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

[eye digress]

Thought this article by Liew in the Graun offered an interesting counter narrative to the general consensus that the Saudi league is failing (also my opinion thus far).

[PeterWithe]

I’m not sure my 2 minutes of research is particularly sound but, if the Saudis pay £60m for Diaby, is that more than double their transfer record? I can see anything over £30m in the last 12 months? They pay big wages but not transfer fees.

Which might suggest either a change in strategy or it’s bollocks

The only one that comes to mind that exceeds that is £47m for the Wolves player - Neves? I could be mistaken though, I haven’t looked it up or anything cuz that’s how I roll.

Oh, he wasn’t on the list at all, nor were some of the players in that article above, so forget that. Don’t mind me.

[PeterWithe]

I was in advertently looking at just one club, if he did go for that fee he’d be among the highest ever fees but still well below Neymar.

[VillaTim]

Mings Buendia Ramsey will be like 3 new signings. Then Kamara back by October hopefully is another . If we can avoid another injury pile up we will be far stronger and we can still sell Diaby / Duran and let Emery use some of the income to upgrade both players.

[Villatillidie25]

Mings Buendia Ramsey will be like 3 new signings. Then Kamara back by October hopefully is another . If we can avoid another injury pile up we will be far stronger and we can still sell Diaby / Duran and let Emery use some of the income to upgrade both players.

That’s optimistic. Kamara won’t be back until Xmas and even then will take most of the rest of the season to find his feet again. It’s bad enough when a player just misses pre season, let alone when he’s done his acl. Buendia will take a while to find sharpness again and I don’t think Mings will be quite ready for the start of the season and will then take time. Ramsey is the only one, assuming he’s fit, who could hit the ground running. We really shouldn’t be expecting much from Kamara this season and shouldn’t pin our hopes on mings or Buendia.

[ChicagoLion]

Thought this article by Liew in the Graun offered an interesting counter narrative to the general consensus that the Saudi league is failing (also my opinion thus far).

It depends on what is considered failing against the long term objectives of the Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund.
I am not sure anyone except the Saudis know that.

[Clark W Griswold]

I’d summarise the deals / squad as so;

Left / Leaving but appeared to want to (so fine)
Luiz, Diaby ?, Duran ?

Gone but wasn’t going to have an impact at this point;
Igbomurum

Sent back from loans but wasn’t particularly convincing anyway;
Lenglet, Zaniolo

Signed and should be quality;
Maarten, Onana?

Signed and don’t know much about them but they’re young;
Barreneacha, Illing Junior, Kosta

Signed and not convinced but still young;
Dobbin, Philogene

Signed and not convinced;
Barkley

Players coming back from injury that are capable of first team;
Mings, Ramsey, Buendia

Players that I think will improve from last season and be even better;
Rogers, Tielemans, Pau

So I’m pretty happy with how it’s shaping up.

Need a better second choice keeper though.

Edit ; And also if Diaby and Duran do go I’d like to see us sign one really top player that can play across the front line, including Watkins central role.

[Villatillidie25]

Thought this article by Liew in the Graun offered an interesting counter narrative to the general consensus that the Saudi league is failing (also my opinion thus far).

Thanks for posting. Just read it and really don’t think it illustrates that the league is prospering. They have a handful of high profile players who were always likely to make their national teams, especially after only a year or so in Saudi. Their representation doesn’t prove anything. Add that to the fact that people like Veiga, who would have hoped to make the squad got nowhere near it and, as the writer says, Henderson would probably have made it if he hadn’t moved to Saudi and it feels more like proof that players might cling on to their international careers for a year or two before declining and dropping out of consideration.
The article makes no reference to attendances, statistical evidence of the quality of the league, player opinion or anything else that could quantify the success of the league.
It basically uses one excellent performance from Kante as proof. The only thing I’d take is that it gives aging players an extra year or two given the lower intensity but didn’t we know that already?

[paul_e]

If Diaby and Duran both go I wouldn't be massively shocked if we replace them with a single player.

[Gareth]

Blimey we did really really well to finish 4th with all these poor players….Dougie wasn’t as good last couple of months but he was far from desperate & Diaby wasnt as good as his price tag but it wasn’t like he was awful all season he just wasn’t Bailey level

[PaulWinch again]

Blimey we did really really well to finish 4th with all these poor players….Dougie wasn’t as good last couple of months but he was far from desperate & Diaby wasnt as good as his price tag but it wasn’t like he was awful all season he just wasn’t Bailey level

Yep it’s nonsense - the Doug stuff is so one eyed. He had a poor second half of the season, but was one of the best midfielders in the league in the first half. All the points we won in that phase were massively influenced by him. Similarly Diaby had a very solid goals/assists return - also a good number I remember being important - he was inconsistent, but he still delivered good results.

[taylorsworkrate]

Unless we are doubling our money on Diaby I wouldn't consider selling

[eye digress]

Thanks for posting. Just read it and really don’t think it illustrates that the league is prospering.

Yes, that would be similar to my own opinion, admittedly looking at it through a eurocentric prism. Just thought it interesting that a journo whom I find quite insightful and who tries to see the bigger picture stuck his head above the parapet on the subject.

[Hookeysmith]

I am happy with the ins and out so far and am sure there will be others before the season really kicks in.
My only concern is the high number of changes and our ability to settle them into the SUE way of playing. Almost feels like we are a promoted team..and suppose we are considering the champs league.

Then again I suppose the only main stays that we have / potentially lost is

Luis...integral part of the teams shape and funtion
Duran...was really only an impact sub
Diaby...ended up being a bit part player
Zaniolo / lenglet...as Diaby.

We have certainly bolstered areas we needed to in midfield, especially in physicality and definitely in height.

[VillaTim]

We conceded too many goals last season. Sort that and we can seriously challenge .