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

[olaftab]

Simeone doesn't fancy him - not surprised, as he's a defensive kinda coach.
He flopped at Chelsea - who hasn't?
Didn't workout at a mess of a Barcelona.

So would you pay around £70M for that sort of mediocrity?

[rougegorge]

We're still being linked with sock-cutter Connor Gallagher.

The Berkshire Todd Cantwell, hopefully no substance to this .

Gallagher is much better than Cantwell and also has no connection to Berkshire?

[Smithy]

The thing that worries me is the 'if anyone can sort him out it's Emery' vibe. He doesn't seem to have sorted out Duran or Diaby.

Sort of agree. He got Duran looking decent enough as a sub though I guess, it's just his mental side it looks like Unai was unable to control. Diaby just about did enough, but apparently didn't want to stay, so we'll never know if he'd have kicked on or not.

Also, both of those "problem" players look like leaving us while generating a decent profit.  Whichever way you look at it, they've become better, and more valuable, under Emery - whether they're right for us long-term - or not.

If Felix were to come for a year or two, and not quite hit the heights we all hope for, but still leave for more money than we paid - I could easily live with that.

[Dave]

We're still being linked with sock-cutter Connor Gallagher.

The Berkshire Todd Cantwell, hopefully no substance to this .

Gallagher is much better than Cantwell and also has no connection to Berkshire?

It's Tim's nutty little party piece. It gets him his bit of attention every time he brings it out, but it's not really worth reasoning with.

[tomd2103]

Unai Emery obviously brings a different dimension to things, but Felix just feels like the kind of signing and player that just never works out for us. 

[Toronto Villa]

Unai Emery obviously brings a different dimension to things, but Felix just feels like the kind of signing and player that just never works out for us. 

It never works out because we’ve never been in the position we are in today. We are on the cusp of doing something very special. We need special players to achieve that. He has done what he has mainly with players acquired, relatively speaking average former football managers. We need to really go for it now. Too many times we have come close and not tried. Or gone with the cheaper option while our competitors are much braver. It’s our time.

[pauliewalnuts]

Unai Emery obviously brings a different dimension to things, but Felix just feels like the kind of signing and player that just never works out for us. 

It never works out because we’ve never been in the position we are in today. We are on the cusp of doing something very special. We need special players to achieve that. He has done what he has mainly with players acquired, relatively speaking average former football managers. We need to really go for it now. Too many times we have come close and not tried. Or gone with the cheaper option while our competitors are much braver. It’s our time.

But that is an argument in favour of spending money and being ambitious.

I don't think anyone would disagree with that. It is doing that with Felix the ultimate target that people are a bit worried about.

I think if the price is right, go for it, but I won't deny I am concerned about his back story.

Also, we're frequently on the brink of doing something special and we always manage to bollocks it up. Which works both as an argument FOR signing Felix and one against it.

[Toronto Villa]

No signing is ever guaranteed. There is always risk. The sides that have won the most in the past 2-3 decades have all had big name, expensive signings that didn’t work out. When was the last time we signed a real star player in his prime? Stan Collymore 30 odd years ago? Of course it’s a lot of money. But when you look at our record signing in Onana, clubs we are competing with at the top have spent that on players and much more many times over. In the end it’s a case of trusting the judgement of Emery/Monchi and hope they get more right than wrong.

[OCD]

Only on H&V can I come on the transfer thread and find a discussion about UK GAAP and US GAAP!

Philogene getting a permanent move after several loan moves worked really well for him. Having someone like Emery back Felix enough to want to sign him permanently could be what makes the difference for him.

[tomd2103]

Unai Emery obviously brings a different dimension to things, but Felix just feels like the kind of signing and player that just never works out for us. 

It never works out because we’ve never been in the position we are in today. We are on the cusp of doing something very special. We need special players to achieve that. He has done what he has mainly with players acquired, relatively speaking average former football managers. We need to really go for it now. Too many times we have come close and not tried. Or gone with the cheaper option while our competitors are much braver. It’s our time.

I agree with you about this being the time, but for whatever reason, the type of player Felix is just has never seemed to work out for us. 

[AV84]

PSG are supposedly trying to sign Williams too. My worry with Felix would be that he drags his feet in the hope of Barca being able to come in last minute for him.

[edgysatsuma89]

Anyone know what Felix's work rate is like off the ball?

[coreyfeldman]

Lads, when we signed rogers everyone was like wtf who is he, Middlesbrough done nothing player. Now look.
Felix is 24 and clearly has talent but hasn't had a club to look after him.

[ChicagoLion]

Lads, when we signed rogers everyone was like wtf who is he, Middlesbrough done nothing player. Now look.
Felix is 24 and clearly has talent but hasn't had a club to look after him.

And we are paying the same amount for Felix?

[olaftab]

Anyone know what Felix's work rate is like off the ball?

No one knows that because it’s never been seen.