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

[jwarry]

Swapping Digne on high wages for Marcus Alonso seems a very strange move

There is clearly something about Digne that  Unai doesn’t like

[danno]

It only really makes any sense if we got a fee for Digne and then got Alonso on a free.
Although even then I wouldn't be too convinced.

[chrisw1]

Digne to Nice on loan being reported by this guy who has 131k followers

Michael Rincón
@MykeRincon
🚨 Total agreement reached between all and #CONFIRMADO | 🇫🇷🔜🔴⚫

Lucas #Digne will become a new player of #OGCNice . Arrives on loan from #AstonVilla including purchase option. Medical tests reserved for this week. ✈👋🏼

[Clark W Griswold]

Isn't Alonso quite good though, and quite tall?

I don't know really as i haven't really followed his career other than knowing he's played for some big clubs recently and has won things. The thing i would say about signing older players is that i think we are very much in the here and now, we have momentum, a great manager and a very good squad and with some clever finishing touches we could win / achieve things this season and next. If a good older player will make a difference right now and propel us even further forward then i'm all for it.

[ASHTONVILLA]

Isn't Alonso quite good though, and quite tall?

I don't know really as i haven't really followed his career other than knowing he's played for some big clubs recently and has won things. The thing i would say about signing older players is that i think we are very much in the here and now, we have momentum, a great manager and a very good squad and with some clever finishing touches we could win / achieve things this season and next. If a good older player will make a difference right now and propel us even further forward then i'm all for it.

Mainstay at Chelsea and moved to Barca last year - so yes has the CV. There again Digne has Barca and PSG on his CV.

He is a good player, has experience and is proven at a high level in the PL. Ticks a lot of boxes.

[Gareth]

Last week I’d have said trading Digne who has been underwhelming in the main since joining for a WC winner was great deal

This week Digne probably has his best game for us and it doesn’t feel so good

Think I’ll leave it for Monchi and Emery to judge lol

Don’t you just love football

[London Villan]

Unai clearly has very defined ideas of what he needs from his players. I think it's the reason Archer is surplus to requirements - he just doesn't fit into any of Emery's systems. Digne is nowhere near dynamic enough, when compared to Moreno, despite him being a more than adequate full-back.

Football at this level is about the here and now. it's great to have players coming through like JJ, but managers know they have at best 18 months to make a positive impact. Hence the experienced/older player being signed.

[pauliewalnuts]

Yeah, it is weird as fuck.

What's happening with Acuna, for a start?

[brontebilly]

From memory Alonso was very poor in a back 4 at Chelsea but very good as a wing back. Links to Acuna, Alonso etc just reflect muddled recruitment. If we are getting one of them then we might aswell stick with Digne. All around the same age. We need a younger competitor for Moreno..

[Bad English]

Digne to Nice on loan being reported by this guy who has 131k followers

Michael Rincón
@MykeRincon
Total agreement reached between all and #CONFIRMADO

Lucas #Digne will become a new player of #OGCNice . Arrives on loan from #AstonVilla including purchase option. Medical tests reserved for this week.

INDCDP

[Gareth]

From memory Alonso was very poor in a back 4 at Chelsea but very good as a wing back. Links to Acuna, Alonso etc just reflect muddled recruitment. If we are getting one of them then we might aswell stick with Digne. All around the same age. We need a younger competitor for Moreno..

Depends if you believe the links or not?

Don’t think it’s muddled recruitment at all…he is just getting his squad to where he wants it…players who can do what he wants them to do, don’t think age will come into it.

[paul_e]

There's nothing muddled about having a bunch of options we're looking at in the same position.

[Holte L2]

Linked with an interest in Abde Ezzalzouli from Barcelona for £20m. Don't know anything about him.

Also being linked with Marcus Alonso.

Good on the ball, very head down & closed vision.

No better than some of the youngsters we are releasing...

He sounds like El Ghazi.

[pablo_picasso]

Alonso is slower than a 300 year old oak tree.

Doesn't seem to fit the dynamic mobility needed to cover Moreno...

Unless we are going to have one pacy attacking full back on each side & then a more defensive option on each side too, so we can switch our attacks depending on who we play...

[paul_e]

If we're looking at players like Alonso and Acuna that suggests to me that Emery sees his needs there as more short term so there may well be 1-2 younger players he thinks can develop there. I might be wrong but 2 30+ options in the same position is a strange choice otherwise.