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

[paul_e]

Yep, this is, I suspect, the main reason it's a recurring link because on paper he's a very similar player, not quite as good a shot stopper yet but he'll get there I think. I'd be happy with Trafford but I'd really prefer him to have a year as understudy/competing with Emi rather than having to go full sink or swim. I doubt Trafford particularly wants that year though given he seems keen to be number 1 somewhere.

He's not going to swap getting splinters at City for getting splinters for us.

Honestly, I think it's the right time for Emi to move on. He leaves on the high of winning silverware and us qualifying for CL. He's 34 in September. I don't think he's as focussed when it's not a World Cup year. He makes some great saves but also pushes the ball back into the 6 yard box too often. He pulls out of too many games in the warm-ups. I'd like us now to find someone who can be our no.1 for the next 10 years.

Well yes, that's what  I said.

I disagree on it being the right time to move Emi on though, yes he's nearly 34 but all that really means is that there's very little chance we'd get a fee that covers a replacement worth having. The only real argument is one around wages but for me the possible £2-3m a year we might save (and would get absorbed by a new contract within 18months for any keeper who comes close to the level of Emi) just isn't worth it given how important it is to get the right player for how we play.

[eamonn]

We are not pursuing James Trafford. Was looked at, but has been dismissed.

Are you the new Vinnie Chase?

[Drummond]

Wait! I don't remember typing that! 😡

Must have been a Swift edit.

By Jimny I think you're right.

[Dogtanian]

Martinez's father has been talking about where his son will finish his career;

https://sportwitness.co.uk/do-it-right-aston-villa-players-father-quizzed-about-transfer-as-negotiation-heats-up-over-summer-exit/

Reiterates what we already know - Juventus are trying to get him for peanuts and Villa will only let him go if we get a good offer.

There are far more reports of that being the case than the odd ones claiming he's going for 5m EUR or FOC.

[brontebilly]

This is where PSR is shite. Newcastle didn't want to sell Anderson, a player they'd had since he was 8. They had little choice though and here were are 2 years later with him worth a fortune.

Agreed, while the intention might be to put the brakes on petrostate sportswashing, the unintended consequence has been incentivising of academy player sales. It's horrendous really, the regulations should be incentivising Newcastle retaining Anderson and moving on Tonali for example. Same for us with Ramsey.

[paul_e]

Absolutely, setting things up where selling academy players is seen as a positive is about as dumb a decision as has ever been made in the sport. To make it worse instead of immediately reversing that and making it so keeping academy players was incentivised their response was to start applying arbitrary values to players to make it less profitable (particularly in swap deals).

A much more sensible policy would be to do something like allowing club-trained players (as defined by UEFA) to be paid outside the normal PSR calcs until they're 23/24 thereby encouraging teams to keep those players around as 'free' squad options. I'm sure there would be unintended consequences to that but it's literally an idea I thought of in 30seconds that would 'fix' the problem and see a big rise in the amount of players coming through from premier league academies.

[LeeS]

A much more sensible policy would be to do something like allowing club-trained players (as defined by UEFA) to be paid outside the normal PSR calcs until they're 23/24 thereby encouraging teams to keep those players around as 'free' squad options. I'm sure there would be unintended consequences to that but it's literally an idea I thought of in 30seconds that would 'fix' the problem and see a big rise in the amount of players coming through from premier league academies.

This is far too sensible for the footballing authorities. It will never catch on.

[itbrvilla]

Apparently we've been scouting Zion Suzuki at Parma as a potential replacement for Emi.  Will have to keep my eye on him during the WC.

[LeeB]

Apparently we've been scouting Zion Suzuki at Parma as a potential replacement for Emi.  Will have to keep my eye on him during the WC.

Right, this is the single most Championship Manager regen name I've ever seen, and I doubt I'm alone.

[ChicagoLion]

Apparently we've been scouting Zion Suzuki at Parma as a potential replacement for Emi.  Will have to keep my eye on him during the WC.

On yer bike.

[PeterWithe]

If we signed him it would be a triumph.

[Pat Mustard]

We'll need to be swift if we're to get him though.

[Dogtanian]

Yep, a sign we are going full throttle this window.

[itbrvilla]

I wheelie want it to happen.

[OzVilla]

I’m not sure we’d want to be saddled with a keeper inexperienced in the PL.