So, that January transfer window…

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It was December 2024, City were struggling badly for form and there was a great sense that City would break from tradition and go big in the January 2025 transfer window.

There were rumours of some big names and an expectation that we needed to bring in proven talent & players who could go straight into the team to help put the breaks on our poorest form in several years.

In particular, we looked to be short in defence. Walker, our right back, left after his form fell off a cliff and Lewis was struggling with the pressure of performing week in week out in such an important position.

With Rodri out injured we also looked to be in need of a player who could come straight into the team and play that position. Someone who wasn’t just going to be another Kalvin Phillips.

With this in mind, how do you think the window went, and how big of an impact do you think the signings had on our final league position and trophy haul - or lack of one?

Did the window course correct our season?

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I’m really excited to see how good these young lads are going to be.
Khusanov looks like he’s going to be a beast of a player.

They are pretty much all for the future though and, Marmoush aside, didn’t really give us a long term push for third (although Khusanov was a great stand-in while Dias Stones Akanji and Aké were all out injured). Our push for third came from the likes of Gvardiol Kovačić Gündoğan Nunes (De Bruyne against Palace) etc. who were all very good second half of the season.
 
6/10. Better than average because it bailed us out during an injury crisis and secured CL football. Could impact future spend though.

Only Marmoush is a nailed on starter at the moment.
The rest are signings for the future. Gonzalez should be around the first team next season but is way down the pecking order.

The rest I'm not convinced by yet, could end up expensive CFG signings. Positive is they are young so shouldn't lose too much value.
 
Stones and Aké will leave with Walker and KDB this summer, so it was very important to get them in early
 
Reis is the oddest one for me, just because of the price and the lack of game time. Khusanov cost a bit, but he's already showed that he's good enough to play a part. But £30 million is a shitload for a kid who's played 22 professional games when we're often quibbling over £5 million on a transfer fee.
 
I think it will turn out to be a great window. Marmoush already a hit. Khusanov and Gonzalez both shown clear attributes we need. I think Reis might be the sleeper. Imperious in the air in the Cup games and on the few showings in the EDS has all the hallmarks of John Stones on the ball.

Echeverri looks a talent, no idea about Bah but he has good reports from France.
 
I'm With Stupid said:
Reis is the oddest one for me, just because of the price and the lack of game time. Khusanov cost a bit, but he's already showed that he's good enough to play a part. But £30 million is a shitload for a kid who's played 22 professional games when we're often quibbling over £5 million on a transfer fee.
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All we are saying, is give Reis a chance
 
Far too early to tell, have seen positive things from all of them but most have been on a very small sample. Except Kabore who I've not even seen on YouTube clips.
 
Not sure how Khusanov and Gonzalez haven't featured more. Both look tidy on the ball (apart from Khusanov's first few minutes against Chelsea!). Marmoush definitely has potential, though he may be a bit raw at the moment. The goal against Bournemouth wasn't too raw, mind! Reis is a strange buy; he's barely got a sniff. Another one of those who comes in and is sold on for a profit having barely kicked a ball?
 
Yes.

In theory it was a 6 month headstart on this summer.

In practice, it was 6 months late. But it did its job. 4 relatively young players to be excited about and Echeverri checking in is something to look forward to.
 
No, the window did not change the course of our season. Far too early to judge any of the individual players, but I dread hearing in August that our winter business was such that we cannot fully address our needs and that because players under contract are reluctant to move elsewhere, we now have to loan those we bought and carry some of their wages, too.
 
When I look at the chart above I’d say we had a very good January window. We are rebuilding for the future and the oldest player signed is 25, so job done in that regard

I haven’t seen Bah and Kabore play but I have been impressed by what I’ve seen from others so far. I’m not concerned by Khusanov and Regis’s lack of playing time. They are both very young and are investments for the future.

With a bit of tweaking this summer we could have a great squad next season.
 
Yeah definately. If we hadnt bought and integrated those players we would not have qualified for the CL in my opinion.

They've had time to get into the PL feeling and what its like to play and be under the spotlight here, Marmoush, arguably, gets a spot before Haaland now in certain circumstances. Gonzalez is ready for standing in for Rodri to a large degree. Reis, not sure, Khusanov looks totally dependable and humble with it.

So, for me the club have fucked up on the team from last season and not refreshing it when we needed to and now we have had to do an emergency patching up exercise, but I think it has gone well. We are hopefully going to be ready for next season though I expect the first few games to be nervous before we settle.

Oh, that reminds me, our biggest most glaring gap is having a De Bryune replacement. I dont see anyone in our team that brings that dimension. I was hoping for Paqueta but now obvs not. I dont know if MGW fills that spot, he's more like a terrier.
 
Gabriel said:
No, the window did not change the course of our season. Far too early to judge any of the individual players, but I dread hearing in August that our winter business was such that we cannot fully address our needs and that because players under contract are reluctant to move elsewhere, we now have to loan those we bought and carry some of their wages, too.
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Grealish and Phillips will be as stubborn as shit on a blanket when it comes to transfer talks with other clubs. They both hit the financial jackpot signing for us and they'll both want similar wages from any club interested in signing them. But no clubs will pay anywhere near what they're on here and that will be a stumbling block hampering getting transferred. Both will most likely go out on loan with us stumping up most of their salary, unfortunately.
 
BlueMoonRisin’ said:
Grealish and Phillips will be as stubborn as shit on a blanket when it comes to transfer talks with other clubs. They both hit the financial jackpot signing for us and they'll both want similar wages from any club interested in signing them. But no clubs will pay anywhere near what they're on here and that will be a stumbling block hampering getting transferred. Both will most likely go out on loan with us stumping up most of their salary, unfortunately.
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Indeed. I’m sure that the club would like to consider moving on Stones and Ake, too, but again they’re unlikely to find takers, which means the young players may have to be farmed out for 1-2 seasons instead.
 
In their own small ways they've all helped us over the line.

Khusanov and Gonzalez steadied the ship until Pep found a combination that worked, Marmoush altered the way we started attacks and stepped up big time when Haaland was injured.

Looking forward to the future with them in the team.
 
Gabriel said:
Indeed. I’m sure that the club would like to consider moving on Stones and Ake, too, but again they’re unlikely to find takers, which means the young players may have to be farmed out for 1-2 seasons instead.
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I think we need to move Stones and Ake on this summer if possible because both are too often Injured and only have 12 months left on their contracts. Maybe Moyes will want Stones and Howe will want Ake, hopefully so.
 
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