Winter 25-26 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc.

[ChicagoLion]

I’d take Bowen all day long, but it’s a bit arrogant to think we can just snap up a player like that out on loan.
There will be a queue a mile long when he becomes available.

I think Bowen would be a good signing for us at this point.  Would be able to go straight into the side and would offer an extra attacking threat.

He would be but he would face some major issues trying to leave because his family connections, then there is the problem that he is probably their best chance of staying up, not to mention the fee to get him.
So , simply no chance.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

How much do we have to spend in January, enough to sign former Sporting right winger, Abdul Fatawu from Leicester?

[jwarry]

How much do we have to spend in January, enough to sign former Sporting right winger, Abdul Fatawu from Leicester?

Fat who?

[JUAN PABLO]

How much do we have to spend in January, enough to sign former Sporting right winger, Abdul Fatawu from Leicester?

great  player

[JJ-AV]

Based on Tanswell’s Athletic article today I wouldn’t expect much

Summary is we want a number 9 but won’t be able to sign anyone from a top European league in January

Personally, I’m concerned about the wide position. As we get deeper in to Europe and the battle for top 4 I don’t want to be relying on just Sancho and Guessand.

I’d be tempted to give Bailey another go but he’s been poor at Roma

[lovejoy]

So you’d give a player who was below par for us and declined since “another go”?

[KevinGage]

Bailey has shown he can be a genuine attacking threat and one of the best players in the league in fairly recent history.

I don't think we'll ever say that about Guessand, whatever other virtues he may or may not have.

If Buendia can bounce back in the manner he has, it's not beyond Bailey at his age to do similar.

But don't think it's a route we'll pursue. personally. I assume we will have agreed a fairly substantial loan fee for the year with Roma. And as Bailey would be one of our highest earners after the deal he agreed during his purple patch in winter 2023/24, we can't have him sitting on the bench or in the stands contributing nowt.

[Percy McCarthy]

Bailey has shown he can be a genuine attacking threat and one of the best players in the league in fairly recent history.

I don't think we'll ever say that about Guessand, whatever other virtues he may or may not have.

If Buendia can bounce back in the manner he has, it's not beyond Bailey at his age to do similar.

But don't think it's a route we'll pursue. personally. I assume we will have agreed a fairly substantial loan fee for the year with Roma. And as Bailey would be one of our highest earners after the deal he agreed during his purple patch in winter 2023/24, we can't have him sitting on the bench or in the stands contributing nowt.

According to the Love of Paul McGrath podcast, there is a loan fee (and wages covered obvs) plus an agreement to pay his amortisation cost for the year. Having listened only once and that being quite a while ago now, I can’t vouch for his source.

That sounds quite prohibitive about a return, ie. it would cost us a fair bit, but I suppose anything can be renegotiated.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

How much do we have to spend in January, enough to sign former Sporting right winger, Abdul Fatawu from Leicester?

Fat who?

The most fouled player in the Championship, he had an ACL injury last season so missed half a season. He's only 21 but such a massive talent. Not sure if Leicester would want to sell him now whilst they're still in with a chance of the play-offs but I'd love to see such a talent on our right wing.

[olaftab]

Bailey has shown he can be a genuine attacking threat and one of the best players in the league in fairly recent history.

I don't think we'll ever say that about Guessand, whatever other virtues he may or may not have.

Ever? With respect that's load of bollocks. Most players especially attackers coming to PL from top European Leagues struggle for a season or so.

[Tokyo Sexwhale]

Just had a look at players whose contracts are expiring in the summer (and therefore may be available for a lower fee in January) on Transfermarkt.

Forwards:

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/transfers/endendevertraege/statistik?plus=0&jahr=2026&ausrichtung=Sturm&spielerposition_id=alle&altersklasse=alle&land_id=0&yt0=Show

I don't think we'd be in for the big strikers in there (Gnabry, Lewandowski, Vlahovic); but noticed Harry Wilson in there.  Didn't realise he was 28, but would be a great technical player to add to the squad. 

Some interesting names further down the list - Memphis Depay is only 31 but playing in Brazil for some reason.

Looking at defenders, Oscar Mingueza (previously linked with us) is also out of contract in the summer.

[Percy McCarthy]

Even though I’ve become a big Matty Cash fan this season, I’d still love us to sign Mingueza. That would mirror our left-back strength and maybe give us a bit of cover for Konsa. Also, I was thinking Wilson would be a good signing when I heard some commentator mention his contract situation a while ago. Really good cover for SJM if we’re not after an out-and-out winger.

Depay, I’m not convinced but I could be won over.

[pauliewalnuts]

Depay is a decent player.

Although his name always reminds me of USSoccerguy on twitter, with Memphis The Pie.

[Sexual Ealing]

I'm not convinced he's the winningest trade we could make.

[KevinGage]

Bailey has shown he can be a genuine attacking threat and one of the best players in the league in fairly recent history.

I don't think we'll ever say that about Guessand, whatever other virtues he may or may not have.

Ever? With respect that's load of bollocks. Most players especially attackers coming to PL from top European Leagues struggle for a season or so.

Cheers. Love your work always.

Happy to have a sportman's (or £) bet that the Guessmeister won't have 10 goals and 10 assists between now and the end of 2026/27 (if he even stays that long) for those who truly believe they've seen enough to suggest it's only a matter of time before he tears it up in C&B. There's blind loyalty and then there is just delusional behaviour.

Even on Bailey debut against Watford away (in an otherwise average display) laid on an assist and looked vaguely like a footballer at times.

He was MOTM a few weeks later v Everton at home before disappearing for a while due to a combination of injury and indifferent form. So the signs were there from the outset.

Soon after Unai took over, there was a definite improvement in his impact on games and consistency but he was still patchy.  He just needed that consistent run of form to prove to himself as much as his doubters that the PL was the best place for him. 

With Guessand consistency isn't really a worry.  Misplacing simple passes, running the ball out of play and trying to knock the ball past his marker schoolyard-style and losing a 60/40 race have been consistent features of his time with us so far.  Not being consistent and bucking that trend would be a step forward for him.

Though being generous, with a defensive forward :/  It's perhaps difficult to benchmark his effectiveness against the usual measure attacking players are subjected to.