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Author Topic: Winter 25-26 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc.  (Read 102256 times)

Online Dave

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Re: Winter 25-26 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc.
« Reply #1365 on: January 12, 2026, 05:05:37 PM »
Gallagher probably has more about him all-round than Onana

Does he balls.

Offline Skipper_The_Eyechild

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Re: Winter 25-26 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc.
« Reply #1366 on: January 12, 2026, 05:06:49 PM »
Yep. Madness.

Offline Olneythelonely

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Re: Winter 25-26 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc.
« Reply #1367 on: January 12, 2026, 05:07:45 PM »
Gallagher probably has more about him all-round than Onana

Does he balls.

Yeah, that’s crazy talk. No suggestion we’re even half considering selling Onana either.

Offline Olneythelonely

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Re: Winter 25-26 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc.
« Reply #1368 on: January 12, 2026, 05:08:14 PM »
Gallagher probably has more about him all-round than Onana

Does he balls.

Yeah, that’s crazy talk. No suggestion we’re even half considering selling Onana either.

Is this about his celebration Eamonn?

Offline fredm

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Re: Winter 25-26 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc.
« Reply #1369 on: January 12, 2026, 05:12:41 PM »
I think Malen has probably asked if he will get a permanent position in the team or will he just be a “15 minute see the job out” sort of player. If told that he has probably said i will look elsewhere.

Online Clampy

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Re: Winter 25-26 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc.
« Reply #1370 on: January 12, 2026, 05:15:13 PM »
Maybe with the World Cup coming up, Malen wants more game time. Understandable if so.

Offline SamTheMouse

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Re: Winter 25-26 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc.
« Reply #1371 on: January 12, 2026, 05:19:22 PM »
Slightly underwhelmed by the prospect of signing Gallagher, who always puts me in mind of a puppy chasing a butterfly, but if Emery wants him that's good enough for me. He's also a known quantity and coming back home should settle quickly, meaning he can hit the ground running and contribute meaningfully this season.

If Malen goes, you have to assume we have a replacement lined up, so Gallagher won't be the only addition, presumably.


Offline Rudy Can't Fail

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Re: Winter 25-26 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc.
« Reply #1372 on: January 12, 2026, 05:19:39 PM »
It's not ideal World Cup preparation for Malen but the season is still young and he will get his opportunities. He looked more than happy celebrating the goals on Saturday and so he should, not only was he involved in both, he was brilliant.

Offline jwarry

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Re: Winter 25-26 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc.
« Reply #1373 on: January 12, 2026, 05:20:49 PM »
Must admit I'm not seeing what others are seeing with Malen.  For what we paid and what he's paid, I would have expected better.  I'm pretty sure Unai sees it that way too, so if there is a chance he can upgrade he will

Online Lsvilla

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Re: Winter 25-26 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc.
« Reply #1374 on: January 12, 2026, 05:24:17 PM »
Must admit I'm not seeing what others are seeing with Malen.  For what we paid and what he's paid, I would have expected better.  I'm pretty sure Unai sees it that way too, so if there is a chance he can upgrade he will
I like Malen but I think your underlying point is right. To improve on an already top squad is not easy and some players will have to be sacrificed for both PSR and improvement to age / player profile.

Offline Percy McCarthy

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Re: Winter 25-26 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc.
« Reply #1375 on: January 12, 2026, 05:34:45 PM »
This is pretty obvious, but one of the bonuses of paying top wages to players is that every time one of them leaves, it frees up top wages for a replacement without having a major impact on SCR.

Offline tomd2103

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Re: Winter 25-26 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc.
« Reply #1376 on: January 12, 2026, 05:35:07 PM »
Slightly underwhelmed by the prospect of signing Gallagher, who always puts me in mind of a puppy chasing a butterfly, but if Emery wants him that's good enough for me. He's also a known quantity and coming back home should settle quickly, meaning he can hit the ground running and contribute meaningfully this season.

If Malen goes, you have to assume we have a replacement lined up, so Gallagher won't be the only addition, presumably.

I'm just not sure he's the type of midfielder we need really.  He's not a defensive midfielder in the Kamara mould, so he's really in direct competition with Tielemans, Onana and Barkley.  Having seen the impact Onana makes when he's playing well, I think that's more the type of player we need to add to the squad.

I can't recall Conor Gallagher playing in a more advanced role, so maybe Tielemans will move into that role and Gallagher will fit in alongside Kamara?

Online AV82EC

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Re: Winter 25-26 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc.
« Reply #1377 on: January 12, 2026, 05:36:18 PM »
This is pretty obvious, but one of the bonuses of paying top wages to players is that every time one of them leaves, it frees up top wages for a replacement without having a major impact on SCR.

Is the correct answer particularly if said replacement starts putting pressure on existing 1st teamers.

Offline Rudy Can't Fail

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Re: Winter 25-26 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc.
« Reply #1378 on: January 12, 2026, 05:36:32 PM »
Must admit I'm not seeing what others are seeing with Malen.  For what we paid and what he's paid, I would have expected better.  I'm pretty sure Unai sees it that way too, so if there is a chance he can upgrade he will

I take it you missed the game on Saturday? Best 45 minutes since Unai arrived. An absolute joy to watch. The great thing about Malen is he offers us something different to Watkins, horses for courses, both are good enough for this season as our league standing shows.
« Last Edit: January 12, 2026, 05:39:44 PM by Rudy Can't Fail »

Online Bent Neilsens Screamer

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Re: Winter 25-26 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc.
« Reply #1379 on: January 12, 2026, 05:38:21 PM »
Must admit I'm not seeing what others are seeing with Malen.  For what we paid and what he's paid, I would have expected better.  I'm pretty sure Unai sees it that way too, so if there is a chance he can upgrade he will
I like Malen but I think your underlying point is right. To improve on an already top squad is not easy and some players will have to be sacrificed for both PSR and improvement to age / player profile.

I think what we paid for Malen was very good business. A Dutch international, plenty of experience in European club football with a decent scoring record for £20m. That doesn’t get you much these days, we’ve just spent £12m on a 16yr old who’s played 5 games.

Malen has had a good impact considering he’s mostly come off the bench.

 


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