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

[SamTheMouse]

If he was good enough for us i'd happily have him back. But like Doug he isn't good enough for 2026/27 Aston Villa. We should be enjoying how much we've moved on and are now one of the top teams in Europe rather than lamenting over players from years ago. I doubt any PL side with serious aspirations to finish at least top 4 or 5 will be signing either of them this summer.

This. The teams that win stuff relentlessly have no room for sentimentality. We may not like that, but unfortunately there's no getting away from it.

[olaftab]

The sooner Jack retires the better.  If nothing else, it will end the endless debate about a possible return.

Amen.

Yes, and let's hope he doesn't take up coaching and managerial route as that will leave the embers burning.

[Smithy]

If Unai wants him crack on !

That's it for me.  I'm underwhelmed at the prospect of Jack returning, but if Unai thinks he can make the team better by having him in our squad, then so be it. 

But honestly, he'll be 31 when the season is a couple of weeks old, and he certainly isn't a James Milner type who has treated his body like a temple and who will be playing at the top level until his late 30s - so I'm not sure what use he will be to us, beyond another squad body for the next couple of seasons.

If he moves this summer, I suspect it will be to a club in mid-table, where he'll go and be the main man, from a manager who wants "a piece of magic" every now and again, and is happy with that. He'll probably have a decent highlight reel for the season, but will have been anonymous in as many games as he plays well. Or he'll go abroad for a couple of years.

What we need, is to find the next Grealish.  The one Spurs tried to buy from the Championship.  The Eze that Palace bought from the Champ, the Olise that Palace bought from the Champ. The Semenyo that Bournemouth bought from the Champ.  These players are out there - young, hungry, and affordable. 

[rob_bridge]

He needs to go somewhere closer to his current level, not player he was mostly between 2019-23.

Everton or Leeds would be decent shouts as don't think the new mid/upper table disruptors would want him.

[Dogtanian]

He needs to go somewhere closer to his current level, not player he was mostly between 2019-23.

Everton or Leeds would be decent shouts as don't think the new mid/upper table disruptors would want him.

My mind keeps going back to when we had Merson. Undeniably talented, past his best, but able to do a job for a team trying to progress on a budget.

Everton and the like would be a good place for him.

[Smithy]

He needs to go somewhere closer to his current level, not player he was mostly between 2019-23.

Everton or Leeds would be decent shouts as don't think the new mid/upper table disruptors would want him.

My mind keeps going back to when we had Merson. Undeniably talented, past his best, but able to do a job for a team trying to progress on a budget.

Everton and the like would be a good place for him.

Merson joined us almost 30 years ago (yikes), but the game today has moved on a lot since those days. I don't think a 30 year old Merson would have the impact today that he had for us back then, unfortunately.  The game is full of athletes now, and I think a mercurial player who might not be totally 'at it' physically would really struggle in the premier league.

[Sexual Ealing]

If Spurs try the £12m + whoever this year's Josh Onoma is they might have more luck this time, although he may not want to drop too far down the league.

[Dogtanian]

I feel I have to defend myself. I was not advocating we bring back Merson! 

[PeterWithesShin]

Maybe a reason we won smeg all while spending a fortune is because we were bringing in players like Merson.

[Dogtanian]

Yep. Something we would be repeating with Grealish.

[enigma]

Signing Merson was the least of our problems back then

[Dogtanian]

Bosko Balaban?

[RamboandBruno]

In terms of what Monty says, completely get it. I was embarrassed for myself with how much the will he won’t he, shit he has gone, affected me at the time, as a then 47 year old.
I loved watching him play, the old brummie pissed up womanising scamp. He was such a throwback, such a maverick, the comeback and goal against Derby, scoring the winner against blues after being punched, having a massive role in keeping us up.

The reality is, if he came back, most of the hate would be forgotten and he’d be welcomed back like a returning hero. I just don’t think he’s done anything really over the last couple of years, tp suggest why we would go in that direction. Then again we’re looking at Harry Wilson apparently, so.