Summer 26 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc.

[Beard82]

I'd forgotten Senderos played for us. Fucking hell.

Wait, what the Arsenal guy?  This feels like new information. 

Did he know?

[Dave]

I think, as seems to be the way, it will be defined by which players we sell.

From that regard:

Will stay because they dont fancy Saudi (too big wages and/or too good for most options):
 - Mings
 - Digne
 - Emi
 - Bailey
 - Watkins

Worth more to us than to others
 - McGinn
 - Cash
 - Matasaan
 - Tammy

Prime Meat
 - Rogers
 - Konsa
 - Youri
 - Kamara
 - Onana
 - Malen

Offcuts
 - Guessard
 - all the rightbacks that arent Cash
 - Emi2

I think well sell the offcusts, Malen and at least 1 other Prime player, most likely Rogers (though Ezri to Liverpool wouldnt surprise me). 

Some of the players may go out on loan (bailey etc)

I think well see probably Dougie come back, 2 new forward options and a couple squad players.

That all feels mostly right. Bits I'd quibble:

I think that we'd be very comfortable letting someone else pay Emi £200,000 per week and paying a new young goalkeeper £100,000 per week. I don't think we'd be forcing him out the door, but I reckon it we were asking for £20m rather than £50m, a deal could very easily be done now, unlike in previous summers.

I think Rogers is on the verge of being in the group above. Obviously he's more valuable (in a monetary sense) than the others, but I think we're getting to that point in global football finance where most clubs don't want to spend £100m+ on a player, and those who do...probably have two Rogerses (pl?) of their own already. I think his future depends massively on June and July. But I don't see us selling him for less than £100m, and I think he needs to have a pretty impressive World Cup for the three or four clubs who would pay that to WANT to pay that.

Feels harsh on Emi2. It's one of those where loyalty feels like it shouldn't be a one-way street. If we expect Kamara or Tielemans or Rogers or any future player to feel an affinity to the club, maybe we shouldn't just want to bin out anyone who becomes a mild inconvenience because they've had six weeks of poor games during a bad run. At time of writing, the season looks like it will be a very good one, and could potentially be the best in nearly half a century. And Emi is one of half a dozen players that over the course of it, picked it up by the scruff of the neck and dragged us into a position where that was a possibility. He probably shouldn't be a starter in our best side, but if he is an option from the bench and starting ten games a season for us for the rest of his contract, I'll be very happy with that. And doesn't really deserve to be on a list of misfits.

[eamonn]

I'd forgotten Senderos played for us. Fucking hell.

Wait, what the Arsenal guy?  This feels like new information. 

Did he know?

Doubt it, he looked like he had a bony head where brains should be.

[brontebilly]

Recent criticism of Buendia on here is way OTT. He hasn't been playing well in a team that's struggling, still better than Rogers Id argue, Sancho or Bailey obviously or Watkins during that time. Can't ignore his contribution earlier in the season. But he loses the ball...sure but brilliant goals v likes of Arsenal, Feyenoord and Newcastle aren't easily forgotten.

I guess then there's the business reality. He's had a serious injury, only this season has consistently showed the form that made him our record signing and we need to lower the age profile of the squad. He's in that group with Mings, Digne, Barkley, Bailey, Bizot, Lindelof, 12 months left on their deals, where we either extend their deals this summer or move them on. We can't address the age profile of the squad by continuing to extend them.

Both Martinez and Watkins are in decline. Hope they shine down the stretch but the evidence is there. Both will go I reckon, Martinez definitely. I'm not sure we get crazy money for Rogers, bar an unbelievable World Cup, so think/hope he stays and we strengthen around him.

[LeeB]

I like the guy but he's been garbage and a real problem for us with the constant ball turnover. He's a useful impact sub and maybe when we have Tielemans and/or Kamara playing, when he can get some space and be found where he can really shine, but outside of those ideal circumstances he's a liability, and to be honest it's the case since he walked through the door.

[Steve67]

Emi2’s best position is as an angry impact sun with something to prove when he gets on the pitch. He doesn’t seem to be able to sustain his hood form if he plays too much. I’d cash in if we can get the money for him. He’s had some great games but too inconsistent.

[LeeB]

Emi2’s best position is as an angry impact sun with something to prove when he gets on the pitch. He doesn’t seem to be able to sustain his hood form if he plays too much. I’d cash in if we can get the money for him. He’s had some great games but too inconsistent.

He's put together a tidy highlights reel this season so it would be the best time to cash in on that and move on.

[kippaxvilla2]

Emi2’s best position is as an angry impact sun

Some people on here want the moon on a stick.

[PaulWinch again]

Buendia is definitely in the “useful sub” category. He’s better when teams tire, but if we were offered decent money I’d sell.

[Baldy]

Buendia is definitely in the “useful sub” category. He’s better when teams tire, but if we were offered decent money I’d sell.

Agreed 100%.

He could be worth a lot of money to a newly promoted club.

[algy]

Emi2’s best position is as an angry impact sun

Some people on here want the moon on a stick.

When he's on form, I reckon he's one of our star players

[eamonn]

What would constitute good money for Buendia?

[brontebilly]

I like the guy but he's been garbage and a real problem for us with the constant ball turnover. He's a useful impact sub and maybe when we have Tielemans and/or Kamara playing, when he can get some space and be found where he can really shine, but outside of those ideal circumstances he's a liability, and to be honest it's the case since he walked through the door.

Gets judged to different standards to Rogers and Watkins regarding constant ball turnovers!

Highlight reel this season aside, he's a good scrapper too. Having a stinker at Lille and still out jumps their centre back to put Ollie in. He's not an elite player but he's made a big impact this season. Covers a couple of positions too.

Harsh business reality though and unlikely we offer him a juicy contrast extension in the summer. Particularly if CL football is secured. Time might be right to cash in and replace with a younger option.