Transfer priorities

[brontebilly]

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. 

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.

Easier said than done. Coutinho, bar a somewhat productive loan spell with us, has been semi retired for years so I can't imagine he is overly keen to restart his career. I expect we will be paying him up nearly in full (which of course he is perfectly entitled to).

[eamonn]

True but if he can get another club in the Middle East or back home in Brazil (maybe the US?) to give him a contract, he might be willing to go if we pay him off the difference in earnings.

The guy is still 31, what a fecking waste.

[Dante Lavelli]

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.

That’s a good shout. Between the two we are well covered and we’d have the option to rotate in order to keep their old legs fresh.

[Dante Lavelli]

At some point we need to start lowering the average age.

Older players’ value diminishes and they’re typically earning big bucks. Swapping a “carlos” for a 20 year old might be prudent.

[Brazilian Villain]

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. 

Agree with this. A view seems to have formed on here that he's on MASSIVE wages (à la Rashford or Casemiro) that are out of whack with the rest of the squad's. He's performed well, and seems to be a positive influence behind the scenes, so I'd be inclined to keep him if possible.

Having said that, if things are tight financially, I can see PWS' point that this summer might be the time to get maximum value from moving him on.

[kippaxvilla2]

According to ‘sources’ we are targeting a full back that can play both sides, a box to box midfielder and a striker. 

[Dante Lavelli]

According to ‘sources’ we are targeting a full back that can play both sides, a box to box midfielder and a striker. 

cancelo might be a loan option.

[kippaxvilla2]

I still think we need a big eff off physical centre half.

[eamonn]

Yeah, his name is Tyrone.

[kippaxvilla2]

Yes thanks for that but a) we don’t know how fit and able he’s going to be and b) he’s left sided same as Pau.

[eamonn]

Well I'd call Carlos a big eff off physical centre back too but I'm not sure he's up to the other stuff. So if you wanna sell him and replace with big but better, sure.

[kippaxvilla2]

Yes I honestly think we do.  Whatever you think of him carragher was doing some really good analysis on our goals conceded the second half of the season and pointed to this as a weakness.

[brontebilly]

I thought we became incredibly easy to play against in the last few months. Those basketball style games against Chelsea and Liverpool are a bit of a lottery. It's no wonder as with injuries we were at times playing a 424 with 4 forwards and 2 of McGinn/Luiz/Tielemans. That's about as attacking as it gets. Last season with McGinn and Ramsey on the sides we were a lot more compact, though Bailey and Rogers did get goals. Defensive line went to pot aswell, don't think Torres was properly fit, but I think it's a consequence of how loose we were in midfield and further up.
Looking forward to seeing what tactical tweaks Emery will come up with over the summer.

[Matt C]

Of all the injury curveballs we had to deal with over the course of the season it was Kamara’s loss we struggled with the most as we’ve got nobody else who can do exactly what he does. Priority one for me would be another option there.

[Hillbilly]

Kamara is a rare type of player. A sort of centre back - midfielder hybrid. He reminds me of Baresi or Bergomi (and if he turns out to be that good…). He’d be hard to replace.