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

[ozzjim]

I thought Barkley was our best signing of the summer. He was a great asset to the team until his injury. Pretty sure he won us quite a few points too. He's obviously not a weekly starter but I'd keep him over Iling-Junior, who hasn't looked impressive at either of his loan clubs.

Amazing opinions aren't they because I think Barkley is absolute gash! Plays like an 85 yr old, slow, ponders then stutters on the ball usually losing it.

Pre injury he was playing himself into the team. Post injury he was horrible every time he came on. If there was 3-4 million from a lower half side on the table for him I'd take it and have Barronechea in the squad.

Re the sales etc, I'm not sure it's going to be as bad as being made out. The loans going back slash huge money off the wage bill. Emi going is another £10m plus off. Bailey, Buendia, Nedelkovic will go. After that I think we'll probably be ok and able to buy 3-4 players.

[AV84]

^ Fair assessment.

 He was a great signing for us pre injury. I'd say we'd get more money for selling Barrenechea, but Barkley likely on better wages? I'd keep Barrenechea over Barkley, if it was the option, but on the whole he wouldn't be first on the list to go.

[Dante Lavelli]

I thought Barkley was our best signing of the summer. He was a great asset to the team until his injury. Pretty sure he won us quite a few points too. He's obviously not a weekly starter but I'd keep him over Iling-Junior, who hasn't looked impressive at either of his loan clubs.

I like Barkley, but we need to make space for Barrenechea.  The Europa games will be ideal to test him out.

[PeterWithe]

I thought Barkley was one of the better players on Sunday, not a particularly high bar but there you go. But his performance against was it Fulham, that was amongst the most pitiful I've seen since the 87 relegation team.

On the whole, I'd like to get rid of him and bring in someone younger and cheaper, but I guess moving him would be difficult given he's got another year on decent money.

[ASHTONVILLA]

I thought Barkley was our best signing of the summer. He was a great asset to the team until his injury. Pretty sure he won us quite a few points too. He's obviously not a weekly starter but I'd keep him over Iling-Junior, who hasn't looked impressive at either of his loan clubs.

I like Barkley, but we need to make space for Barrenechea.  The Europa games will be ideal to test him out.

Kamara and Onana are both a tad injury prone (probably goes with the territory of being a DM), he will get game time if he is integrated in the squad. Particularly in 'easier' European ties, and the cups.

Barkley is positionaly quite flexible, and good to have on the bench.

[Rotterdam]

I thought Barkley was our best signing of the summer. He was a great asset to the team until his injury. Pretty sure he won us quite a few points too. He's obviously not a weekly starter but I'd keep him over Iling-Junior, who hasn't looked impressive at either of his loan clubs.

Amazing opinions aren't they because I think Barkley is absolute gash! Plays like an 85 yr old, slow, ponders then stutters on the ball usually losing it.

Pre injury he was playing himself into the team. Post injury he was horrible every time he came on. If there was 3-4 million from a lower half side on the table for him I'd take it and have Barronechea in the squad.

Re the sales etc, I'm not sure it's going to be as bad as being made out. The loans going back slash huge money off the wage bill. Emi going is another £10m plus off. Bailey, Buendia, Nedelkovic will go. After that I think we'll probably be ok and able to buy 3-4 players.

That's about where I am Ozz. I think Barkley's legs have gone, he can't move and the game is too fast for him.
With Emi probably going and Bailey and Buendia sold, we should be OK.

[PeterWithe]

Re the sales etc, I'm not sure it's going to be as bad as being made out. The loans going back slash huge money off the wage bill. Emi going is another £10m plus off. Bailey, Buendia, Nedelkovic will go. After that I think we'll probably be ok and able to buy 3-4 players.

I wouldn't be surprised to see quite a big churn of players through choice. I'm also unsure if we 'need' to do it, the general feeling was that we'd have to make one significant sale a year, and we've done that, and made massive CL money.

[Dante Lavelli]

^ Fair assessment.

 He was a great signing for us pre injury. I'd say we'd get more money for selling Barrenechea, but Barkley likely on better wages? I'd keep Barrenechea over Barkley, if it was the option, but on the whole he wouldn't be first on the list to go.

Barrenchea's worth double the ~£10m we spent based on his decent season in La Liga. A good season with us and his value could be £50m+. 
Alternatively, we sell him for £20m (cash our chips) but have significant buy-back/sell-on clauses.  Pretty sure Monchi will have a plan.

[Drummond]

Barkley looked fine until he got injured.

We really don't need a big overhaul at all. This squad, when fit has largely done pretty well. It just so happens that when we've had a key player out, his replacement has withe been injured or returning from it themselves.

Torres /Mings
Kamara/Onana
Tielemans /Barkley

Our problem is a lack of pace in the forward areas. Diaby going made a huge difference as it coincided with Bailey being injured/off form.

[ChicagoLion]

He has Malen but does not play him.

[Rotterdam]

I agree with Drummond. No big overhaul needed, but I can't agree that Peter Withe is the answer.

[ASHTONVILLA]

For once, even if we sell a couple of our crown jewel players we are in a good place to trade well.

For example, I have seen links (dubious ones) to Chelsea and Liverpool interest in Rogers for £90m.

If he did go for big money (can't see it as he is firmly a favourite of Emery), we could replace with Eze (allegedly available for £60m) and De Bruyne on a free. Wouldn't be the worst business ever!

Another example is reports we might trade out Ramsey to Newcastle and bring Barnes the other way. That would help both clubs out for PSR and is one good player for another. Ramsey is probally more talented, but is also perma injured so we might even get the better from that trade.

Watkins out, Jonathon David in on a free or Rashford for a £40m and Malen playing more would not be dire drop off in quality. Indeed it might even make us more flexible.

Even with Martinez, we at least have links to very good replacements like Chevallier or Garcia.

[PaulWinch again]

Selling Rogers would be ridiculous.

[ASHTONVILLA]

Selling Rogers would be ridiculous.

Don't think or want it to happen, just saying we are in a good position to trade well even if we did. The one player I do not think we could replace is Kamara, as he is so specialised in the position he plays in for Emery.

[VillaTim]

Selling Rogers would be ridiculous.

Wouldn't be my choice either but every player has their price . If a bid of £90M came in he's gone .