Summer 2025 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc.

[London Villan]

Most of the YT content is video versions of the opinionated chat that goes on on here.

The only interesting stuff is some of the tactical analysis that explains how and why things happen on the pitch and even that is a bit geeky and not for everyone.

[ChicagoLion]

Great summers work by Monchi.

It’s his previous work that has buggered us.

It’s not really. There’s some question marks around how well we’ve spent some of our money in terms of value to the first team, but a lot of the issues pre-date his involvement.

Agree we have made some really poor deals that pre-dte Monchi, it was in response to the above comment and specifically Maatsen Onana Malen.Not great value for £120mil.

[paul_e]

If we never had the cash/inclination to bring in an extra right-sided centre-half, it seems pretty mad to me that we didn't spend any time in pre-season trying Mings and Torres together. Surely they must have considered the possibility that Konsa wouldn't play every single minute for the entire season?

We played Bogarde there so, unless things change in the next few days, he's clearly seen as the 4th option, and I'm not entirely opposed to that, he's looked fine at CB. Saturday showed his limitations in midfield though and I think Hemmings will be ahead of him in there from now on.

I think the Chelsea punishment has allowed them more of a free reign than ours, which is more immediate in its sanctions - if this is the case did we screw up by accepting such draconian measures?

I think the punishment has to have been a shock, as I am not sure why you would have gambled so much if you knew that we were to be punished in this way.

The rules say the sporting restrictions are conditional so I suspect we're not just trying to meet the target for this year but the target for the end of year 3 so we can get worst of the restrictions out of the way asap.

[aev]

If we never had the cash/inclination to bring in an extra right-sided centre-half, it seems pretty mad to me that we didn't spend any time in pre-season trying Mings and Torres together. Surely they must have considered the possibility that Konsa wouldn't play every single minute for the entire season?

We played Bogarde there so, unless things change in the next few days, he's clearly seen as the 4th option, and I'm not entirely opposed to that, he's looked fine at CB. Saturday showed his limitations in midfield though and I think Hemmings will be ahead of him in there from now on.

I think the Chelsea punishment has allowed them more of a free reign than ours, which is more immediate in its sanctions - if this is the case did we screw up by accepting such draconian measures?

I think the punishment has to have been a shock, as I am not sure why you would have gambled so much if you knew that we were to be punished in this way.

The rules say the sporting restrictions are conditional so I suspect we're not just trying to meet the target for this year but the target for the end of year 3 so we can get worst of the restrictions out of the way asap.

Possibly, but that suggests we are in this holding pattern for 3 years?

[ozzjim]

We won't be in Europe if we're in this pattern for 3 years. I wouldn't be shocked if we're not targeting a 12 months break from Europe to allow us to go again next summer.

[aev]

Yep, I'd be amazed if we got Europe this season.

If the January wages splurge is the thing the thing that tipped us over the edge I'm stunned it was sanctioned to be honest.

[LeeS]

We won't be in Europe if we're in this pattern for 3 years. I wouldn't be shocked if we're not targeting a 12 months break from Europe to allow us to go again next summer.

Imagine we get to three finals this year and he plays the kids in each just in case we accidentally get into Europe.

[aev]

I guess our draconian punishment is because it was our second offence in Europe, which makes it even more staggering.

[ozzjim]

Yep, I'd be amazed if we got Europe this season.

If the January wages splurge is the thing the thing that tipped us over the edge I'm stunned it was sanctioned to be honest.

Considering we brought in £75 plus million and cleared Duran and Carlos from the wage bill, getting Rashford and Asensio in didn't really tip the balance. Some of the previous contacts handed out clearly have done that. To have almost nil net spend over 5 seasons on transfers, a pretty small squad, and still be fucked on wages suggests we're like negotiating with Peter Risdale on a good day.

[cdbearsfan]

If we never had the cash/inclination to bring in an extra right-sided centre-half, it seems pretty mad to me that we didn't spend any time in pre-season trying Mings and Torres together. Surely they must have considered the possibility that Konsa wouldn't play every single minute for the entire season?

We played Bogarde there so, unless things change in the next few days, he's clearly seen as the 4th option, and I'm not entirely opposed to that, he's looked fine at CB.

Sure, and that's fine. But he is still clearly behind Mings/Torres as a backup pairing, otherwise he would have started on Saturday. So why not try that pairing in preseason as well?

[aj2k77]

Malen and Onana on £140k, Maatsen on £100k Guessand straight in apparently on £90k. These are ridiculous numbers.

Roughly £24m on wages each year and transfer fee's of £130m. Those players alone will cost the club a quarter of a billion over 5 years. Monchi can't count.

[aev]

Yep, I'd be amazed if we got Europe this season.

If the January wages splurge is the thing the thing that tipped us over the edge I'm stunned it was sanctioned to be honest.

Considering we brought in £75 plus million and cleared Duran and Carlos from the wage bill, getting Rashford and Asensio in didn't really tip the balance. Some of the previous contacts handed out clearly have done that. To have almost nil net spend over 5 seasons on transfers, a pretty small squad, and still be fucked on wages suggests we're like negotiating with Peter Risdale on a good day.

Maybe, but we were warned before and didn't bring it into line sufficiently - there were certainly chunky January wages added.

[LeeS]

Malen and Onana on £140k, Maatsen on £100k Guessand straight in apparently on £90k. These are ridiculous numbers.

Roughly £24m on wages each year and transfer fee's of £130m. Those players alone will cost the club a quarter of a billion over 5 years. Monchi can't count.

These numbers would be fine if they were ready to play. Unai seems to want to break them in gently over a 2 year period. No rush.

[Dave]

Yep, I'd be amazed if we got Europe this season.

It wouldn't be the biggest shock if we didn't, but finishing in the top eight still feels perfectly plausible.

[ozzjim]

Yep, I'd be amazed if we got Europe this season.

It wouldn't be the biggest shock if we didn't, but finishing in the top eight still feels perfectly plausible.

I think that massively hinges on the squad come Tuesday morning. To finish top 8, and play Europa League, with a squad of realistically 19-20 useable players, would be some achievement.