Enzo Barrenechea - on loan at Benfica

[Monty]

I think they're both good prospects, but I-J is younger and was at a much more difficult place to get games.

[AV84]

I'd assume, given Luiz is gone and Kamara is still going to be missing for a while, we'd be keeping Enzo around. We can put Onana and Tielemans into the starting 11 instead if Kamara and Luiz, and that leaves us with Barkley as the only alternative option.

I know we've got McGinn, Bailey, Rogers, Ramsey, and Philogene to work with too, but they all seem like more attacking players than Enzo.

[Dante Lavelli]

I'd assume, given Luiz is gone and Kamara is still going to be missing for a while, we'd be keeping Enzo around. We can put Onana and Tielemans into the starting 11 instead if Kamara and Luiz, and that leaves us with Barkley as the only alternative option.

I know we've got McGinn, Bailey, Rogers, Ramsey, and Philogene to work with too, but they all seem like more attacking players than Enzo.

And Donk.  He’s not as bad as we sometimes make out, and is less likely to be phased by the situation compared to a youngster from Argentina.

[Dave]

He played thirty odd games in Serie A last season. Is a game for Villa against Brentford going to phase him more than a trip to Napoli or Inter with Frosinone would?

[eamonn]

Donk won't be here next week. Regardless, I don't see us signing any more CMs this window. A RB/RCB and a right winger/striker if Durán goes and maybe even if he doesn't, please.

[Garyth]

I can see a world where Barranechea gets a few minutes this season here and there while Onana and Kamara trade games during busy weeks. Then we cash in big on Kamara next summer for PSR, and Barranechea steps up into the rotation with a years experience working  with Emery under his belt.

Obviously it could go wildly wrong, but I like the idea that most of our signings seem to have an eye on the future.

[Mister E]

I can see a world where Barranechea gets a few minutes this season here and there while Onana and Kamara trade games during busy weeks. Then we cash in big on Kamara next summer for PSR, and Barranechea steps up into the rotation with a years experience working  with Emery under his belt.

Obviously it could go wildly wrong, but I like the idea that most of our signings seem to have an eye on the future.

I think this is a very plausible theory.

[Demitri_C]

I can see a world where Barranechea gets a few minutes this season here and there while Onana and Kamara trade games during busy weeks. Then we cash in big on Kamara next summer for PSR, and Barranechea steps up into the rotation with a years experience working  with Emery under his belt.

Obviously it could go wildly wrong, but I like the idea that most of our signings seem to have an eye on the future.

I think you are onto something with kamara. I can see him being offloaded next summer for pure profit. For me all depends how much that injuries taken out of him

[Beard82]

I think there is a reasonable chance that (in broad terms) Tielemans is Luiz replacement, and Onana is Karama.  (no like for like as such - but I think thats the pivot Unai will be playing next season).

[Demitri_C]

I think there is a reasonable chance that (in broad terms) Tielemans is Luiz replacement, and Onana is Karama.  (no like for like as such - but I think thats the pivot Unai will be playing next season).

Got to say disappointing if thats the plan. Dont think youri is as good as dougie tbh.

Onana havent seen enough of yet but doesnt seem the same type of player. Kamara is a small ball winner onana is a huge unit thats physical and full of energy. Both DMs but i think different types of players

[ozzjim]

Barronechea apparently off to Valencia. Thought he looked a really decent player pre season.

[Ads]

Suspect this means Kamara is a lot closer than anticipated.

[Monty]

Not sure this is wise. Still puts us a couple of injuries away from some difficulty.

[Dave]

Probably sensible for the future to get him plenty more game time. Probably not sensible for our squad depth this season.

[Risso]

Probably sensible for the future to get him plenty more game time. Probably not sensible for our squad depth this season.

Was just going to make the same point. As I said before, as it stands we've added one, possibly two first teamers this transfer window. Signing youngsters will hopefully bear fruit in the future, either with good players or with the fees they bring in, but we've not really had as good a window as it was looking to be at one point.