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

[eamonn]

These are the types of singing, along with loans, that ramp-up agents fees which is why we're near the top of that list. Rashy and Asensio were probably worth the CL punt but what difference did Disasi really make last year for the c£10m we spunked on him and his entourage for four months?

But then we can't afford to pay the going rate of a Harvey Elliott on a permanent either so we're buggered either way, it seems.

[andyh]

Wilson will NOT offer similar to Mcginn.
Ginny is a machine, he just keeps going.

Wilson drifts in and out of games and disappears for long periods.
The Wales / B&H playoff was a very good example.

I’d much rather have Barkley on an extended deal.

[OCD]

There was talk about us being in the lead to get Senesi too who would be a good option to Torres on the left side.

[paul_e]

Wilson will NOT offer similar to Mcginn.
Ginny is a machine, he just keeps going.

Wilson drifts in and out of games and disappears for long periods.
The Wales / B&H playoff was a very good example.

I’d much rather have Barkley on an extended deal.

Barkley will already be here he's got another year and what I mean by offering similar to McGinn is that he'll play wide but largely as an auxiliary midfielder rather than a winger, which allows us to keep up the box midfield a little easier than we do now if McGinn is out and we end up with a more traditional winger of Bailey or Sancho out there.

[andyh]

Wilson will NOT offer similar to Mcginn.
Ginny is a machine, he just keeps going.

Wilson drifts in and out of games and disappears for long periods.
The Wales / B&H playoff was a very good example.

I’d much rather have Barkley on an extended deal.

Barkley will already be here he's got another year and what I mean by offering similar to McGinn is that he'll play wide but largely as an auxiliary midfielder rather than a winger, which allows us to keep up the box midfield a little easier than we do now if McGinn is out and we end up with a more traditional winger of Bailey or Sancho out there.

Good point, well made.
Wilson would be fine on a free on a realistic and reasonable wage, but WHEN we qualify for the CL next season I hope we will target the type of players who can elevate us to the next level.

[RamboandBruno]

Ive always thought Wilson flattered to deceive a bit, from his days at Derby in the championship onwards. However, he has had a very impressive season.
I wouldn’t be distraught at signing him, if it was backed up by other more high profile signings, but if that was the calibre of our main signings this summer, if we have qualified for the CL, it would be a bit under whelming (not as much as last summer mind). Wouldn’t have that Asensio wow factor.

[brontebilly]

Ross Barkley had his best game for us v West Ham but he's 32 and has started I think 5 x PL games for us in the past two seasons. Strong finish to the season and he's the ideal player to sell on for a few quid this summer. Barkley gets a 2 year deal at Coventry or Leeds.

If transfermarkt is a reliable source ...the market for out of contract players across Europe is weak this summer. But midfield players with 12 months left on their deals include Ampadu (25), Hackney (23). I'm a big Ampadu fan, think he's the perfect player for Emery, similar to Kamara in that he can play CB at a stretch. Was really impressed with him at Villa Park recently. I've never seen Hackney play so can't comment there bar we have a strong relationship with Boro so if Emery is keen we will be high up the list of buyers. An interesting one maybe is Curtis Jones (25), technically strong, PL winner and maybe an option in a few positions including the sides of our midfield where we struggle without McGinn. What I can't figure out is if he this seasons equivalent of Tom Cleverley, decent in a winning team but very average elsewhere. That Liverpool squad will be breaking up this summer so could be a useful addition at a decent price. 4 years younger than Wilson.

Luiz + Ampadu + Jones > Onana + Barkley + Bailey

[robleflaneur]

Wilson is an ideal fit for Emery's system ,a goalscorer who adds width.I thought he impressed against us last season .It surprised me that he wasn't a regular starter then for Fulham.
Most of his career has been in the Championship but he's always been a consistent goalscorer.
He's not a speed merchant nor is he a great dribbler and he's rather lightweight and it's easy to see why ,until recently,he's never imposed himself against top flight defenders. Playing for a midtable team hasn't helped.He 's now very experienced  knows the game better and being a lightweight is no longer a disadvantage.
His career trajectory is similar to Ray Graydon's who didn't play in the top flight until he was 28 and who was also a consistent goalscorer.
The other wide player who would fit our system is Harvey Barnes,not the most gifted winger but one of the best for getting into goalscoring positions and finishing.
As the lone striker is now prevalent,goals need to come from other areas.A goalscoring wide plsyer would be an asset.

[Sexual Ealing]

I hope we're looking further afield than players in lower mid-table (or on the bench of good teams) in the PL.

[garyellis]

Ampadu would be a good addition. He has had a strong season at Leeds and for about £22m would really improve our squad in an area we get a lot of injuries.
Hackney in the championship looks special but not better than Youri. Its how much we can throw at our strongest area when they are all fit.
We need more goals without a doubt.

[LeeB]

Ampadu is shite.

[paul_e]

Ive always thought Wilson flattered to deceive a bit, from his days at Derby in the championship onwards. However, he has had a very impressive season.
I wouldn’t be distraught at signing him, if it was backed up by other more high profile signings, but if that was the calibre of our main signings this summer, if we have qualified for the CL, it would be a bit under whelming (not as much as last summer mind). Wouldn’t have that Asensio wow factor.

Absolutely, the important part is upgrading the squad as whole.

Not including players already out on loan I expect to see Sancho, Elliott, Garcia and Bailey leave, and Luiz will need to be considered after his loan.

Garcia > Mingueza is a clear upgrade
Elliott > Wilson is an upgrade if only because he'll actually be available to play
Luiz staying for the reported fee

So we'd already be in a strong position.

So any funds that come in (again £70m-ish for Malen, Guessand and Barren is pretty much confirmed and I can see another £10-20m in from fringe players that would pretty much cover the fee for Dougie) can all be targeted to the wings. Personally I'd be happy to let a combination of JJA, Young and Alysson fight for 1 of those spots and throw the money at Ferran Torres (supposedly available for about €60m).

The following summer sees Onana and Maatsen drop off the SCR calculations as far as I can tell (because UEFA amortise fees in and out over 3 years) which takes a lot of pressure off and gives us scope to focus on replacing the likes of Mings, Digne and Barkley with a little less pressure on the finances.

[eamonn]

Curtis Jones is a cocky cvnt who's been useless this season. At least Harvey is a nice young man.

[Dave]

Ampadu is shite.

He's better than that. But he's the sort of player Martin O'Neill would have signed to move us from tenth to sixth.

An "if we shat the bed this season, needed to sell Kamara or Tielemans for £80m and needed a £20m replacement to make sure we hung around in mid-table next season" player.

[KevinGage]

What level of wages is acceptable and what would be taking the piss?

He might be better off asking for a massive signing on fee and then reasonable wages. Big wages could trap him at a club. Bit like Martinez with us.

Fullham have offered him between £120-£140k per week to stay, according to various reports and he's turned them down so far.

I don't think he's going to accept a whole lot less from us or any other side he ultimately opts for.