Ornstein reporting that Arsenal have no intention of letting ESR go. Don't know what to make of the Bayern-Rice interest, I guess Tuchel likes him, but I really don't see him going there. Hard pass on Cancelo and Vlahovic. I'd defer to others that know more about the Bundesliga re Pavard but he seems like the right profile of a hybrid RB/CB, but probably costs too much. Fresneda seems more affordable.
This makes me happy. Really wanna see him get the opportunity to rotate for regularly. Think he could be a good rotation partner for Gundogan if we are able to sign him. From wat I read this is 100% Tuchel. For some reason they are looking to move on from Kimmich and Rice is Tuchel's preferred replacement. Even some claims that Tuchel spoke with Rice directly a week ago. However, everything I have seen (including Bayern links) say that Arsenal are in the driving seat. Agreed. Each would be tempting but both would be expensive. The article I saw on Vlahovic stated they wanted to sell him to fund a move for Rasmus Hojlund (Atalanta). If we are gonna go after a ST, I'd rather go after Hojlund. He's showing all the traits that I personally want in an alternative to Jesus plus he would be much cheaper than Vlahovic. Pavard was being sold as a CB/RB hybrid option. Think he and White would damn near be clones of one another on the right. Which wouldn't be bad assuming we add a backup inverted LB. From what was discussed on here before, Fresneda is more of an inverted RB. Can't help wonder if that is more likely the direction we head. Last 2 games of the season we shifted to inverted RB (Partey) with Kiwior playing the left sided BW role. Makes me wonder if Arteta may plan to setup the roster so we can shift the inverted side without playing people out of position? Either way, we need to replace both Holding & KT. With Kiwior coming on later in the season, you could make the argument that replacing KT with a inverted RB could be a reasonable option. Though I think adding a RB decreases our need for a CB/RB hybrid and possibly increases our need for a 2 footed CB (though they are rare). Edit to clarify.... I feel like we ultimately add 2 defenders (replace Holding & KT). Think we either add an inverted LB and a CB/RB hybrid (Pavard, Simikan, etc...) or add an inverted RB (Fresneda) and a "pure" CB (Sutalo) with strong ball skills.
Also there are reports out of France that PSG is trying to make a move for Odegaard. Don't see any way in hell that we entertain that at all.
I've liked Olise for a awhile. Wanted us to go in for him when CP got him. He is young, HG and shows flashes of potential. Think he needs a bigger stage to continue his development. Would be a solid option to give Saka rest for cups and lessor EPL matches. Could also potentially fill in for MO occasionally as well.
Depends on what you are looking for. Eze could fit with ESR & Vieira as an option for the CM/AM rotation but he doesn't help on the wing. Olise is younger (3.5 yrs) and can provide Saka with some rest while also possibly providing AM rotation. I can see the value in Eze but given the age gap and need, I would significantly prefer Olise.
Looking at our pre-summer window depth chart minus players we all expect to leave to try and better understand what we need and/or are realistically looking for... GK - Ramsdale, Turner LB - Zinchenko, Tomi/Kiwior RB - White, Tomi CB - Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior DM - Partey, Jorginho CM - ESR/Vieira, Jorginho AM - MO, ESR/Vieira LW - Martinelli, Trossard RW - Saka, Nelson ST - Jesus, Eddie Based on that we need atleast 1 FB, 1 CB & 2 MF. Would be nice to add a 2nd FB, 3rd MF and a ST or left-footed W. All of the "pundits" are expecting we will be in for 1 defender, 2 MF & 1 forward. I think those suggestions may be accurate but do not account for players that are likely leaving and need to be replaced. That is were we could see a 2nd defender (1 FB & 1 CB) plus a 3rd MF (1 DM, 1 CM & 1 AM?). Current links (some likely BS) I have seen by position... GK - none FB - Cancelo, Fresneda, Boey CB - Simikan, Sutalo, Pavard, Tapsoba DM - Rice, Caicedo CM - Gundogan, Rabiot, Mount AM - Simons, Maddison, Kudus, Mateus Franca (Flamengo) W - Diaby, Olise, Ansu Fati ST - Thuram, Vlahovic, Wahi, Pedrinho (Corinthians), Vitor Roque (Atl Paranaense)
I'm not counting him in the 1 FB & 1 CB additions but I think there is a decent chance that he ends up in the mix atleast for cups. He could also contribute to the idea of add 2 FBs (1L & 1R) and then utilizing White, Kiwior, Tomi & Walters as CB depth. I'm assuming everyone currently on loan will be sold/loaned and in addition we sell Holding, KT & Xhaka. Chance we sell Partey as well but I listed him as depth above because any Partey rumors right now are fan generated.
Seeing rumors that Pool are making a run at Alexis Mac Allister, Kephram Thuram and Manu Kone. Hell of an overhaul.
Is Thuram a credible link or just speculation on the part of a pundit/blogger? With respect to Simikan, he was used more as a RB or RWB in a 3-5-2 than as a CB. He had 16 starts as a RB, 1 as a RWB vs 7 as a CB. Of his substitute appearances, 3 appear to be as a RWB when they switched to three at the back and 1 as a straight swap for the RB vs 2 at CB.
No idea. I assume its likely not credible. I think the links to young Brazilians with builds/style similar to Jesus are likely very credible. Thats fair. Paints him much more as White competition. Could even play into the 2 FB scenario.
We can be reasonably confident of 6 defenders returning. Assuming 1 new signing, I don't know that 8 defenders are necessary if the first 7 have enough quality and positional flexibility. City didn't have 8 elite defenders after they let Cancelo leave in Jan. White, Saliba and a new signing on the right, plus Zinchenko, Kiwior and Gabriel on the left, with Tomiyasu playing anywhere should be enough depth. If there is a long term injury it can be addressed before Sept 1 if it happens early or in Jan if it happens later. Arteta would need to rotate his 7 to keep everyone fresh. If Xhaka leaves and Rice comes in, that maintains the status quo in midfield. Think you need another signing as Partey can't be relied upon and Jorginho isn't getting younger. So yeah, 2 signings there. In attack, the bodies are there if Nelson and ESR return. I think Arteta wants an explosive, Martinelli-type forward, what they were looking for with Mudryk. That's not really Trossard's game. Could be a younger option that is happy to start on the wing behind Saka/Martinelli but who could evolved into a central striker. I think its more likely that a big name forward signing happens the following summer as current players leave. So maybe something like Rice, Kudus, Pavard, Roque, plus another young, developmental defender. That's 200-250m offset by sales, which seems somewhat reasonable.
City can get away with a smaller squad thanks to Pep's special vitamins ensuring their players are never out for long. We don't have that luxury of never needing to plan for multiple players in the same position being out long term at the same time. This is the second season running where we had multiple defenders miss 10+ games in a row in the business end of the season. Planning to make do with less than 2 players per position is planning to fail
7 is doable if we have quality and rotate. Main reason I suggested 2 new is because we got into a pinch on defense this season with injuries and we had 8 on the roster. Now we have 2 leaving. Adding 2 gives us an opportunity to improve, especially if Tomi is gonna be out for awhile (ive heard rumor he may be out till atleast Nov). 2 (Rice + 1) is doable assuming no others headed out and you assume that ESR ends up counting in the MF numbers. Again, rotation is key. Personally, I dont count ESR as a forward. Arteta has mentioned him multiple times as a CM/AM and the majority of his limited minutes this season have been in those spots. I do think we need a forward. My inclination would be a backup ST (prefer a tall target forward) with Jesus capable of playing W but I can get behind the idea of a left-footed W with Trossard able to play CF. I just question whether we sign a W this summer if/when Nelson resigns.
OK, they should buy Rice, Caicedo, Cancelo, Vlahovic, and Tapsoba. My priority is midfielder, defender, 2nd midfielder, forward and then 2nd defender. Do you think having 8 defenders should be a higher priority, or do you think KSE will let them spend 350m this summer?
The rumored budget is 200 plus sales. Balogun and Tierney supposedly get us half way there [45 + 30].
The only reason to sell Balogun is if you don't rate him. Otherwise, who in their right mind sells a 21 year old home grown striker who's legitimately good?
Transfer news & rumors for this morning... - City will not block Cancelo from transferring to another EPL club. Arsenal are expected to be the front runner as Barca are said to only be able to afford a loan. - Claims out of Germany that Bayern may be backing off of Rice. Some claims that they have decided they can't afford him. Some claims that Rice isn't happy with them firing his primary contact Hasan Salihamidžić. - RE Rice... Seen a claim that we have agreed terms with Rice and now just have to work out the details with West Ham. - Seeing claims that Saliba's salary demands on an extension are very high and that PSG are sniffing around. This doesn't necessarily surprise me if true but it is interesting considering the claims from a week or so ago that the only hang up was agent commissions. - Media from Italy are claiming that Arsenal & City are pursuing Leeds winger Wilfried Gnonto - A new Brazilian link... We are one of severla teams being linked to 20yo Santos FW Marcos Leonardo - Arsenal are being linked to 16yo Frieberg MF Noah Darvish - Seeing some renewed links to SMS with claims that he is/may be pushing through a move.
I would be on board both Rice & Caicedo but I feel like that is an unlikely scenario. Think Rice & Gundogan (or someone similar) is the more likely MF additions. Based on actions/rumors, it feels like Arteta wants Cancelo. I'm not gonna be mad at that but I think I would prefer Fresneda based primarily on potential. I'm thinking one of those 2 are gonna be our FB option. Outside chance we could take both (Cancelo can play on the left) and we start rotating White at CB & RB. Vlahovic would be a wasted fee. He was exposed at Juventus. Probably some validity to the argument that there is a scheme issue but no way I would give them the 80m euro they are wanting. I think it is very possible that we go for a forward but I think that a left-footed W or one of those young Brazilians is much more likely. For CB, I have no idea where we may be headed right now. We have been linked with several solid players but I feel like most of them wouldn't be happy unless we start to rotate more.