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

[Smithy]

There will, of course, be a release clause which would've been added when he signed his last deal.  I'd love him to stay, but if the club got over £100m for him then you see why they'd take it (those good ole 'fair play' rules being in place as they are).  It doesn't keep me awake at night, but I'm in the 'when' we sell him camp personally, as I think it's inevitable we will have to in order to reinforce the squad.  Bizarrely, I think our need to do that would be greater if we qualify for the CL.  I also think there'll be loads of clubs interested.  I hope I'm wrong, or if not, he goes abroad.

My guess is it will be the World Cup, rather than our CL qualification, that determines what offers we see for him.  If he does get into Tuchel's first 11 at the World Cup, and does well in a team that goes deep into the tournament - which is not beyond the realms of possibility - then I would expect offers from potentially the biggest clubs in the world.  World Cups always inflate player values, and every tournament there are few players who emerge having not been that well known beyond their domestic leagues. I think Morgan will be one of those, unfortunately.

I would hope that even if he does brilliantly in the summer, we could still get at least another year out of him, but we shall see.  Either way, when he eventually goes, I'd be stunned if it's not for more than we got for Jack.

[Dave]

There will, of course, be a release clause which would've been added when he signed his last deal.  I'd love him to stay, but if the club got over £100m for him then you see why they'd take it (those good ole 'fair play' rules being in place as they are).  It doesn't keep me awake at night, but I'm in the 'when' we sell him camp personally, as I think it's inevitable we will have to in order to reinforce the squad.  Bizarrely, I think our need to do that would be greater if we qualify for the CL.  I also think there'll be loads of clubs interested.  I hope I'm wrong, or if not, he goes abroad.

My guess is it will be the World Cup, rather than our CL qualification, that determines what offers we see for him.  If he does get into Tuchel's first 11 at the World Cup, and does well in a team that goes deep into the tournament - which is not beyond the realms of possibility - then I would expect offers from potentially the biggest clubs in the world.  World Cups always inflate player values, and every tournament there are few players who emerge having not been that well known beyond their domestic leagues. I think Morgan will be one of those, unfortunately.

I would hope that even if he does brilliantly in the summer, we could still get at least another year out of him, but we shall see.  Either way, when he eventually goes, I'd be stunned if it's not for more than we got for Jack.

Yup, all of that. I do wonder though what his landing spot might be if it's not with us. You'd think the clubs that could plausibly afford him (ignoring the Saudi nonsense) would be:

Man City
Arsenal
Chelsea
Liverpool
Man Utd
Bayern
Real Madrid
(maybe) Atletico Madrid.

Obviously he's great and would start for any of them, but there's a lot of people already at those clubs to wonder whether that is where they'd throw £100m+.

For example I don't think Madrid would want to chuck that money at another Bellingham. Do Bayern really spent a whole transfer budget on somebody to play ahead of Olise, Musiala, Luis Diaz and stops Lennart Karl getting games?

I wonder if the biggest threat (annoyingly) might a Champions League-qualified Man Utd who are easing Fernandes out and looking at his long-term replacement.

[Rigadon]

Well, they've (net) spent the most of any other domestic club over the last 5 years years (nearly £0.7bn) so what's another £0.1bn? 

[Rigadon]

I'd hope, in the event of a Rogers sale, Bellingham goes to somewhere like Man Utd and MR goes to Real Madrid, who I would've thought are the only realistic European club who could afford him.  My guess is that he will be sold to another English Club though (probably in Manchester or Liverpool).  It'd be difficult to stomach but so long as we keep hold of Emery, ces't la vie.

[paul_e]

The thing to remember here as well though is £100m doesn't help us all that much so we couldn't, for example, take that money and get 2 £50m players because that would almost certainly increase our wage bill.

[brontebilly]

If we get CL football then I think we can keep Rogers. Stars for England getting to a WC final or something then maybe not but I don't see an obvious place for him at City or Arsenal right now.

I know we say it every season but this summer does look like it will involve major change to the squad. We hopefully are going to have proper money to spend for one but the age profile of the squad needs addressing. Hopefully Luiz finishes the season strong and that's one we can get done quickly. Elliot will go obviously.

That leaves decisions on Buendia, Barkley, Mings, Bailey, Lindelof and Bizot - with only 12 months left on their respective deals. Bar a Lazarus like career comeback Bailey is done. Contracts for the last two should be extended. Really like Buendia but this summer might be a good time to move him on for the club. Mings likewise, great servant to the club but we need a different type of centre back. Barkley, don't think he will generate much interest but has his uses. Finishes the season strong and he might knock another 12 month extension out of it.

Martinez almost certainly will go. Digne Id be pretty sure will too. Don't think Watkins is an easy sale so might stay on. I'd like to move Onana on, just can't be relied upon.

MGW & Williams out of Forest, Ampadu from Leeds are three for me > Buendia/Digne/Onana. We have been scouting for replacements/challengers for Martinez and McGinn for over 12 months so hoping we get those players in quickly. Maybe Trafford is already done. Alysson hopefully better bedded in too.

Still a very decent squad but in need of 3-4 younger starters to bring some fresh energy to it.

[olaftab]

I'd hope, in the event of a Rogers sale, Bellingham goes to somewhere like Man Utd and MR goes to Real Madrid, who I would've thought are the only realistic European club who could afford him.

Except Real have a habit of getting the best players without paying a transfer fee.

[PeterWithe]

Is PSG a conscious absence from the list?

From a (very quick) look at tinterweb, what we would want for Morgan would be about double what Bayern have played for a player.

I think if he moves, he stays in the PL

[OCD]

I'm not 100% convinced that we'll sign Luiz.

[Smithy]

I'm not 100% convinced that we'll sign Luiz.

Nor me.  If everyone is back and fit at the start of next season, he makes the bench at best.  Might be a replacement for Barkley if we move him on.  He might be a good option to rotate with Youri once he's back up to speed, and if the price is right, he's a low-ish risk option to bolster numbers -  but midfield is obviously the place we're strongest, numbers-wise, when everyone is fit.  So I don't see him coming back permanently, unless we're losing a midfielder.

[TheToffnar]

He's getting a fair bit of flack considering he's clearly not as match fit as he could be. It seems to me the coaching staff are telling him to play the role down a bit until he's back up to speed, but who knows. Playing alongside Onana isn't helping him either, he's looked well off it these past few games.

[Steve67]

Is Douglas better than what we normally have? If no, we let him go.

[Ianu]

Is Douglas better than what we normally have? If no, we let him go.

Wow. Poet? Almost a Haiku.

Is Douglas better
than what we normally have?
If no, let him go.

[Mister E]

He's getting a fair bit of flack considering he's clearly not as match fit as he could be. It seems to me the coaching staff are telling him to play the role down a bit until he's back up to speed, but who knows. Playing alongside Onana isn't helping him either, he's looked well off it these past few games.

Given the discussion above about ages, I would have thought Luiz would be the continuity player as some of the older players leave.

[TheToffnar]

Is Douglas better than what we normally have? If no, we let him go.

Wow. Poet? Almost a Haiku.

Is Douglas better
than what we normally have?
If no, let him go.

Poor Dougie, a shame
Hack Dyche had his filthy way
Neck ache from long balls