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

[Sexual Ealing]

I think Unai would improve both MGW and Williams. I realise that’s a bit parochial signing an Englishman and a Welshman from the Premier League but….shrugs shoulders. The only issue would be the price and domestic PL players uplift.

Yeah, I'm fully on team "sign cheaper from abroad rather than Martin O'Neilling it", but I can't think of anyone in the world more suited to just dropping straight into how we play and being great than Gibbs-White would.

I'm always a little surprised how few players we have bought, or tried to buy, that have played under UE before. Maybe he improves them so much they become out of our price range?

Or maybe he knows they all get analysis meeting PTSD after a while!

[rob_bridge]

If we are trying to ditch Maatsen for someone more physical but still with pace, who should we be looking at?

Neco Williams would be a brilliant signing IMO.

Great shout, covers both full back positions like Lahm or Irwin (perhaps not to their respective levels!). MGW, Williams, Ampadu still my top 3. No idea re mini McGinn, Gallagher I guess was meant to help there in January so looking forward to a plan b.

You have a thing for Ampadu. He’s a decentish player in a really really average team.

Think he looked very good this season. I predicted he would in 2020/1 for Blades. A few years out

[ExclDawg]

This article makes sense. Our baseline best XI is:

Martinez
Cash Konsa Torres Digne
McGinn Onana Kamara Rogers
Tielemans
Watkins

On the basis that the holy trinity of Onana Kamara and Tielemans are rarely fit at the same time, and Rogers is better in the '10' role I'd say a decent left sided midfielder is the priority to improve the starting XI, preferably someone quick.

Secondly, as Unai likes a turbo charged McGinn for 70 mins, a pacy right midfielder would be my second priority.

Thirdly someone who can cover Cash and Konsa would be ideal, Lindelof can then cover Torres/Kamara.

After that depending on outgoings I'd be looking to reduce the age profile of the squad and start succession planning for key positions.

I agree with much of that.  I agree our ideal team right now is probably:

Martinez
Cash - Konza - Torres - Digne
Kamara
McGinn - Onana - Rogers
Tielmans
Watkins

Which leaves a second team of:
Bizot
(Garcia) - Lindelof - (Mings) - Maatson
(Luiz)
(Bailey) - Barkley - (Sancho)
Buendia
Abraham

With the guys in (parens) being guys where if you plug them into the first team, you get a noticeable drop in quality. I'd argue that Lindelof could almost play that Kamara role, so maybe Central Defense is where we really need some more cover.  Mings, sadly, I don't think can cut it anymore at the level we're aiming for.

I'd agree with needing wingers though, as Rodgers would probably be best in the 10 role and Tielemans could move to more of a CM role.  That would give us a lot of flexibility.  Then we don't have anyone else on the wing behind McGinn and whoever draws the short straw between the attacking midfielders.

Then I'd look for an upgrade over Abraham. Cover for RB is needed too, as that's been the case since I started rooting for this team in 2006.

[N'ZMAV]

Wide players, a proper striker who Emery trusts, a right back and probably a replacement GK

[brontebilly]

Yeah I dont see him as being any better than Bogarde.

Cmon mate 😃

[brontebilly]

I know Tielemans missed a lot of football last season but it's rare enough he plays at 10 to start with, and then plays well in that position. He starts next to Kamara in our best X1. Buendia on left, Rogers had some good games there (Man United, West Ham?) but a lot of stinkers hence why Buendia got a chance and made the position his.

With the loanees gone we are down to Bizot, Garcia, Lindelof, Mings, Maatsen, Onana, Barkley,  Bailey, Tammy, Bogarde, Alysson (basically that team v Newcastle). I'd be open to changing all out bar Bizot and Lindelof to be honest.

[PeterWithe]

He's fine, nothing wrong with him but cant say I saw anything that would convince me to buy him and stick him in a latter CL game, unless we had to. Like Bogarde.

[Dave]

He's fine, nothing wrong with him but cant say I saw anything that would convince me to buy him and stick him in a latter CL game, unless we had to. Like Bogarde.

Yup. Solid mid-table midfielder that would be a sensible buy had Leeds gone down and we'd finished tenth so needed to sell our better midfielders, thus opening a spot for him.

But there's no point for him moving from being Leeds captain and second-best midfielder to being Villa's fifth-best midfielder and barely playing.

[brontebilly]

I watch more Leeds games than any other team except Villa.

Ampadu is an excellent player. He’d be a great addition

I’m in agreement, he’s much superior to Bogarde’s current level, although he’s somewhat off Bouby levels he’d be a very good addition to our midfield.

Similar skill set to Kamara for me, can play CB and CM. Strong tackle and shot on him, covers the ground well and critically can play on the half turn in midfield. Onana, if he ever stayed fit, just simply can't do that.