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

[Mister E]

We have to do what Leicester did 17-21 (but not run out of rope by paying stupid wages or shorter contacts) - silly money clauses and try and replace with better.
It is bloody hard work mind and the Grelaish money wasn't well spent.

six months ago I'd agree but it is starting to look less wasted now we have better coaching. Buendia and Bailey have improved a lot, and we got our money back on Ings. We have had relatively low net spends last two windows now, so the real benefit of the Grealish money is still to come too.

Don't agree with that mate. Buendia has been OK in patches, but is still too wasteful with the ball, and hasn't nailed down a spot of his own really. Bailey has mostly been ineffective, especially in away games. Considering the two of them cost around over £60m, I think you'd be hard pushed to say we've had value from them. And we didn't get our money back on Ings, we got about half.

Agreed, Risso. I'm willing Buendia to be better but really hasn't happened (Bailey was a mistake pretty much from the outset in my view).

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Sporting insisting on £69m for Pedro Gonçalves who I see as a Buendia replacement/competition yet Liverpool have signed MacAllister from Brighton for £50m.

As for Watkins to Spurs, I've just read he's valued at €32m, I think they're confusing him with Patrick Bamford.

[ASHTONVILLA]

Various dodgy media outlets linking Spurs with Watkins. Can't see us selling, or him wanting to go there anyway.

Also a few links to 'Bono' the Algerian goalie that looked quite good at the world cup. Presumably as a backup option if Emi goes (don't think he will this season). Be a bloody good backup if he replaced Olsen though.

I met Watkins cousin in the local club a few weeks ago, he was Arsenal and said all the family were including Ollie
so I know it doesn’t always translate anymore but maybe Spurs won’t have the same pull as it might have had

Plus the fact they’re absolute gash

2 years ago I could have seen it. Not now. They are a shambles on the pitch.

And off the pitch. About to appoint their third choice manager (again) and no director of football in place to handle transfers. Kane running hi contract down, no European football and a bloated squad. Fast turning into the new Everton.

[rob_bridge]

Various dodgy media outlets linking Spurs with Watkins. Can't see us selling, or him wanting to go there anyway.

Also a few links to 'Bono' the Algerian goalie that looked quite good at the world cup. Presumably as a backup option if Emi goes (don't think he will this season). Be a bloody good backup if he replaced Olsen though.

I met Watkins cousin in the local club a few weeks ago, he was Arsenal and said all the family were including Ollie
so I know it doesn’t always translate anymore but maybe Spurs won’t have the same pull as it might have had

Plus the fact they’re absolute gash

2 years ago I could have seen it. Not now. They are a shambles on the pitch.

And off the pitch. About to appoint their third choice manager (again) and no director of football in place to handle transfers. Kane running hi contract down, no European football and a bloated squad. Fast turning into the new Everton.

Would be amusing if they followed Everton's trajectory - albeit slightly worse.

I assume their stadium funding was reliant on Champions League football more often than not. Looks bad with the rise of Newcastle, Arsenal and ManU rejuvenated to a bigger extent and Cit-eh with Gazillons.

[rob_bridge]

Sporting insisting on £69m for Pedro Gonçalves who I see as a Buendia replacement/competition yet Liverpool have signed MacAllister from Brighton for £50m.

As for Watkins to Spurs, I've just read he's valued at €32m, I think they're confusing him with Patrick Bamford.

I think that is what we paid for him. Clearly they have divided the realistic value by 2. Probably what has confused them.

MacAllister has a release clause so does Goncalves hence the transfer values

[Drummond]

Various dodgy media outlets linking Spurs with Watkins. Can't see us selling, or him wanting to go there anyway.

Also a few links to 'Bono' the Algerian goalie that looked quite good at the world cup. Presumably as a backup option if Emi goes (don't think he will this season). Be a bloody good backup if he replaced Olsen though.

I met Watkins cousin in the local club a few weeks ago, he was Arsenal and said all the family were including Ollie
so I know it doesn’t always translate anymore but maybe Spurs won’t have the same pull as it might have had

Plus the fact they’re absolute gash

2 years ago I could have seen it. Not now. They are a shambles on the pitch.

And off the pitch. About to appoint their third choice manager (again) and no director of football in place to handle transfers. Kane running hi contract down, no European football and a bloated squad. Fast turning into the new Everton.

I hope Kane stays another year then leaves on a Bosman. It means they will be a bit stronger for a year but then it will go to pot....

[LeonW]

On Manchester City, they may always have got the place they’re currently at. But the big issue is that they’ve effectively cheated to by pass all the steps required on the way to doing so, which could well have taken them alot longer to do so. With FFP coming in not long after their new owners, it could also have led to them tripping themselves up along the way if they got their recruitment wrong. Now they’re in a position where they can spend a £100m on a player and effectively bench him for close to two seasons to get him up to speed with Guardiola’s automaton football. There is no other club anywhere in the world at present that could afford to do that which just highlights how wrong it is.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

They could  have bought Famalicão's share by now.

I'm sure they've tried but the tough part of negotiating a deal is having an unwilling seller.

UPDATE: Sporting are reported to have a deal in place to buy 40% of his rights leaving Famalicão with just 10%.

Any chance you can give me the numbers for tomorrows Euro-Millions?

[OCD]

They could  have bought Famalicão's share by now.

I'm sure they've tried but the tough part of negotiating a deal is having an unwilling seller.

UPDATE: Sporting are reported to have a deal in place to buy 40% of his rights leaving Famalicão with just 10%.

Any chance you can give me the numbers for tomorrows Euro-Millions?

That's a lot easier to predict than the Euro Millions! Hopefully we're able to negotiate a more reasonable price for Gonçalves. I read comments from Bruno Fernandes saying he hopes Man Utd buy him because he thinks he will become world class. If we can sign him and he does, that would be some signing.

[ASHTONVILLA]

Pau Torres being linked again today in the Evening Mail (quoting a Spanish source). Would be a good signing albeit in a low priority position given Mings and Konsa's recent form and Carlos to come back in.

Also again being linked to Ferran Torres.

Both of those would be statement signings, as would Goncalves. If we get all three plus a right back I would very happy with that plus a couple of free transfers to bolster the squad.

[Drummond]

Christ there's almost three more months of this shit.

[OCD]

All the talk I'm seeing about seems to be about Tielemens, Gonçalves and Pau Torres.

[Smithy]

Various dodgy media outlets linking Spurs with Watkins. Can't see us selling, or him wanting to go there anyway.

Also a few links to 'Bono' the Algerian goalie that looked quite good at the world cup. Presumably as a backup option if Emi goes (don't think he will this season). Be a bloody good backup if he replaced Olsen though.

I met Watkins cousin in the local club a few weeks ago, he was Arsenal and said all the family were including Ollie
so I know it doesn’t always translate anymore but maybe Spurs won’t have the same pull as it might have had

Plus the fact they’re absolute gash

2 years ago I could have seen it. Not now. They are a shambles on the pitch.

And off the pitch. About to appoint their third choice manager (again) and no director of football in place to handle transfers. Kane running hi contract down, no European football and a bloated squad. Fast turning into the new Everton.

I hope Kane stays another year then leaves on a Bosman. It means they will be a bit stronger for a year but then it will go to pot....

I'd be surprised if Levy let that happen, funny as it would be.  I think he'll be sold this summer, but it will be interesting to see at what value, given it's 12-months until he's available for free.  I'd be surprised if it was much over £40m.  But £40m now, with a year of no Europe ahead, vs nothing in 12 months.  I suspect Levy will that the money...   If this Aussie chap takes over, I'll bet it's with a very limited budget, and his remit is European qualification, then you get some money.

[OCD]

Sorry - meant to edit my post, not quote myself!

[Smithy]

Goncalves left Wolves after two years in the UK, for free, as a 21-year-old citing home sickness - it would be a hell of a gamble meeting his release clause with doubts over his ability to settle like that?  Some young players don't make it here as youngsters, and return as superstars capable of playing at the top level (Salah and De Bruyne the obvious ones), but they are the exception?