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

[SamTheMouse]

We needed midfield reinforcement anyway, as Onana and Kamara are nowhere near sturdy enough to be relied upon for a whole season. I was already in favour of moving Onana on for that reason - despite the fact that he's a fine player and a great lad - as we simply can't afford to have two key players in the same position with legs made of biscuits.

Of course, now we couldn't do that even if we wanted to, and are instead going to be paying a hefty weekly wedge to someone not contributing for the best part of a year. Again. It's really frustrating.

[chrisw1]

The balance the books thing doesn’t really seem so much of an issue given what the chaps have said on the Onana thread about his amortised fee. His injury is so unfortunate, but it creates a gap. We might need to review what we do, but don’t think it materially impacts the need to sell.

It materially impacts the need to buy, which in turn materially impacts the need to sell.

[Drummond]

Alternatively it pushes Rogers' price up, because we don't want to lose another player and Tielemans now can't be an 8 and a 10.

[aev]

Perhaps we will decide to give some of the youngsters an opportunity next season with our hands being tied again?

[Ozzjim]

It all depends what we can loan/ get in on a free. Yves Bissouma and Frank Kessie are both free agents. Not in the same league as Onana, but both have been at some point top players and both under 30. Might be worth a look to plug a big hole for the next 18 months.

[algy]

The balance the books thing doesn’t really seem so much of an issue given what the chaps have said on the Onana thread about his amortised fee. His injury is so unfortunate, but it creates a gap. We might need to review what we do, but don’t think it materially impacts the need to sell.

Agree here, I don't see us selling Rogers unless it's an offer we'd have accepted in any case.

Onana's injury is a nuisance, but I'd think it's one of those cases where it makes perfect sense just to try to loan someone in for the season.  The CL money should give us both the financial headroom and also enough sway to get someone in on a temporary basis, then we can reassess the position next summer.

A nuisance, but something we can work around IMO.

[letsshakehands]

So do we basically have e to sale to buy - even with these new rules?

I may be wrong but that’s how I understand it. And we can’t just sell anyone but to count towards uefa’s management of our position must be sold from within last season’s EL squad - so not including Guessand. Obviously Sancho and Luiz are gone so wages space freed up but they can’t be replaced by anyone we pay a fee for. Seems entirely fair and above board.
Please let me know if I’ve got that right or otherwise please put me on the right path.

Can anyone clarify/confirm something about the squad cost thing for me. I get that it, per our settlement, our squad cost can't go up. BUT, go up from what? The squad we had at the time of the settlement? The last squad we registered? And if we reduce it, do we retain the ability to use any balance? Otherwise, say we don't use the rather considerable value of Sancho's salary from last year, we could have an ever-decreasing allowance and not be permitted to even maintain a level. Starts getting (if it wasn't already) Kafkaesque.

[Dogtanian]

I don't think this has a bearing on whether we sell Rogers or not.

We already had a plan to reinforce around 3 positions with a spend of around £30-40m per position according to Jacob Tanswell. It may mean we change that focus or concentrate more of that money on a replacement.

The Premier League rules have now changed in a way we voted for, so we can spend 85% of earnings in a Champions League year which helps us. The UEFA rules apply to our CL squad, which as others have pointed out, is one we can choose who is in it. Onana will now not, and with his price tag that will open up room there.

Nothing has changed regarding Rogers.

[paul_e]

The balance the books thing doesn’t really seem so much of an issue given what the chaps have said on the Onana thread about his amortised fee. His injury is so unfortunate, but it creates a gap. We might need to review what we do, but don’t think it materially impacts the need to sell.

Agree here, I don't see us selling Rogers unless it's an offer we'd have accepted in any case.

Onana's injury is a nuisance, but I'd think it's one of those cases where it makes perfect sense just to try to loan someone in for the season.  The CL money should give us both the financial headroom and also enough sway to get someone in on a temporary basis, then we can reassess the position next summer.

A nuisance, but something we can work around IMO.

Yep, exactly. Onana has the highest amortisation cost of anyone in the squad so he frees up more than anyone else missing would. Given it's now confirmed as a full rupture I doubt we'd be looking to add him back for the 2nd half of the season so effectively his fee and wages are now free for thge purpose of balancing incomings and outgoing in the squad. Given wages and this fee I work it as we're likely to lose: Sancho, Luiz, Bailey, Onana and Garcia from the squad which frees up about £45-50m (depending on any fees we get. Kamara comes back in and takes up £7-8m of that but we're effectively left with ~£40m to use on wages and amortised fees. If we use Bogarde and Cisse as 2 of those free spots (the latter freeing Lindy to be a full time DM option) we'd still have ~£35m of that left to use for 2 players (with a 3rd spot available given Bogarde allows us to name an extra list a player). A loan in midfield, someone like Mbaye and then a cheaper option at right back seems reasonable from there.

[Dogtanian]

Romano is saying it's 7-8 months out, so yeah he won't be in the CL squad for the second half of the season either.

[eamonn]

With Lindelof showing he can cover there as an understudy to Bouba, I wouldn't be in a rush to spend a chunk of our restricted budget on a direct Onana replacement. Perhaps if Bogarde leaves.

[paul_e]

With Lindelof showing he can cover there as an understudy to Bouba, I wouldn't be in a rush to spend a chunk of our restricted budget on a direct Onana replacement. Perhaps if Bogarde leaves.

Yep, exactly, that money will go on a winger I suspect and at most we'll get a loan or very cheap older player in as cover in midfield.

[Ozzjim]

Quite envious of Newcastle getting Manzambi. Signing a young midfielder from Ajax too, so getting their age profile down. They've done really well too get the money in they have for Tonali and Gordon.

[UK Redsox]

With Lindelof showing he can cover there as an understudy to Bouba, I wouldn't be in a rush to spend a chunk of our restricted budget on a direct Onana replacement. Perhaps if Bogarde leaves.

Can't see them selling Bogey now. He might not be brilliant at anything, but is valuable because he's decent at many things. Given the financial constraints, that's the type of player Villa have to settle for as a backup

[Ozzjim]

If someone offers £30m for Bogarde he'll be gone to plug a hole and we'll look to sign a couple of replacements. He was scary in midfield and at right back much of the time.