingly finished the season at West Ham notsomuch.

He's clearly a very talented player, but not one I'd risk £30m ish on.

Lingard did well at West Ham because he was given freedom to play provided by the platform given to him by Soucek and Rice.

We don't need a Lingard or a Damsgaard or a Cantwell. We have this type of player aplenty.

We badly need a Soucek, a Rice, a Ndidi, a Kante, a Fernandinho type then all of our existing creative players will flourish. No doubt about it.

Get it done.