Transfer priorities

[Dave]

I don't think competition for Digne/Moreno on the left and Cash on the right should be youth prospects. We're a top four club now, we have to keep improving and the full-back areas are our weakest relative to the rest of the team imo.

Chrisene and Sousa are not competition for the left-back position. Not this coming season, anyway. We have two very good left-backs in Digne and Moreno, and if both stay reasonably fit, a 3rd left-back isn't going to get a look in.  It was more that in 12 months time, heading into the 25/26 season when Digne and Moreno will both be 32, it might be one of the youngsters will be ready to step up and become a proper squad member. It might also be their both sold and we bring one in.

I think digne will be sold because his wages. Unlikely he will kept for that reason alone

Why are we selling our first-choice left-back because of his wages? We're not selling Kamara, Bailey or Watkins because of their wages are we?

[Risso]

Why are we selling our first-choice left-back because of his wages? We're not selling Kamara, Bailey or Watkins because of their wages are we?

I guess the argument could be that replacing a left back is easier than replacing a 20* goal a season striker.

*hopefully

But I do agree, he's a very good player who seems to fit Emery's style. Anybody as good as Digne isn't going to come cheap, and then you've got the whole settling in thing to do again.

[Monty]

Digne is a very good player who had a very good player, but he's not been exactly infallible, is the wrong side of 31 and is on wages very disproportionate to his actual value in the squad. It's just one of those tough decisions you might have to take sometimes.

[Risso]

Digne is a very good player who had a very good player, but he's not been exactly infallible, is the wrong side of 31 and is on wages very disproportionate to his actual value in the squad. It's just one of those tough decisions you might have to take sometimes.

Surely 30 is the right side of 31?!

[Monty]

Digne is a very good player who had a very good player, but he's not been exactly infallible, is the wrong side of 31 and is on wages very disproportionate to his actual value in the squad. It's just one of those tough decisions you might have to take sometimes.

Surely 30 is the right side of 31?!

a) 31 in a month, but that's less important than b) got it muddled up.

[chrisw1]

There's a lot of talk about his wages, but I'm sure several of the squad will have caught up / overtaken his salary and it may not look quite so out of place for a team competing in the CL.

Selling him (undoubtedly for a fairly token amount) just seems to create a problem we don't need for what is likely to be a pretty nominal saving once a replacement is bought in.

[Dave]

There's a lot of talk about his wages, but I'm sure several of the squad will have caught up / overtaken his salary and it may not look quite so out of place for a team competing in the CL.

Selling him (undoubtedly for a fairly token amount) just seems to create a problem we don't need for what is likely to be a pretty nominal saving once a replacement is bought in.

Indeed.

He's been arguably the best left-back in the league this season (Udogie? Robinson at Fulham maybe?). And sure, if we weren't in the Champions League then his Champions League level wages looked a bit out of place. But we are, so they don't.

And if Moreno had spent all of this season continuing his brilliant Spring '23 form then fine. But he hasn't.

That bit of the squad is absolutely fine, so let's not start taking it apart until we need to.

[PeterWithesShin]

I like Digne and wouldn't mind him staying but if we are to move him on then this window is the one to try and get a decent fee back. 31 in a couple of months, 2 years left on his contract, and a reported £120k a week freed up.

[Dave]

I like Digne and wouldn't mind him staying but if we are to move him on then this window is the one to try and get a decent fee back. 31 in a couple of months, 2 years left on his contract, and a reported £120k a week freed up.

As Chris (I think) said somewhere, the smart move would probably be to try and negotiate a slightly lower wage and a slightly longer contract.

[AV82EC]

I like Digne and wouldn't mind him staying but if we are to move him on then this window is the one to try and get a decent fee back. 31 in a couple of months, 2 years left on his contract, and a reported £120k a week freed up.

But if we’re in the Champs League his £120k a week is quite frankly chicken feed and I’m sure some of the others will be on the same or more. I’d say he’s been the most consistent left back in the league this season with only Udogie having a better season. 

[chrisw1]

And it's not like buying fullbacks is ever something we've excelled at over the last 20 years.

Digne is reliable, pretty resilient in terms of fitness and one of our better players.

Really we just need a song.  He loves the phrase 'another one.'  Can anyone make anything work with 'Another one bites the dust'

[Bad English]

Another one Lucas Digne!
Another one Lucas Digne!
And another one Digne!
And another one Digne!
Another one Lucas Digne!

You're welcome.

[PeterWithesShin]

I'm pointing out why the club may see him as one to move on, as great as the CL is it's not like it gives us endless money to spend to remain sustainable and within PL and UEFA rules.

[chrisw1]

Another one Lucas Digne!
Another one Lucas Digne!
And another one Digne!
And another one Digne!
Another one Lucas Digne!

You're welcome.

Yeah, that's where I was at.

[eamonn]

I like Digne and wouldn't mind him staying but if we are to move him on then this window is the one to try and get a decent fee back. 31 in a couple of months, 2 years left on his contract, and a reported £120k a week freed up.

But if we’re in the Champs League his £120k a week is quite frankly chicken feed and I’m sure some of the others will be on the same or more. I’d say he’s been the most consistent left back in the league this season with only Udogie having a better season. 

Chicken-feed maybe but our wages to income is only lower than the clubs that have been deducted points or under threat (Everton, Forest, Lesta) so it's still something we need to control.

Coming to an agreement with Coutinho to pay-off some/most of the last two years of his wages is something I assume, we're exploring. He must be our highest earner still.