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

[Tuscans]

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?

He played in a 10'ish role at Chelsea at times. He'll probably do a McGinn out wide or like you said push Youri forward and Conor goes in there.

[Percy McCarthy]

He would have been great, but sadly Toronto has put the kybosh on it.

[Dante Lavelli]

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.

But it does force the “one in, one out” approach.  Not a bad thing, but only works if clubs want to our players..

[Tuscans]

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.

Probably judging him more on the 13 months he's been here and than the last game.

[SamTheMouse]

Yeah, Emery's not really a fan of wide men, is he? You get the impression he'd be fine with just a squad full of central mids.

[AV82EC]

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.

But it does force the “one in, one out” approach.  Not a bad thing, but only works if clubs want to our players..

That’s not necessarily a bad thing though IF you sell at the right time. I think we are with Malen and have with a few others but we got it wrong on Bailey.

[eamonn]

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?

I admit I've seen little of him at Atleti but in the PL he always struck me as having the bite of McGinn, brave on the ball, always a goal threat and works hard off the ball. I'm still unsure on Onana. He was winning me over at Arsenal before another injury. Neither player quite has the technical chops of Youri or Bouba which is fine if they're playing in tandem.

[Dante Lavelli]

Yeah, Emery's not really a fan of wide men, is he? You get the impression he'd be fine with just a squad full of central mids.

you’re right, but I feel we need one in the squad that can play both wings.  A point of difference.  I think they’d actually end up playing a fair bit despite not being an automatic starter, so could justify a chunky price and decent wages.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

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.

Probably judging him more on the 13 months he's been here and than the last game.

Do you really want me to call Smirker to this thread?

[Stinkin_Thinkin]

He played in a 10'ish role at Chelsea at times. He'll probably do a McGinn out wide or like you said push Youri forward and Conor goes in there.

As I remember it at chelsea he did the "Palhinha" role... just ran around kicking people, (I remember this as I used to call him Clogger Gallagher)
I think he was a 10 at crystal palace seemed to free to float about and score a lot of long rangers.

[Dante Lavelli]

I read somewhere that Wolves/Edwards might want Barkley.  Has anyone else seen that and is it from a credible source?

May help off set the Gallagher costs, if true.

[brontebilly]

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?

He's not going to compete with our midfield two I reckon. A bit like McGinn he can do a job there but he hasn't the technical ability to play on the half turn. Saw that with Chelsea and England. But competing with McGinn on the right or Buendia on the left, an option at 10. He covers all those positions. Like Buendia, he will be very good pressing high up the pitch causing turnovers like he showed against us at Chelsea. With the likes of Buendia more involved, Rogers, McGinn - we are a pretty tough team to play against. Gallagher fits that perfectly.

[john e]

If you could put all of what Emery loooks for in a player into a computer it would probably come out with Conor Gallagher

I don’t know what sort of a professional he is but I imagine he’s more James Milner than Ravel Morrison but apart from that he’s athletic, box to box, hardworking, tracks back, scores goals and above all can play in multiple positions
Emery’s been after him for a while

[Dante Lavelli]

Emery’s been after him for a while

He’s basically Guendouzi but reflects how much the club has grown since Emery joined.

[Monty]

Someone said a few days ago that Gallagher might be a longterm replacement for SJM, and that's the idea that carries the most weight for me.