2023 Summer transfer window - hopes, needs, expectations and rumours.

[Dave]

I see another "story" claiming Martinez's future at Villa is "in suspense" and then when you read it, it says nobody has come looking for him, and he hasn't said he wants to leave. I guess they've got click baity trash sites in Argentina too.

I'm actually pretty surprised about how little noise there is about him leaving, given the only realistic destinations for him have both got rid of their main keeper.

[AV84]

I see another "story" claiming Martinez's future at Villa is "in suspense" and then when you read it, it says nobody has come looking for him, and he hasn't said he wants to leave. I guess they've got click baity trash sites in Argentina too.

I'm actually pretty surprised about how little noise there is about him leaving, given the only realistic destinations for him have both got rid of their main keeper.

I feel like the "noise" has been fairly consistent. A low level buzzing that he's now too good for us and should be playing for a bigger team. Still plenty of time for something to actually happen, I suppose, but given how poor our alternative options are in goal, I can't see Emery and Co letting him go without a massive fee and plenty of time to replace him.

[paul_e]

I like de ketelaere, I reckon he could be a fantastic player with the right setup around him.

What are you basing that on Paul? He's gone to Milan for big money, and done absolutely nothing. He started 9 games and got a handful of minutes here and there. One assist all season.

I just watched his 'season highlights' youtube for last season, and it's immensely underwhelming.

Not sure there's much to be had there tbh although I don't watch the Belgian league much.

He looks like a cross between Patrick Bamford and Savo.  He clearly defends from the front which is probably why  Unai wants him but we really need a goal scorer

he did get 14 as a 2nd striker in is last season from Brugge so he does know where the net is. Things clearly didn't work out at Milan but depending on the price I think he's worth considering. Anything around £20-25m and I think he'd be a good signing and, given how the year went and waht they paid I think that's a fair offer.

[VILLA MOLE]

I like de ketelaere, I reckon he could be a fantastic player with the right setup around him.

What are you basing that on Paul? He's gone to Milan for big money, and done absolutely nothing. He started 9 games and got a handful of minutes here and there. One assist all season.

I just watched his 'season highlights' youtube for last season, and it's immensely underwhelming.

Not sure there's much to be had there tbh although I don't watch the Belgian league much.

He looks like a cross between Patrick Bamford and Savo.  He clearly defends from the front which is probably why  Unai wants him but we really need a goal scorer

he did get 14 as a 2nd striker in is last season from Brugge so he does know where the net is. Things clearly didn't work out at Milan but depending on the price I think he's worth considering. Anything around £20-25m and I think he'd be a good signing and, given how the year went and waht they paid I think that's a fair offer.

You could look at other players who struggled in Italy but came to England and did well .  Henry and Berkamp weren't bad ?

[pablo_picasso]

I thought he played in the middle? Or is that just where he's been played last season?

He does seem tall though.

Hes 6'4".

He plays both wide & central.

I think he could be a good player if coached right.

[pauliewalnuts]

You could look at other players who struggled in Italy but came to England and did well .  Henry and Berkamp weren't bad ?

Being devil's advocate here, you could also say that's two players in nearly 30 years.

[Monty]

You could look at other players who struggled in Italy but came to England and did well .  Henry and Berkamp weren't bad ?

Being devil's advocate here, you could also say that's two players in nearly 30 years.

And that was at a time when Serie A was at a much higher standard than the Premier League too.

[Sexual Ealing]

Gustavo Bartelt did pretty well.

[chrisw1]

I like de ketelaere, I reckon he could be a fantastic player with the right setup around him.

What are you basing that on Paul? He's gone to Milan for big money, and done absolutely nothing. He started 9 games and got a handful of minutes here and there. One assist all season.

I just watched his 'season highlights' youtube for last season, and it's immensely underwhelming.

Not sure there's much to be had there tbh although I don't watch the Belgian league much.

He looks like a cross between Patrick Bamford and Savo.  He clearly defends from the front which is probably why  Unai wants him but we really need a goal scorer

he did get 14 as a 2nd striker in is last season from Brugge so he does know where the net is. Things clearly didn't work out at Milan but depending on the price I think he's worth considering. Anything around £20-25m and I think he'd be a good signing and, given how the year went and waht they paid I think that's a fair offer.

You could look at other players who struggled in Italy but came to England and did well .  Henry and Berkamp weren't bad ?

Perhaps.  But it's not a very sensible starting place to look.  I imagine the ratio of players who failed in Italy and didn't go on to have stellar careers is somewhat higher.

I admit to not knowing too much about this lad, but having seen Wesley & Samatta it's going to take a lot more than 'did well in Belgium' to persuade me about a player.  Adding failed in Italy doesn't do that much to allay those concerns.

[chrisw1]

In fact, Kalinic, Wesley, Nakamba, Samatta - all signed from the Belgium league.  Engels also not good enough.  Trezeguet made his name in Belgium.  Total £66.5m

This tall lad may turn out to be sensational, but did well in Belgium isn't enough for me.

 

[OCD]

I watched a Brugges video reel of him and he looks a good player. Bit of a cliche to say he's got a nice touch for a big guy, but his height didn't stand out in the videos. Just looked like he had good feet.

If he's 22 now, he was 21 when he left home for a new country and a new league.

Leeds fans hate him because he chose Milan over them so there's that too.

[VILLA MOLE]

Milan seemed to think he would be good and spent a lot on him

[edgysatsuma89]

He was definitely spoken about in glowing terms before going to Milan, I've heard him spoken about on a few pods but it really hasn't worked out for him so far. It would definitely be a punt.

[Dick Edwards]

I've not seen this guy or even heard of him before today but I'm confident he won't cost any potential buyer £25m after the season he's just had.

[Dave]

I've not seen this guy or even heard of him before today but I'm confident he won't cost any potential buyer £25m after the season he's just had.

I guess the way to make it work is if Milan want to get as much money back as possible and we see something to work with in the player, we bung them £5m for a season-long loan with another £20m next summer if we think that he's shown enough to make it worthwhile.