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

[eamonn]

Surely there has to be a risk of Chelsea going bust? Money they have paid for Caicedo and Lavia is just insane really and reeks of desperation. Great to see likes of Chelsea and Liverpool being utterly ripped off but where does all this end. Hopefully Chelsea miss out on CL football again, the more seasons they are outside the CL will hopefully bring their day of reckoning closer.

The Saudi money is really having an impact on the PL too. Laporte for example should easily have another 3-4 seasons of top Euro club football left in him. Giving all that and Id assume his international career up for a boatload of cash.

Chelsea have also sold pretty much their entire first team from last season too though!

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

I’m not sure generally speaking they’re paying inflated fees are they? They’re turning players heads with obscene wages, getting them to pressure their clubs for moves. There are exceptions, but most of the fees have looked low end to me.

A reported £90m for Neymar, but that might be the exception rather than the rule. If they come in for Digne or Coutinho they could easily afford their wages which backs up your point.
I was all for letting Phil go but now with Buendia’s injury, even with Zaniolo, would it be worth keeping him?

[SamTheMouse]

That's the thing isn't it. It's not that the transfer fees are high, but more that it's easier for clubs like Abu Dhabi FC to convince these players to move on when the Saudis are prepared to stump up massive wages.

And of course it's never the players they would want to keep, just the ones that are surplus to requirements. It's the perfect solution for them.

I suppose if Digne goes out there, we'll have benefited quite nicely from it too.

[Yeltzer]

Other than that free kick at VP versus Man Utd, Digne has done sweet FA. The Saudi money is convenient and helpful to us to getting his wage off the books and ultimately help with FFP. I’d like to see Coutinho go too given his minimal impact.

Strange to think how much money the Arabs are spunking up the wall

[VillaTim]

Yep Digne and Coutinho out the door and off the wage bill to free up space would be great.

[PaulWinch again]

Nope keep Coutinho

[john e]

Nope keep Coutinho

It’s a Yep from me

[Gareth]

I’m not sure generally speaking they’re paying inflated fees are they? They’re turning players heads with obscene wages, getting them to pressure their clubs for moves. There are exceptions, but most of the fees have looked low end to me.

I was amazed they got St Maximiniminiman from Newcastle so cheaply.

Firsty, amazed Newcastle let him go for that. Second, equally amazed they didn't use it to engage in some covertly-funding-Newcastle shenanigans.

It’s not the fees that are the issue, it’s the ease of moving players between same owned clubs…that deal went through in days which meant Newcastle had access to the fee very early in window.

I thought it was slightly light in terms of fee but again he is a player who is injured a lot

[RamboandBruno]

I think we should keep Coutinho for now and give him another chance, I still there is something there. There we’re definite signs pre season and some nice touches against Newcastle, albeit it was too late then. I can see him having an impact versus Everton.

[pablo_picasso]

Yep Digne and Coutinho out the door and off the wage bill to free up space would be great.

Yep. Me too.

I have never been a fan of Digne & Coutinho has been given more than enough chances after his three good games when he first joined...

[algy]

Sell Digne - given Buendia's injury, keep Couts until January then re-assess.

[OCD]

I would rather we sell Bailey before we sell Coutinho.

[pablo_picasso]

I would rather we sell Bailey before we sell Coutinho.

How about we compromise & sell both? 😉

[OCD]

Depends on whether Coutinho can stay fit. If he can, he'll be useful for us.

[Toronto Villa]

Nicolo Schira a reputable sports journalist in Italy claiming that Acuna has agreed a 2.5 year deal to 2026. Just need to hammer things out with Sevilla now.

https://x.com/nicoschira/status/1691715445781311545?s=46