Summer 2024 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

We still need a striker if Duran does go though. Felix isn't a 9 at all.

Yep, Felix for me is a 10 who should be scoring 15+ goals a season.

[caster troy]

If Felix is Emery's 'dream signing' that is good enough for me, I bet no one has studied his game in more detail. It's not a Coutinho situation as he is still only 24, plenty of time for Unai to work his magic and improve him.

[Smithy]

I'm not overly impressed with this pursuit of Felix. Strikes me he's mostly famous for Atletico massively overspending on him.

He probably is, but if you ignore that his record has been pretty decent. Just not £100+ decent.

He's a very talented player, certainly, but he has never really delivered on a consistent basis since his debut season at Benfica as a 18/19 year old.  If Unai thinks he can get a tune out of him, then great. He is still only 24, but it would make me a little nervous if we're about to break our transfer record on him. 

His goals/assists numbers each year is in the 15/16 range, which isn't brilliant, but certainly on a par with Diaby (who you'd think he'd replace in the side?).  Diaby got 19 from 54 games, Felix got 16 from 44 games.  And that's from a player who is widely regarded as playing below their potential.

If he's the back-up transfer option to first-choice target Nico Williams, and Unai and Monchi genuinely believe they can get a regular tune out of him, then great. I'm all in, and I will completely ignore anyone who suggests he was a flop at Chelsea :-)

[Smithy]

We still need a striker if Duran does go though. Felix isn't a 9 at all.

Yep, Felix for me is a 10 who should be scoring 15+ goals a season.

There aren't huge numbers of 9s who regularly score 15+ a season, never mind 10s (unless they take penalties, like Cole Palmer). I'd love one, but I think it's unrealistic to expect it and consider anything less unsuccessful.  Ollie had the assist number last season of a typical 10, and I'd be happy with 20-ish goal involvements from our new 10, however they are split between goals and assists.

[SaddVillan]

Wonder if (and it's not a criticism) we're beginning to think that Unai is so good that he can torn any footballing water into wine?

It stands to reason that eventually we'll buy somebody who turns out to be a dud.

Let's hope that when we do, it doesn't turn out to be too damaging financially and doesn't imperial us.

[eamonn]

Didn't Felix hit the post a lot/assist a lot of chances at Chelsea? I don't pay close attention to other PL teams, but I have a memory from watching MOTD that he was very good at getting into dangerous positions and making space for himself.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

We still need a striker if Duran does go though. Felix isn't a 9 at all.

Yep, Felix for me is a 10 who should be scoring 15+ goals a season.

There aren't huge numbers of 9s who regularly score 15+ a season, never mind 10s (unless they take penalties, like Cole Palmer). I'd love one, but I think it's unrealistic to expect it and consider anything less unsuccessful.  Ollie had the assist number last season of a typical 10, and I'd be happy with 20-ish goal involvements from our new 10, however they are split between goals and assists.

I honestly believe we'll have players this season who will create tonnes of chances for Watkins and with Felix playing close by I see no reason why he can't reach those numbers. He's good with both feet, is there for the tap ins but also has a cracking shot on him. His penalties are excellent (at least for his club), he's great with his head too.

My guess is Unai wants a team who attack and get the ball into the box much earlier. Getting our midfield and wing backs to get the ball in the box you need more than just Ollie there and Felix is the ideal player to support him.

[john e]

I don’t think we will get Felix I think the deal will be too big for us at the moment
But there is a chance and if it happens I think it will be game changing for us

[lovejoy]

Can Felix play alongside Watkins, otherwise he’s an expensive sub.

[algy]

Didn't Felix hit the post a lot/assist a lot of chances at Chelsea? I don't pay close attention to other PL teams, but I have a memory from watching MOTD that he was very good at getting into dangerous positions and making space for himself.

From the highlights reels I'd watched, that looked like exactly his problem.  He'd beat 3 or 4 players, but end up a bit too far to the side and end up firing shots straight at the keeper, or as you'd said the post.  It makes me think that it only needs that slight bit of readjustment to make sure he's 3 or 4 yards nearer the middle and he'd be going from 7-8 goals to 12-14 goals.  And, as you'd also said, it looks to me that in terms of assists he's a pretty decent player - he's not a greedy player at all IMO, makes some beautiful passes.

Just watching them, you can see what Emery sees in him as a player.  He looks like the kind of player that would combine perfectly with a player like Ollie.

[London Villan]

Assume Emi 2 would be the Felix understudy.

[Risso]

Wonder if (and it's not a criticism) we're beginning to think that Unai is so good that he can torn any footballing water into wine?

It stands to reason that eventually we'll buy somebody who turns out to be a dud.

Let's hope that when we do, it doesn't turn out to be too damaging financially and doesn't imperial us.

Well, for whatever reason we didn't consistently see the best of Diaby, hence him not being here any more.

[john2710]

If we get Felix I'm sure Unai will get him performing.  He's still young & if he's motivated to achieve his potential & prove a few people wrong he couldn't come to a better club. Unai will make him feel like he's the best player on the planet.

I have no doubt he's exactly what we need at exactly the right time.

[pauliewalnuts]

Didn't Felix hit the post a lot/assist a lot of chances at Chelsea? I don't pay close attention to other PL teams, but I have a memory from watching MOTD that he was very good at getting into dangerous positions and making space for himself.

From the highlights reels I'd watched, that looked like exactly his problem.  He'd beat 3 or 4 players, but end up a bit too far to the side and end up firing shots straight at the keeper, or as you'd said the post.  It makes me think that it only needs that slight bit of readjustment to make sure he's 3 or 4 yards nearer the middle and he'd be going from 7-8 goals to 12-14 goals.  And, as you'd also said, it looks to me that in terms of assists he's a pretty decent player - he's not a greedy player at all IMO, makes some beautiful passes.

It's a little like the adjustments Unai made with the likes of Bailey and Ollie. He didn't fundamentally change them over a long period of time, he adjusted the way they play week by week and got significant improvements out of them.

If the talent is there, he'll get the best out of the player.

[Risso]

If Felix doesn't happen, would it be worth trying for Zaha on say, a two year deal?