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

[olaftab]

Wonder if they'd be prepared to enter into a convoluted loan-with-an-option/obligation-to-buy mechanism to help us sign him?

Yes, one of those wonderful if he plays 10 there is obligation to buy sort of deal would be nice.

[ADVILLAFAN]

Everton apparently interested in signing Toney.

[Dave]

That feels like a really good fit for all parties.

[KevinGage]

The loan/delayed sales is smart business.  A chunk more of the fee is amortised and their fees covered. The down side is the loan club get to ‘try before they buy’ but on a human level I think that makes sense too.

Not sure too many clubs (or players) will want to humour us on that one after the Harvey Elliott fiasco.

[Dante Lavelli]

The loan/delayed sales is smart business.  A chunk more of the fee is amortised and their wages covered. The down side is the loan club get to ‘try before they buy’ but on a human level I think that makes sense too.

Not sure too many clubs (or players) will want to humour us on that one after the Harvey Elliott fiasco.

I meant from a sales perspective but suspect you’re right when buying.

[Toronto Villa]

I liked Curtis Jones. We should get him on loan and play him for 10 games.

[Ian.]

I liked Curtis Jones. We should get him on loan and play him for 10 games.

Couldn’t we swap him for Harvey Elliott?

[Toronto Villa]

I liked Curtis Jones. We should get him on loan and play him for 10 games.

Couldn’t we swap him for Harvey Elliott?

Good idea. Tell him he’ll be in important part of our plans domestically and Europe, then drop him from the CL squad.

[Skipper_The_Eyechild]

I want a different player for 10 games every half a season. Can we get Ben Mee and make sure he enjoys training? Imagine Kerplunk but the needles are two footers.

[Smithy]

The loan/delayed sales is smart business.  A chunk more of the fee is amortised and their fees covered. The down side is the loan club get to ‘try before they buy’ but on a human level I think that makes sense too.

Not sure too many clubs (or players) will want to humour us on that one after the Harvey Elliott fiasco.

I just think teams will structure the loan deals differently, rather than not do them at all.  i.e. "there'll be a loan fee if you don't sign them, and none if you buy them at the end of the loan for the price agreed."   They get a sale or some loan income, we get a player where we don't have to count appearances.

[eamonn]

That feels like a really good fit for all parties.

Bambi on Ice Beto is finally coming into his own. Weird goal celebration, mind.

[LeeB]

I like Curtis Jones and think he's a good player, but they'd want too much and I worry he's a bit of a 'jack of all trades'.

[Smithy]

I like Curtis Jones and think he's a good player, but they'd want too much and I worry he's a bit of a 'jack of all trades'.

A good, solid, jack-of-all-trades midfielder would allow us to thin the herd a little in midfield, where we're probably blessed with riches we don't need (when everyone is fit, obviously).  I'm not sure Jones is that player, btw, but I'm certainly not averse to having a player in the squad who can play a few different roles pretty well without ever becoming top, top class in one of them.  Bogarde might become that player, of course.

[Baldy]

Like the rest of you, I hate the thought of having to sell another top player to comply with PSR, FFP, WTF rules. But we do have stock in reserve, a few players that have come to mind if we sold them;

Malan - 25 million (doesn't want to play for the Villa)
Guessand -25 million (hopefully)
Bogarde - 12.5 million (solid, but I do not see top 4 quality)
Mings - 5 million (Fantastic servant and would be invaluable to a newly promoted club)

That's nearly 70 million plus other fringe players to sell. With Europa League money (and hopefully Champions League money next year), increased sponsorship and commercial revenue (as our profile increases), increased TV revenue and EPL prize money we could have a big chunk of change at our disposal.

Hopefully, it will be enough to reward our existing squad and give generous wage increases when required (Morgan Rogers). Also buy two or three promising youngsters and possibly two established quality players.

I'm not an accountant but would hate it if we were forced to sell a player. If a player wants to go that is different but in Unai we trust.

[LeeB]

I like Curtis Jones and think he's a good player, but they'd want too much and I worry he's a bit of a 'jack of all trades'.

A good, solid, jack-of-all-trades midfielder would allow us to thin the herd a little in midfield, where we're probably blessed with riches we don't need (when everyone is fit, obviously).  I'm not sure Jones is that player, btw, but I'm certainly not averse to having a player in the squad who can play a few different roles pretty well without ever becoming top, top class in one of them.  Bogarde might become that player, of course.

I'm not against it either but they'd want more than it's worth paying for such a player.