Transfer priorities

[Risso]

The problem with Olsen isn't that he's a terrible keeper, but that he's a terrible keeper for a team that wants to play from the back, invite the press and beat it.

We need a keeper who CAN play from the back to step in when Martinez is injured/suspended/rested.

I think the problem is that a number two who's even reasonably comfortable on the ball is going to have to be playing regularly for a team who plays like that. There aren't many teams who do, and if they do, why would their keeper want to come and be second fiddle?

[Billy Walker]

Pure speculation on my part, but I reckon we might go for someone like Solanke to strengthen our squad and forward options, ditto someone like Sander Berge for the midfield.  Possibly not the most exciting of signings but these are the kinds of players that our manager excels at polishing up.

[ChicagoLion]

i think a defensive RB is more necessary.

[andyh]

a top quality, dominating centre half with heading ability 

Mings will be fit so that's covered.

will he come back the same ?
Obviously we pray he does, but we can have another one to replace Carlos who is none of those things.

[AV82EC]

Pure speculation on my part, but I reckon we might go for someone like Solanke to strengthen our squad and forward options, ditto someone like Sander Berge for the midfield.  Possibly not the most exciting of signings but these are the kinds of players that our manager excels at polishing up.

Sander Berge! You do realise we’re now in the top 4 and not the bottom 6.

[paul_e]

I think we could cover several positions with three free transfers.

Lloyd Kelly. LCB/LB. 6'3", pacy, good passer, comfortable on the ball.
Tosin Adarabioyo. RCB. 6'5', good passer, comfortable on the ball. Great in the air.
Wilfried Ndidi. CDM/CM. 6'1, strong, bit of pace. Good tackling, decent passer.

Covers a few positions where we will be shorter, if Lenglet, Carlos, Dendoncker, Chambers, Hause & Digne leaves. (Possibly Cash too).

All have strength, all have height, a bit of pace. All comfortable on the ball.

Just leaves us to pick up a RB then & either one of Lutsharel Geertruidaor or Jeremiah St. Juste because they fit the mould of the players above with height, pace, comfort on the ball, with good passing. Both can play at RB/CB/CDM too. St. Juste would be my choice because he has ridiculous pace.

Wouldn't cost the earth, but would give us lots of options all cross the back & at CDM to cover for league & European games. And it helps to work to amend our inability to defend set pieces due to the height discrepancies.

We can then send Iroegbunam out on loan to a decent club abroad, along with maybe Nedeljković, Sousa, depending on what they show us in pre season. Maybe send Kesler-Hayden out again too, depending on his pre-season form.

I'd take Tosin, I think he's a very good defender on a free and would really help with the lack of height in the team.

Kelly would be ok if either Digne is going or we don't think Mings will be ready for the start of the season.

I don't rate Ndidi. He was good a few years back but he's missed a lot of games in the last couple of years and was really poor in their relegation team. For DM I'd be looking at Manu Kone, he's not a 'real' DM but he's a niggly battler with loads of skill and really good on the ball, I think he'd balance out our options really well in there.

For right back I'd want to see what Man City plan to do with Couto who's been out at Girona, he looks exceptional but i suspect they'll want to bring him into their team, could be a Palmer style sneaky one though.

[LeeB]

Pure speculation on my part, but I reckon we might go for someone like Solanke to strengthen our squad and forward options, ditto someone like Sander Berge for the midfield.  Possibly not the most exciting of signings but these are the kinds of players that our manager excels at polishing up.

Sander Berge! You do realise we’re now in the top 4 and not the bottom 6.

Yes, but I agree with Billy Walker in that we're going to sign one or two that make you think in the way you've just responded, only for us all to be saying six months down the line what a player he is.

[LeeB]

And wasn't it Ndidi that cushioned that lovely pass to Bert to do his stuff at Leicester last season?

[chrisw1]

I always thought Guendouzi would be a good fit for someone who could play both the pivot role and further forward.  He's on loan from Marseille, so you would imagine could be gettable and add versatility to the squad.

[Dante Lavelli]

DM is my number 1 priority.

Full backs next if we look to move on Cash and Digne. However happy enough if they stayed.

[edgysatsuma89]

I'm adding nothing new here: DM, RB, LB, CB. Latter 2 are if there are departures. Anything else is a bonus. Rumours earlier are that we are in for a forward, so I reckon if that is the case it will be a utility forward like Nico Williams (hopefully Nico Williams).

[Richard E]

It doesn’t really matter who we sign, because they’ll be injured within two games anyway.

[Billy Walker]

Pure speculation on my part, but I reckon we might go for someone like Solanke to strengthen our squad and forward options, ditto someone like Sander Berge for the midfield.  Possibly not the most exciting of signings but these are the kinds of players that our manager excels at polishing up.

Sander Berge! You do realise we’re now in the top 4 and not the bottom 6.

Ha! I just think he's the kind of player Unai could get a real tune from.

[Smithy]

I still think we need another forward.  Yes, Ollie has proven himself to be made of granite these last few years, but he has been SO important to our play this season that I think losing him for any period of time would hugely upset our balance. 

Duran is great and can contribute from the bench and a few starts (clearly), but he's a totally different sort of player to Ollie, and we have nothing behind either of them unless we play a false 9. 

We clearly have goals throughout the side now, with all of the 'front five' positions contributing goals and assists, so the "Ollie back up" doesn't need to be a prolific goalscorer, just someone who can play as the focal point of our attack without the standard dropping off too much when Ollie gets a knock or needs a rest.

[olaftab]

Two proper fullbacks.