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

[oldtimernow]

He’s looking at center backs because his whole system relies on ball players playing out from the back
Konsa and Mings are to slow and cumbersome trying to do that and neither are not natural passers of the ball

It’s not that they are bad defenders just look at the clean sheets, it’s more that everything starts at the back with football and they aren’t a perfect fit to play that way

There will be changes made in that area for next season imo

Id suggest over the last 6 months Mings at least has proven he can play this way.

Think, as others have said, that having Mings / Konsa / Carlos / Pau Torres* just makes us look the business in defence. With injuries, suspensions, 5 subs, and European football they should all get plenty of games. Chambers and Hause to be shifted on. Get a decent right back in too, and we'll look very strong right across the back 4.

* Or some other shit hot defender, he's just the first one that comes to mind.

Tielemans coming in would do similar to our midfield. No weak players, and a couple of options in every position.

Could then see us targeting a player to play in Bailey's current position - get them both playing for that spot. Likewise a centre forward to compete with Watkins. 2 players in every position, and even if you pick the "worst" XI then you've still got basically our-squad-this-season type quality.

Genuinely very excited about next season. In all seriousness, I think we could win stuff.

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, competing would be enough as long as we win this European trophy

[Percy McCarthy]

Tielemans 1/4 to join us now, next best Roma 6/1. Kind of similar to the way the price dropped on Emery.

Be interesting to know where Toney’s money is.

[boozey182]

Think, as others have said, that having Mings / Konsa / Carlos / Pau Torres* just makes us look the business in defence. With injuries, suspensions, 5 subs, and European football they should all get plenty of games.

Centre back is a position where you tend to want consistency of selection.  It's also not a position you generally use subs on mid-game, so sharing minutes is unlikely.  Not many clubs could keep four centre backs of that quality happy and tbh I'm not sure we're one of them.  Whilst I guess it's not impossible that we could start the season with that line up, I don't think Mings / Konsa / Carlos would hang around for long as a bit part player.

I'm not so sure. I think you're right generally, but I think we could keep four top class CBs happy, if it was managed right. For one, we don't know how badly Carlos has been impacted by his injury - it could be a case that he couldn't manage playing week in week out without building up some fitness. Konsa might be alright coming in for cup games and injuries/suspensions. I think Mings and Torres* would be our first choice pairing (even if they are both left footed).

I want us to build a squad that can compete in the Champions League, and having four excellent CBs is a great way to start that. When we rotate for cup games, we'll have Carlos and Konsa, rather than Chambers and Bednarek. That has to be the goal, and we need to shift our mentality. Finishing 7th is the first step on the ladder.

[chrisw1]

A decent analysis of Tieleman's game.

[olaftab]

Too many links to centre backs for us not to be prioritising one. Laporte, Torres, Erickson (Fabrizio Romano) all linked last few days.

Strange as we are well sorted in that position. Does make me wonder if one of Mings / Konsa/ Chambers/ Costa is on the way out. Any two of that lot coming in would give us a very good set to pick from.

Maybe, as good as Mings and Konsa have been, he wants players with a different skill set. Maybe he is just ultra ruthless and wants to make them reserves by increasing the standard.

Whatever happens it is interesting.

Genuine question - who is Erickson?

And when did we sign Costa?

[olaftab]

A decent analysis of Tieleman's game.

Does it have an addendum about “How I relegated Leicester”?

[chrisw1]

No.

[brontebilly]

Think CB is a position we are quite strong in, unless Emery doesn't rate Carlos. He should be like a new signing after a full pre season.

RB and RW obviously will be strengthened but after that it's probably a question if the trio of A Ramsey, Iroegbunam and Archer are ready to compete for first team places. We know Emery doesn't do sentiment so he won't have them involved if he doesn't think they are ready. I think we will move on Dendoncker for a more mobile option like Guendouzi too.

[Demitri_C]

Summerville from leeds being linked.  Looks a player but I swear he was one of the leeds players that ignored the fans waiting for them? Dnt know if i would want any of those charchters in our dressing room. Our players make time for us fans which is what I love

[Smithy]

Think, as others have said, that having Mings / Konsa / Carlos / Pau Torres* just makes us look the business in defence. With injuries, suspensions, 5 subs, and European football they should all get plenty of games.

Centre back is a position where you tend to want consistency of selection.  It's also not a position you generally use subs on mid-game, so sharing minutes is unlikely.  Not many clubs could keep four centre backs of that quality happy and tbh I'm not sure we're one of them.  Whilst I guess it's not impossible that we could start the season with that line up, I don't think Mings / Konsa / Carlos would hang around for long as a bit part player.

I'm not so sure. I think you're right generally, but I think we could keep four top class CBs happy, if it was managed right. For one, we don't know how badly Carlos has been impacted by his injury - it could be a case that he couldn't manage playing week in week out without building up some fitness. Konsa might be alright coming in for cup games and injuries/suspensions. I think Mings and Torres* would be our first choice pairing (even if they are both left footed).

I want us to build a squad that can compete in the Champions League, and having four excellent CBs is a great way to start that. When we rotate for cup games, we'll have Carlos and Konsa, rather than Chambers and Bednarek. That has to be the goal, and we need to shift our mentality. Finishing 7th is the first step on the ladder.

I agree, the aim has to be having a top-class alternative option for EVERY player on the pitch at any given time, so that if they're replaced the quality of the side doesn't change too much.  And that means four good centre-backs.  That also means that some players we currently think of as 'great' first-team players, will become squad players and maybe rack up about 15-20 appearances in a whole season.

Buying central defenders is rarely "sexy".  It's not like buying a top class winger or a goal scorer. You're not going to get excited by their youTube highlights (unless there are couple of towering set-piece headed goals).  BUT, they are sometimes the signings that can make all the difference over a full season.  Liverpool were perennial also-rans until they spunked £80m Van Dijk.  Combined with a world-class goalkeeper they won their first title in a generation. 

We already have the goalkeeper...

[lovejoy]

Spunked £80 on the best centre back in the world ?

Not seeing many forward linked, don't we need alternatives there more than at CB?

[Gareth]

If we sign another centre back it will be interesting to see how long it will be before Mings and Konsa decide they want away as they are having to sit on the bench for a lot of the games  this could cause issues for Mr. Emery

Emery will want to bring in his own players, who he will want to start, the 11 that started virtually every week last season could be in for a bit of a shock when they are not first choice.

I would not be surprised if a couple of our current starters leave before the end of the transfer window

With the injury he had their is no guarantee that Carlos comes back the same player - have to have 4 who you can trust there, can always let one out on loan in Jan if we are out of Europe & Carabao / FA Cup

[chrisw1]

Think, as others have said, that having Mings / Konsa / Carlos / Pau Torres* just makes us look the business in defence. With injuries, suspensions, 5 subs, and European football they should all get plenty of games.

Centre back is a position where you tend to want consistency of selection.  It's also not a position you generally use subs on mid-game, so sharing minutes is unlikely.  Not many clubs could keep four centre backs of that quality happy and tbh I'm not sure we're one of them.  Whilst I guess it's not impossible that we could start the season with that line up, I don't think Mings / Konsa / Carlos would hang around for long as a bit part player.

I'm not so sure. I think you're right generally, but I think we could keep four top class CBs happy, if it was managed right. For one, we don't know how badly Carlos has been impacted by his injury - it could be a case that he couldn't manage playing week in week out without building up some fitness. Konsa might be alright coming in for cup games and injuries/suspensions. I think Mings and Torres* would be our first choice pairing (even if they are both left footed).

I want us to build a squad that can compete in the Champions League, and having four excellent CBs is a great way to start that. When we rotate for cup games, we'll have Carlos and Konsa, rather than Chambers and Bednarek. That has to be the goal, and we need to shift our mentality. Finishing 7th is the first step on the ladder.

I agree, the aim has to be having a top-class alternative option for EVERY player on the pitch at any given time, so that if they're replaced the quality of the side doesn't change too much.  And that means four good centre-backs.  That also means that some players we currently think of as 'great' first-team players, will become squad players and maybe rack up about 15-20 appearances in a whole season.

Buying central defenders is rarely "sexy".  It's not like buying a top class winger or a goal scorer. You're not going to get excited by their youTube highlights (unless there are couple of towering set-piece headed goals).  BUT, they are sometimes the signings that can make all the difference over a full season.  Liverpool were perennial also-rans until they spunked £80m Van Dijk.  Combined with a world-class goalkeeper they won their first title in a generation. 

We already have the goalkeeper...

This doesn't change the fact that we won't be able to keep 4 top centre backs happy. 

[Monty]

I knew it. Five minutes ago it was 'we don't have the squad to compete on all fronts', now it's 'how would we keep these players happy??'. Like clockwork.

The top of modern football is a squad game and everyone understands this.

[pablo_picasso]

Think, as others have said, that having Mings / Konsa / Carlos / Pau Torres* just makes us look the business in defence. With injuries, suspensions, 5 subs, and European football they should all get plenty of games.

Centre back is a position where you tend to want consistency of selection.  It's also not a position you generally use subs on mid-game, so sharing minutes is unlikely.  Not many clubs could keep four centre backs of that quality happy and tbh I'm not sure we're one of them.  Whilst I guess it's not impossible that we could start the season with that line up, I don't think Mings / Konsa / Carlos would hang around for long as a bit part player.

I'm not so sure. I think you're right generally, but I think we could keep four top class CBs happy, if it was managed right. For one, we don't know how badly Carlos has been impacted by his injury - it could be a case that he couldn't manage playing week in week out without building up some fitness. Konsa might be alright coming in for cup games and injuries/suspensions. I think Mings and Torres* would be our first choice pairing (even if they are both left footed).

I want us to build a squad that can compete in the Champions League, and having four excellent CBs is a great way to start that. When we rotate for cup games, we'll have Carlos and Konsa, rather than Chambers and Bednarek. That has to be the goal, and we need to shift our mentality. Finishing 7th is the first step on the ladder.

This.

To be successful, we need to build a squad that is capable of competing in all of the games we have coming up.

And while having continuity with a pairing is important in an ideal world, no two centre backs can play the whole season, every game, every competition, with European games thrown in there.

And if we want to compete at the highest levels, then we need competent replacements coming in.

So we need to build a strong squad with quality depth.

Otherwise, we might as well just pack it all in now.

This doesn't change the fact that we won't be able to keep 4 top centre backs happy.

How do other top clubs manage it?