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

[LeeS]

Unai does like a bit of experience and maturity in the team too. More reliable. It’s good to have a blend

[Somniloquism]

Wilson might be a Barkley replacement. Someone not starting every match but can change stuff as needed.

[brontebilly]

Don't think Wilson is good enough for us to be honest. He's a talented player for sure finally delivering on his potential. But the next McGinn? That's who we need to find.

Buendia, Bailey, Barkley out of contract in 2027, hoping Bailey rediscovers his form obviously, but we have decisions to make there. Hopefully with CL qualification in the bag. Lindelof, Mings, Bizot deals also up that summer.

I like Gibbs-White, Ampadu, Luiz back permanently.

[LeeB]

Don't think Wilson is good enough for us to be honest. He's a talented player for sure finally delivering on his potential. But the next McGinn? That's who we need to find.

Buendia, Bailey, Barkley out of contract in 2027, hoping Bailey rediscovers his form obviously, but we have decisions to make there. Hopefully with CL qualification in the bag. Lindelof, Mings, Bizot deals also up that summer.

I like Gibbs-White, Ampadu, Luiz back permanently.

Signing players like Wilson for £20-30m less than market value on a free, who can cover many postions for us and add something means we might have the funds elsewhere to actually replace McGinn.

Similar deals for Tielemans and Lindeloff have been absolutely crucial for us.

[mrfuse]

Don't think Wilson is good enough for us to be honest. He's a talented player for sure finally delivering on his potential. But the next McGinn? That's who we need to find.

Buendia, Bailey, Barkley out of contract in 2027, hoping Bailey rediscovers his form obviously, but we have decisions to make there. Hopefully with CL qualification in the bag. Lindelof, Mings, Bizot deals also up that summer.

I like Gibbs-White, Ampadu, Luiz back permanently.

Signing players like Wilson for £20-30m less than market value on a free, who can cover many postions for us and add something means we might have the funds elsewhere to actually replace McGinn.

Similar deals for Tielemans and Lindeloff have been absolutely crucial for us.

Completely agree. I cant believe people are turning their noses up at a free player that is better than Buendia and Barkley.

[Keeno]

Don't think Wilson is good enough for us to be honest. He's a talented player for sure finally delivering on his potential. But the next McGinn? That's who we need to find.

Buendia, Bailey, Barkley out of contract in 2027, hoping Bailey rediscovers his form obviously, but we have decisions to make there. Hopefully with CL qualification in the bag. Lindelof, Mings, Bizot deals also up that summer.

I like Gibbs-White, Ampadu, Luiz back permanently.

Signing players like Wilson for £20-30m less than market value on a free, who can cover many postions for us and add something means we might have the funds elsewhere to actually replace McGinn.

Similar deals for Tielemans and Lindeloff have been absolutely crucial for us.

Completely agree. I cant believe people are turning their noses up at a free player that is better than Buendia and Barkley.

100%. He's a good age, and would be a great addition, and while the signing fee would be high as a free agent he's not going to expect astronomical wages. The way he plays off the right is also the perfect profile for how Emery likes his RW to play. For me it's a no-brainer to add depth and quality there, especially if we get CL.

Those wide attacking positions are for me the most critical positions we need to add quality to this summer, and if Wilson comes in, then we also have budget to do a Maatsen/Onana-type signing somewhere in the front three, I really like the shape of our attack.

[LeeB]

Don't think Wilson is good enough for us to be honest. He's a talented player for sure finally delivering on his potential. But the next McGinn? That's who we need to find.

Buendia, Bailey, Barkley out of contract in 2027, hoping Bailey rediscovers his form obviously, but we have decisions to make there. Hopefully with CL qualification in the bag. Lindelof, Mings, Bizot deals also up that summer.

I like Gibbs-White, Ampadu, Luiz back permanently.

Signing players like Wilson for £20-30m less than market value on a free, who can cover many postions for us and add something means we might have the funds elsewhere to actually replace McGinn.

Similar deals for Tielemans and Lindeloff have been absolutely crucial for us.

Completely agree. I cant believe people are turning their noses up at a free player that is better than Buendia and Barkley.

Can't believe I forgot but Kamara as well.

I'd say it's absolutely our business model to be right it for anyone in Wilson's position, given the margins we work within.

[Sexual Ealing]

Especially as we can sell him for sweet, delicious profit after a season if he's no good.

[LeeB]

Especially as we can sell him for sweet, delicious profit after a season if he's no good.

Or even sell somebody else he's replaced if he is good, or at least not have to do deals that leave players with way too much time on their hands to make poor hairstyle choices and little else.

[TaxDodger]

As a Welsh person I partly really want us to sign him and partly really want us not to sign him.

He'd be an excellent squad player on a free transfer - he's one of the most underrated players in the league, but equally he's one of the few players Wales have that is starting most weeks in the Premiership at the moment and we'd lose that if he signs for Villa.

[PaulWinch again]

I agree with the premise, but Kamara and Tielemans are very different free transfers to Lindelof and Wilson.

The former are about identifying top or emerging talent that’s out of contract and targeting as an opportunity for squad improvement. Lindelof (although was he actually free?) and Wilson are players to build our squad depth.


Both key components of a good transfer strategy, but different groups.

[LeeB]

I agree with the premise, but Kamara and Tielemans are very different free transfers to Lindelof and Wilson.

The former are about identifying top or emerging talent that’s out of contract and targeting as an opportunity for squad improvement. Lindelof (although was he actually free?) and Wilson are players to build our squad depth.


Both key components of a good transfer strategy, but different groups.

I'd agree with Kamara, but as much as I've always really liked Tielemans and he'd been highly rated, his stock had fallen somewhat and he'd just gone down with Lestuh. He's obviously got his shit completely together with us and is now one of the best midfielders in the world, but when we signed him there were quite a few question marks around him. Wilson is one of this seasons standout performers in the league and looks like he's fuilfilling the potential he's always had, I'd argue his stock is a bit higher than Tielemans was back then.

[Dave]

The former are about identifying top or emerging talent that’s out of contract and targeting as an opportunity for squad improvement. Lindelof (although was he actually free?)

Nobody is free, but there was no transfer fee involved.

[brontebilly]

Don't think Wilson is good enough for us to be honest. He's a talented player for sure finally delivering on his potential. But the next McGinn? That's who we need to find.

Buendia, Bailey, Barkley out of contract in 2027, hoping Bailey rediscovers his form obviously, but we have decisions to make there. Hopefully with CL qualification in the bag. Lindelof, Mings, Bizot deals also up that summer.

I like Gibbs-White, Ampadu, Luiz back permanently.

Signing players like Wilson for £20-30m less than market value on a free, who can cover many postions for us and add something means we might have the funds elsewhere to actually replace McGinn.

Similar deals for Tielemans and Lindeloff have been absolutely crucial for us.

Completely agree. I cant believe people are turning their noses up at a free player that is better than Buendia and Barkley.

If the signing doesn't work, they are never really free. Micah Richards as just one example. Wilson is going to want a big contract after a great season with Fulham and with no transfer fee.  Not sure Wilson is that busy midfielder, mini McGinn, on the right flank. Buendia has been that pretty much all season on the other flank. Better than Bailey, Barkley, Elliot, Sancho or Guessand isn't much of a bar let's be honest.

[Dave]

Don't think Wilson is good enough for us to be honest. He's a talented player for sure finally delivering on his potential. But the next McGinn? That's who we need to find.

Buendia, Bailey, Barkley out of contract in 2027, hoping Bailey rediscovers his form obviously, but we have decisions to make there. Hopefully with CL qualification in the bag. Lindelof, Mings, Bizot deals also up that summer.

I like Gibbs-White, Ampadu, Luiz back permanently.

Signing players like Wilson for £20-30m less than market value on a free, who can cover many postions for us and add something means we might have the funds elsewhere to actually replace McGinn.

Similar deals for Tielemans and Lindeloff have been absolutely crucial for us.

Completely agree. I cant believe people are turning their noses up at a free player that is better than Buendia and Barkley.

If the signing doesn't work, they are never really free. Micah Richards as just one example. Wilson is going to want a big contract after a great season with Fulham and with no transfer fee.  Not sure Wilson is that busy midfielder, mini McGinn, on the right flank. Buendia has been that pretty much all season on the other flank. Better than Bailey, Barkley, Elliot, Sancho or Guessand isn't much of a bar let's be honest.

It would undoubtedly be a better use of resources than chucking tens of millions of pounds at Ethan Ampadu.