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

[ASHTONVILLA]

Emery likes his players to be able to take the ball, back to goal, in tight spaces, and find a pass. Barkley is well capable of playing that role, giving Luiz, Tielemans and McGinn some much needed rest time. We ran out of steam because we were 4 squad players short for me, mainly on midfield and full back areas. We have heard Unai taking about being intelligent in the market. 2-3 free transfers for squad depth that are better than what we have makes a huge amount of sense.

Bang on.

Barkley and a player like Ndidi through the door to be dedicated backup to Kamara would represent really smart business.

Is Ndidi on a free? Would be a good shout as cover for Kamara if so.

[Risso]

Not sure about Ndidi. Looked the business a few seasons back, but while he's got the breaking up play bit covered, another big strength of Kamara is receiving the ball under pressure from Martinez and using it well.

[Ads]

Ndidi already has an assist to his name for the Villa as well.

[LeeB]

Not sure about Ndidi. Looked the business a few seasons back, but while he's got the breaking up play bit covered, another big strength of Kamara is receiving the ball under pressure from Martinez and using it well.

N'Didi used the ball briliiantly when he set up Bert for the winner at Leicester season before last.

[Toronto Villa]

Comments made about Ndidi could also be attributed to Tielemans before Emery worked his magic. That’s not me advocating for Ndidi. More about any player that might have a slightly tarnished reputation (see some of the Barkley comments), before they arrive in our environment and coaching system. At this point I’m willing to give pretty much anyone a chance to improve and develop to our standards if Emery wants him*

*Danny Drinkwater and Ross McCormack are excluded from that and can fuck off obviously.

[ozzjim]

Ndidi never looks sure on the ball to me, and Maresca moved him forward at times last season to remove the issue of him not being good enough taking the ball in from the the centre halves. We will still need a proper Kamara backup even if we signed Barkley, but I'd hope we've got something better than Ndidi lined up

[Rudy Can't Fail]

A Ugarte type loan with option to buy would be ideal considering how much financial restriction is likely to be reduced in time for the 2025/26 season.

Since yesterday I've read PSG have said he won't be going out on loan. The player is happy there, just wants more minutes and we already have a good working relationship with his agent, Mendes. It's a long summer..

[Risso]

Comments made about Ndidi could also be attributed to Tielemans before Emery worked his magic. That’s not me advocating for Ndidi. More about any player that might have a slightly tarnished reputation (see some of the Barkley comments), before they arrive in our environment and coaching system. At this point I’m willing to give pretty much anyone a chance to improve and develop to our standards if Emery wants him*

I don't think that Youri's ability on the ball was ever in question was it? That's the big doubt with Ndidi.

[paul_e]

Philips is a massive no for me, even at his best he was never good enough at the defensive part of the job, which is why Leeds conceded fuck loads and only ever used him in a double pivot. For all our complaints that Luiz isn't good enough covering for Kamara he's a couple of levels above what prime Philips offers in that role.

Barkley would also be a no, he's had a good season but he's 30 and has never looked good enough to be part of a team really challenging at the top of the table.

Ndidi is good defensively but far too limited technically to be worth signing.

I'd prefer us to go for someone a little younger (early 20s) who looks on the verge of taking a step up and, as I've posted before on here, Manu Kone at Munchengladbach would be my choice, I reckon he'll be one of the best centre mids in the world in a couple of years and would love us to be the team that gambles on him early.

[Smithy]

Ndidi is fine if the DM you want is there purely to "get the ball back and give it to someone else", the sort of job we asked Marv to do for us when we got promoted.  But as others have said, that is not the only job our DM does in Unai's set-up.  The DM is a core part of our ability to play out from the back, has to be comfortable receiving the ball under pressure, and also comfortable dropping into a back five when the play necessitates it.

I'm not sure Ndidi is the player for that role, but I am basing it on seeing him play us a handful of times, nothing more.

I'm trusing Monchi to have something up his sleeve for that role, but it's tricky, because someone 'better' than Kamara is likely to be ridiculously expensive.

[ozzjim]

I think we need 2 centre mids though Paul, so Barkley as one on a free seems fairly reasonable, if the other is then a younger more dynamic one. Even when fit Kamara is going to take time to get back up to speed, and we have seen this season that Youri, McGinn and Doug simply isn't enough. Ramsey and Buendia coming back boosts the wide forward areas massively, plus you have Bailey and Rogers there, so are much less of a concern. We aren't affording £50m on Buena as much as we will be linked either. Getting to a pool of 5/6 comfortable, good on the ball players for the central roles, 2 for each full back and 4 complimentary centre halves is a must this summer, without hitting FFP..

[edgysatsuma89]

I think it's incredibly rare to get a DM who is also good on the ball for anything that isn't an insane amount of money. That's why the Kamara deal was so incredible. Hopefully we can be creative again.

Barkley has stood out for 1 season playing deeper for Luton where he should stand out. If he was 20 then maybe but he's 30 and I agree with Chris, I think the benefit of him being at Luton was the guarantee of playing every game which he hasn't had for a long time. I don't see it.

[Dogtanian]

I think it's incredibly rare to get a DM who is also good on the ball for anything that isn't an insane amount of money. That's why the Kamara deal was so incredible. Hopefully we can be creative again.

Barkley has stood out for 1 season playing deeper for Luton where he should stand out. If he was 20 then maybe but he's 30 and I agree with Chris, I think the benefit of him being at Luton was the guarantee of playing every game which he hasn't had for a long time. I don't see it.

I know his age isn't ideal, but would you not consider him on a free, with a two-year deal being a good backup option that doesn't break the bank? I don't think he will be on massive amounts per week at Luton, so it could be a shrewd move to add some fat to the squad.

[ChicagoLion]

I think it's incredibly rare to get a DM who is also good on the ball for anything that isn't an insane amount of money. That's why the Kamara deal was so incredible. Hopefully we can be creative again.

Barkley has stood out for 1 season playing deeper for Luton where he should stand out. If he was 20 then maybe but he's 30 and I agree with Chris, I think the benefit of him being at Luton was the guarantee of playing every game which he hasn't had for a long time. I don't see it.

I know his age isn't ideal, but would you not consider him on a free, with a two-year deal being a good backup option that doesn't break the bank? I don't think he will be on massive amounts per week at Luton, so it could be a shrewd move to add some fat to the squad.

The danger is he does not get to play enough, does not retain his fitness levels.
I think at his age he needs to play.

[sid1964]

Will any of the other top 4 clubs sign Barkley? -  we need to add quality not another body just to make up the numbers.