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

[pauliewalnuts]

Gnonto links seem to have died away too. Everton now faves to sign him.

Bit of a comedown for him, poor lad.

Still a step up from where he is now though.

Out of the frying pan and into another frying pan.

[Toronto Villa]

Unai Emery: "'We have to analyse everything and we have another minimum of 30 or 40 days to finish the transfer window and we are open to adding a few  players and as well we are open to allowing some players to leave who  are in the squad now. If we can improve, we have to do it and we have to  have a lot of information about how the transfer could leave us  something more and we are ready for it." @johntownley11

[Risso]

Gnonto for us was probably nothing than a very remote backstop in case the Diaby deal didn't come us.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

It's been reported that Nico González will not be included in the Barca squad this season. We've been recently linked with him so it will be interesting to see if we try and do a deal.

UPDATE: He's signing for Porto.

Just as I thought.

There were links with midfielder from Barcelona González but appears he's going to Porto

Well it was pretty widely reported last week there was an agreement between Barca and Porto so no surprise he's signing for them. I just wondered if we'd come in with a late bid. Speaking of late bids, we're also not making one for Boca Juniors striker Mateo Retegui, he's joining Genoa. Shame.

[pablo_picasso]

A front 3 of Johnson, Watkins, Diaby would  be quite the trio.

Would have ridiculous pace...

Lovely, lol...

I've liked the look of Philogene every time I've seen him play, which is not that many all told but he's still stood out each time to my eye.

He is pleasing to the eye with his pace & trickery.

Which masks the fact that its his end product & consistency that has been his problem up until now...

He's got the tools, no doubt. You'd like to think someone like Emery would help him refine it down to pure product and turn him into a star.

The 'Emery factor' is a great point & one I hadn't thought about for some reason.

His help with the likes of Watkins, Douglas Luiz, the two CBs, etc, has been nothing short of incredible.

If he can help Philogene-Bidace in the same way by looking at the negatives & trying to stamp those out, while trying to simplify the positives, he could become very useful in 6 months or less.

And he is meticulous about it too, so could really help change the kids game...

Great point... 👍

[eamonn]

Gnonto for us was probably nothing than a very remote backstop in case the Diaby deal didn't come us.

As backstops go, he was about as inspiring as the NI Protocol.

[VinnieChase84]

Didn't Vinnie say that we were after both, and it wasn't one or the other?

May or may not be right, but thinking aloud.

Correct, we 100% are interested in Johnson. Don't think we will do it at £50m mark mind. If it could be done for around £40m including add ons then i could see it happening

[cdward]

The Emery Factor is definitely a strong pull.
Pau and Diaby both worked with him before and were happy to sign.
Mings and McGinn have said how much they have enjoyed learning and improving under him.

[paul_e]

The other thing to remember with Philogene is that for tricky wingers it's pretty normal for the end product to not quite be there at that age. Part of the gamble with players like that is trying to pick the ones that can make that final step up.

[Scott Nielsen]

That Canadian Pete does brilliant podcasts , not really gossip like the others , just good analysis on the Villa and well put together.

Holy Trinity its called.

I've never seen someone as orange as he is the latest episode. Trump pales in comparison.

[coreyfeldman]

Since he got that sponsor he's really turned that scouse tan right up

[Mister E]

The other thing to remember with Philogene is that for tricky wingers it's pretty normal for the end product to not quite be there at that age. Part of the gamble with players like that is trying to pick the ones that can make that final step up.

Andre Green is an example of not quite making it. Tony Daley managed to harness his pace with some assists.

[Drummond]

Hang on shouldn't that be on the ex-players still playing thread?

Or the Tony Daley one?

[danno]

Only rumours I’ve seen lately are a loan for Wesley to Watford, and Keinan Davis possibly moving permanently to Luton for £7 million.

[Dogtanian]

Only rumours I’ve seen lately are a loan for Wesley to Watford, and Keinan Davis possibly moving permanently to Luton for £7 million.

Love to see them both be able to move on and get on with their lives.