Transfer Window Summer 2025. The Verdict.

[Tuscans]

[eamonn]

Our low net spend is a bit of a red herring. We loaned in two top-class* players in January and have done the same today. Three of them on higher wages than most players transferred to PL clubs this summer.

*on paper

[cdbearsfan]

So, if we are in profit there's no reason why our new players can't be included in the UEFA squad.

[Toronto Villa]

Most other clubs loan players. We also loaned them in January in part because we couldn’t go and buy players.

[Toronto Villa]

So, if we are in profit there's no reason why our new players can't be included in the UEFA squad.

Oh I’m sure UEFA will find a way to make sure that’s not the case. Watch that poor fucker Malen miss out.

[LeonW]

I’m trying to be balanced but am certainly not as generous as some have been.

Clubs that finished on a high last season have had problems with recruitment: Tottenham, Palace and Newcastle. All clubs trying to improve.  So we’ve not been alone in some of the problems that we’ve been facing.

But this summer is definitely the first time we’ve been reactive rather proactive; trimming the fat and waiting on what some of our players may or may not do in terms of moving seems to be the modus operandi. I don’t think that has helped with morale at all and it also means that we’re in that position of buying, clubs know what we have because we’re selling first.

Obviously the financial rules are the main restriction but what I don’t understand is the club not drawing a line in the sand at a certain point and saying ,’if after X date a move hasn’t materialized, then you’re staying put’. Let’s not forget, the bulk of the squad is one which has got us to, and then almost got us champions league football two seasons in a row but it is an ageing, largely one paced side as well which we’ve not started to alter.

To me it seems clear that the biggest problem is that since signing Kamara, we have failed to strategically sign a player that has improved the first 11 as a defacto starter. I’m factoring Tielemans in as being Dougie’s replacement and Rodgers being a signing who’s major rise surprised everyone and that he wasn’t a strategic signing for the first 11; he just quickly emerged to become a starter. The previous missteps are coming back to haunt us now.

It’s clear that once you hit a certain point in your progress, the type of signing to take you to the next level can become difficult and that’s definitely a contributing factor. But the real problem, is that with the financial restrictions being what they are, we have been quite wasteful.

We simply cannot afford to being spending £50m on Onana and him not instantly improving our first 11. To be just an option for certain games or one for the future once he’s learnt Emery’s system, is failed recruitment for our current needs. Same with Maatsen, Malen. Sancho could well fall into that camp. Even as a loanee he is very expensive and it’s bizarre we’re doing Man Utd a favour at 80% of his wages right near the end of the window. Elliott I’ve no idea on. Lindelof is the type of signing that no matter what, we should have moved away from now and reeks of desperation. Bizot is a smart pickup and improvement on Olsen.

1/10.

[eamonn]

Sancho did apparently turn down other clubs and we were desperate for an attacking option so I can see why Yanited drove a hard bargain.

[tomd2103]

I’m trying to be balanced but am certainly not as generous as some have been.

Clubs that finished on a high last season have had problems with recruitment: Tottenham, Palace and Newcastle. All clubs trying to improve.  So we’ve not been alone in some of the problems that we’ve been facing.

But this summer is definitely the first time we’ve been reactive rather proactive; trimming the fat and waiting on what some of our players may or may not do in terms of moving seems to be the modus operandi. I don’t think that has helped with morale at all and it also means that we’re in that position of buying, clubs know what we have because we’re selling first.

Obviously the financial rules are the main restriction but what I don’t understand is the club not drawing a line in the sand at a certain point and saying ,’if after X date a move hasn’t materialized, then you’re staying put’. Let’s not forget, the bulk of the squad is one which has got us to, and then almost got us champions league football two seasons in a row but it is an ageing, largely one paced side as well which we’ve not started to alter.

To me it seems clear that the biggest problem is that since signing Kamara, we have failed to strategically sign a player that has improved the first 11 as a defacto starter. I’m factoring Tielemans in as being Dougie’s replacement and Rodgers being a signing who’s major rise surprised everyone and that he wasn’t a strategic signing for the first 11; he just quickly emerged to become a starter. The previous missteps are coming back to haunt us now.

It’s clear that once you hit a certain point in your progress, the type of signing to take you to the next level can become difficult and that’s definitely a contributing factor. But the real problem, is that with the financial restrictions being what they are, we have been quite wasteful.

We simply cannot afford to being spending £50m on Onana and him not instantly improving our first 11. To be just an option for certain games or one for the future once he’s learnt Emery’s system, is failed recruitment for our current needs. Same with Maatsen, Malen. Sancho could well fall into that camp. Even as a loanee he is very expensive and it’s bizarre we’re doing Man Utd a favour at 80% of his wages right near the end of the window. Elliott I’ve no idea on. Lindelof is the type of signing that no matter what, we should have moved away from now and reeks of desperation. Bizot is a smart pickup and improvement on Olsen.

1/10.

Agreewith a lot of this.  We all know about the tight financial situation, but that means when you spend a significant amount of money when you are in that situation, you need those players to really make an impact.  The likes of Onana and Malen just haven't done that.

[Skipper_The_Eyechild]

Chelsea with the sorcery. Impressive transfer operation, although I'm still not sure they have the defensive signings to challenge for the title.

[Percy McCarthy]

I'm happier than I was a few days ago and would give a 6 out of 10. Against the backdrop of us fucking up the SCR compliance which led to the UEFA sanctions we're now under, I'd suspect the club hierarchy is reasonably happy with how its turned out as they have shifted some deadwood (Coutinho etc). I think there will probably be a debrief and some words will be had with Sawiris/Edens but hopefully that will settle down quickly.

I think the biggest issue for Monchi/Vidagnay and to an extent Emery in the immediate term is relations with the playing squad. McGinn and Mings as our longest serving and most senior players have raised a few doubts about how this has been approached and Watkins and Rogers haven't looked happy either. The forced sale of Ramsey and then Martinez being a fucking idiot has really shown some cracks in squad unity. I'm sure that can be sorted out but it needs to be quick once everyone's back from international duty, one of those clear the air team meetings where all the frustrations and annoyance can come out and be put to bed.

The squad looks ok but not as good as it did on February the 1st.

GK: Martinez, Bizot           (Bizot>Olsen)

RB: Cash, Garcia
RCB: Konsa, Lindelof          (Disasi=Lindelof)
LCB: Torres, Mings
LB: Digne, Maatsen

CM: Onana, Kamara, McGinn, Tielemans, Barkley, Bogarde

AM: Sancho, Rogers, Buendia, Elliott  (Sancho=Bailey, Elliott<Asensio, Buendia<ramsey)

ST: Watkins, Malen, Guessand           (Guessand<Rashford)

1 upgrade, 2 like for likes and 4 downgrades at this stage.

23 players for the UEFA A List, I assume we can put them all on there.

Unai, do your thing.

23 for the A List? Who are the two homegrowns?

Edit: I see Bogarde in your list now. I assume he counts as one. Who am I missing?

[Percy McCarthy]

I think if you value keeping most of the squad together, you have to start with the question ‘what’s the best you can do with the money from Ramsey, KKH, and a few loan fees?’

On that score, I’ll give it an 8.5.

I’d have gone for more churn personally. Ideally for me we’d have sold Cash and got a better RB for cheaper, but who knows if there was a willing buyer?