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

[Tony Daleys Shorts]

If Thiago has another 4 or 5 excellent Premier league seasons we can start thinking of whether he’s the same calibre as Ollie; the same Ollie who sits just behind Salah and Haaland as the most consistently effective attacking player in the league in recent years.

[LeeS]

^ regarding your cover for LCB Bournemouth have been linked with Ousmane Diomande, plays in that position for Sporting, as a replacement for Senesi. Only 22 and very highly rated, has previously been linked to bigger clubs than Bournemouth.

He played an exquisite through ball to their left winger to smash it against the bar against Arsenal, so he’s got that in his locker.

Edit. In response to Mister E

We should just follow Bournemouth around and buy whoever they want to buy.

[Sexual Ealing]

If Thiago has another 4 or 5 excellent Premier league seasons we can start thinking of whether he’s the same calibre as Ollie; the same Ollie who sits just behind Salah and Haaland as the most consistently effective attacking player in the league in recent years.

That’s not how transfers work though. If you think someone’s going to have four or five good seasons you buy them. You don’t sit watching them banging them in for Brentford and then buy a spent force. Unless you’re John Gregory.

[PaulWinch again]

Fucking hell, has he started again less then 48hours after winning our first trophy in 30 years?

Oh do get a grip. We're discussing transfer targets and where we think we should improve and it's totally relevant to the discussion.

As a general discussion point it might, but it’s your tired agenda people are bored with - especially at this time. Watkins has been outstanding last couple of months and has been essential to us achieving our aims. There are really obvious priorities above striker.

So deal with it and take it as a general discussion point. You really need to accept some people have different opinions to you because it is entirely justified to discuss it in this thread when we're talking about transfers and where we could improve. It's not as if I bumped the thread to shit on him completely unprompted.

Discussion point is fine, tired old rehash is tedious. Here’s my opinion, if you think replacing Watkins is our most pressing priority given we don’t have unlimited funds then you don’t understand the current limitations of the squad.

[ChicagoLion]

Bowen would solve the problem right side position.
To kick on we are going to need to bring in a few ready made players.

And in eight months time we'll be complaining that we've tied up so much money in another thirty year old with no re-sale value who is getting slower every passing month.

How about we spend the £40m or so he would cost on a ready-made 24 year old instead?

If we can get a 24 year old as good as Bowen for that money, absolutely.
Of course the price for Bowenwould be the determining factor.

[PeterWithesShin]

Bowen is exactly the type of player to avoid. He won't be cheap as he's on a long contract, his wages will be high, his value will start to decrease the day he signs as he'd be 30 soon and he'll be starting to decline soon, if he isn't already.

[Richard E]

It would be a very unimaginative and unambitious signing.

[brontebilly]

Bowen would solve the problem right side position.
To kick on we are going to need to bring in a few ready made players.

The right side position McGinn plays?

[LeeB]

He's also not that special anyway, meat and two veg.

[Monty]

I really like Bowen. We shouldn't be signing him. Regretfully! - but it's the wrong move.

[LeeB]

Can I just point out regarding the new striker/ winning the league proposition, that the current champions managed it having spent £60m on a player not fit to lace Ollie's boots.

[N'ZMAV]

Jarrod Bowen is 2-3 years too late for us - I'd rather keep McGinn in the team on the right side of the attacking midfielders.

[Monty]

Can I just point out regarding the new striker/ winning the league proposition, that the current champions managed it having spent £60m on a player not fit to lace Ollie's boots.

Indeed. I would like to see us focusing on creating more good chances - and if that involves a challenger for Ollie, maybe that would be more of a false 9 sorta option.

[PeterWithesShin]

No chance you can win the league when your top scorer only has 14 league goals...

[PeterWithesShin]

Some don't seem to realise football has changed from the days of relying on a striker scoting 25 league goals a season.

Arsenal have won the league, could add the Champions league and reached the LC final and FAC QF.

These are numbers of their top scorers in all comps

21 (14 league)
11 (7 league)
11 (1 league)
10 (7 league)
8 (6 league)