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

[Ads]

I think this is our biggest downgrade in quality from Diaby to Philogene.

[Dave]

My worry is midfield, it's the most critical area of the pitch and we are miles weaker than we were this time last season.

That's probably true, but mainly due to Kamara's injury. And he is still our player, and one we can't just pop out and buy a perfect replacement for while we wait for him to come back.

So given that, Onana / Barkley / Barrenechea for DL / Iroegbunam definitely isn't "miles weaker".

My biggest concern is that it feels that both Watkins and Bailey just had the best season of their careers and it's a big ask for them to replicate or improve on that.

And my gut feeling is that neither will. So unless Rogers / JJ / Buendia / Philogene really pull something special out, we've potentially got quite a lot of goals to replace.

[Dante Lavelli]

I think this is our biggest downgrade in quality from Diaby to Philogene.

Isn’t it to Rogers? With Philogene likely to be on the bench.  the point is arguably still valid, I just see Philogene as a sub, at least initially.

My hunch is Felix fills that quality void once we shift either Duran or Archer.

[brontebilly]

Maybe. But Ollie has had no pre season, Duran and Carlos are on their way out and we still haven't replaced Luiz or Diaby. I think we need several new players in order to compete.

Ollie needs a break more than a pre-season, wouldn't worry with him. Ramsey and Rogers fully fit should be key players for us. Mings if gets back to his best returns to our defence and improves us. Buendia will be an improvement on Zaniolo at a minimum. Lots of positives there, not to mention likes of Philogene back. Bailey has had a nice break too and should crack on again.

My worry is midfield, it's the most critical area of the pitch and we are miles weaker than we were this time last season.

How are we miles weaker in midfield when we’ve only lost one player who as good as he could be wasn’t always a regular starter? For the loss of that one player we have added Barkley, Onana, Barrenachea, Iling Junior.  I would argue the loss of Kamara was greater but even he will be back before the seasons out

When was Luiz not a regular starter under Emery? Luiz/Kamara was one of the best midfield partnerships in the division.

[AV84]

Bailey didn't have much time off last summer, if I remember correctly. He was also carrying some kind of injury towards the end of the season. It's entirely possible that with a whole summer off to rest and recover, he may well improve on his form last season.

[Dave]

It's entirely possible that with a whole summer off to rest and recover, he may well improve on his form last season.

It's entirely possible. I just don't think it'll happen.

[Dante Lavelli]

Bailey didn't have much time off last summer, if I remember correctly. He was also carrying some kind of injury towards the end of the season. It's entirely possible that with a whole summer off to rest and recover, he may well improve on his form last season.

He was phenomenal last season, surely that’s his ceiling level?  Hopefully he can sustain it for longer though as his leg was like robocop for the last few months.

[PeterWithe]

It's entirely possible that with a whole summer off to rest and recover, he may well improve on his form last season.

It's entirely possible. I just don't think it'll happen.

Me neither, a lot of players have a golden season, I suspect we’ve just seen Bailey’s, and wasn’t it terrific.

[AV84]

^ well yeah, I'd be happy if he could keep the level he had last season and maintain it for the whole season.

[aj2k77]

I hope Watkins form doesn't suffer when he starts missing penalties if he replaces Luiz.

[Olneythelonely]

Romano understands Fulham are close to agreeing a fee for Carlos.

[AV84]

Be quite funny if several players end up in London, but Duran isn't one of them.

[tomd2103]

I think this is our biggest downgrade in quality from Diaby to Philogene.

Isn’t it to Rogers? With Philogene likely to be on the bench.  the point is arguably still valid, I just see Philogene as a sub, at least initially.

My hunch is Felix fills that quality void once we shift either Duran or Archer.

Yeah, Rogers and Buendia will play where Diaby played most of his games last season.  Philogene will be back up to Bailey. 

[AV84]

I see us linked with Trevoh Chalobah again, but it says he's been banned from Chelsea's training facilities? Anyone know what that's about?

[Dante Lavelli]

I see us linked with Trevoh Chalobah again, but it says he's been banned from Chelsea's training facilities? Anyone know what that's about?

They need to shift homegrown players for PSR. I doubt he’s done anything wrong just making is explicit he must leave.

Cheeky if they then ask stupid money for him if they’ve publicly assigned him to the bombsquad.