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

[Brazilian Villain]

We will be going from McPhee and clever free kicks to Pulis ball. Manzambi long throw to Madjo and Espi headers.

It worked for Arsenal.

[Exeter 77]

Not sure I could cope with Villa going full on Pulis-ball. I'm sure the trophies might help. 

[Clark W Griswold]

Definitely looks like he's coming to the PL and from the chatter we seem to be the most likely destination. Interesting one, worth a punt I'd say.

[Toronto Villa]

We will be going from McPhee and clever free kicks to Pulis ball. Manzambi long throw to Madjo and Espi headers.

It worked for Arsenal.

Precisely. I want Emery to out Arsenal, Arsenal. It will be all the sweeter to watch AFTV lose their minds with us doing it for a net spend of 0.50p

[Mister E]

No new thread for the boy, then?

[Clark W Griswold]

I'd say too early.

Just 'scouted' him on YouTube, touch of the Harry Kane's about him. Yes please.

[PaulWinch again]

Is there any “reliable” reports? I can’t see anything.

[Tuscans]

Whilst PSG have opened the door to his departure, Ibrahim Mbaye (18) is said to have developed a strained relationship with the club's management, due to his entourage and his growing ego, as per
@Romain_Molina. What particularly played a part in non Aston Villa move, which he had hoped to join

[Todd Packer]

https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2026/close-circle-and-growing-ego-fuel-tensions-between-psg-and-ibrahim-mbaye/
Taken from this article - not a great read...

[JUAN PABLO]

I'd say too early.

Just 'scouted' him on YouTube, touch of the Harry Kane's about him. Yes please.

Id say Ian Olney

[frank black]

Is there any “reliable” reports? I can’t see anything.

Zero

[rougegorge]

Espí has a release clause of just €25m, according to Spanish media outlets.

[Clark W Griswold]

I'd say too early.

Just 'scouted' him on YouTube, touch of the Harry Kane's about him. Yes please.

Id say Ian Olney

Well, if he's our no 9 in a year or two whilst we push for the title I'd take that!

Who are we getting as the new Ormo though?

[brontebilly]

Watkins has another five years at the top level.  He’s super fit and really looks after himself.  Also at the end of last season he looked back to his very best.  No sale for me.

The problem is you don’t know when the twitch muscles and reaction speeds deteriorate, it usually happens early 30s and Watkins game does rely on these. So I don’t think you can predict another 5 years.

Agreed, that streak towards end of season might be an outlier in an overall decline. But a fired up Ollie is a fantastic PL player, he has a fair old point to prove to Tuchel this season.

How can a 'streak' be an outlier?! An outlier is by definition 1 datapoint lying outside a whole cluster of other datapoints.
His streak was a collection of good performances; a trend, in fact

I do take your general point, though! 😁

Smirker had this better than I could ever hope to argue...but his diabolical display at Old Trafford last season, or even was it Lille away despite scoring he was abysmal, general narrative was that his best days were long over. It was hard to argue against it at that point, that was well into March too. 8 goals in last 8 PL games is the streak I'm referring to. In ordinary circumstances selling a 30 year old striker after such a run would seem like good business. By all accounts we were open to moving him on the previous January with Duran flying at the time.

But this is no ordinary transfer window and Ollie is a resilient f*cker. He's a great example to every other player at the club and there isn't a big line of available strikers on the market this summer. Ollie stays for me.