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

[paul_e]

Watkins had scored 0 Premier League goals before he joined us.

and we were a club that had just finished 17th in the league, not 7th. Completely different circumstances and different needs.

However I don't think premier league goals are essential but an ability to step up and be the main striker for 90minutes week in and week out for a while is, and many people don't think Archer or Duran are ready for that just yet. Don't forget that Watkins was 4/5 years older than those 2 when we signed him.

[pauliewalnuts]

Also re ^^^ that, don't forget, we are putting in a buy back clause for Ramsey. There's a reason Man City routinely do that. It's clever long term thinking.

[Beard82]

Thanks, Paulie for your patience.  I think where I am at is Im happy going into the new season with Archer and Duran.  If the club decides differently, I back the people we have in place to make those decisions.  I love seeing youth prospects come through, but trust Unai and Monchi to do what's right, but I wouldn't be surprised or disappointed if that is sticking rather than twisting.

Obviously, as you guys know, I'm a massive ITK - and Rumours Emiliano Buendia is out for the season. MCL/ACL injury.

Now that would be a bit of a bugger

[AV84]

I'm not sure why people keep having the same argument/discussion about Watkins and the striker situation.

The problem with our options being Watkins/Archer/Durán was always IF Watkins was injured. I think most people would have been fine with Archer as backup if we 100% knew Watkins could manage the increased work load and stay fit for the entire season. But we were always going to be one injury away from having no senior striker available.

If we're now getting rid of Archer, we're one injury away from Durán being our main striker.

To spend huge money and replace Watkins with someone better, we'd still be in the same position, one injury away from having to play Durán every game.

[paul_e]

I think the balance we have in centre mid is perfect, for those 2 spots we have 3 'main' options in Luiz, Kamara and Tielemans, a steady backup in Donk and a few others who are either promising kids or can move over from other positions to fill in temporarily in an emergency.

We need to get to something similar in the attacking roles and I think that means someone who can rotate with either Watkins or Diaby. Looking at who we've been linked with I think there's 3-4 players who fit that sort of player.

[OCD]

I think it would be £25m for Archer + Add-Ons + Buy-back clause.

[Dave]

If we're now getting rid of Archer, we're one injury away from Durán being our main striker.

To spend huge money and replace Watkins with someone better, we'd still be in the same position, one injury away from having to play Durán every game.

Why, where is Watkins going in this scenario?

[AV84]

If we're now getting rid of Archer, we're one injury away from Durán being our main striker.

To spend huge money and replace Watkins with someone better, we'd still be in the same position, one injury away from having to play Durán every game.

Why, where is Watkins going in this scenario?

Where is Watkins going in the replace Watkins scenario?

[pauliewalnuts]

If we're now getting rid of Archer, we're one injury away from Durán being our main striker.

To spend huge money and replace Watkins with someone better, we'd still be in the same position, one injury away from having to play Durán every game.

Why, where is Watkins going in this scenario?

Where is Watkins going in the replace Watkins scenario?

Nobody is talking about replacing Watkins.

[AV84]

If we're now getting rid of Archer, we're one injury away from Durán being our main striker.

To spend huge money and replace Watkins with someone better, we'd still be in the same position, one injury away from having to play Durán every game.

Why, where is Watkins going in this scenario?

Where is Watkins going in the replace Watkins scenario?

Nobody is talking about replacing Watkins.

Lots of people have been talking about replacing him with someone better. And I was specifically referencing those conversations when I said if we replace Watkins with someone better.

[paul_e]

The first bit makes sense to me, if we sell archer and watkins gets injured then yes duran would be next in line if we don't sign anyone. Big if at the end there.

[Dave]

If we're now getting rid of Archer, we're one injury away from Durán being our main striker.

To spend huge money and replace Watkins with someone better, we'd still be in the same position, one injury away from having to play Durán every game.

Why, where is Watkins going in this scenario?

Where is Watkins going in the replace Watkins scenario?

If Torres takes Mings' place in the team, does that mean Mings is no longer our player?

[AV84]

If we're now getting rid of Archer, we're one injury away from Durán being our main striker.

To spend huge money and replace Watkins with someone better, we'd still be in the same position, one injury away from having to play Durán every game.

Why, where is Watkins going in this scenario?

Where is Watkins going in the replace Watkins scenario?

If Torres takes Mings' place in the team, does that mean Mings is no longer our player?

If people genuinely think we'd spend massive money one someone better than Watkins and then keep Watkins too, they're stupid. If we replace Watkins with someone better it's not his spot in the starting lineup that's gone.

[andyh]

I think it would be £25m for Archer + Add-Ons + Buy-back clause.

Blimey I would hope for £10m plus…..£25m is a bit crazy

And…. Have we sold Keinan yet?

[Beard82]

If we're now getting rid of Archer, we're one injury away from Durán being our main striker.

To spend huge money and replace Watkins with someone better, we'd still be in the same position, one injury away from having to play Durán every game.

Why, where is Watkins going in this scenario?

Where is Watkins going in the replace Watkins scenario?

If Torres takes Mings' place in the team, does that mean Mings is no longer our player?

If people genuinely think we'd spend massive money one someone better than Watkins and then keep Watkins too, they're stupid. If we replace Watkins with someone better it's not his spot in the starting lineup that's gone.

Wouldn’t thank mean we would have 12 players?