It's Quiet the £250m return

we probably never go in for Khusanov and Reis tho if we dont have all CBs apart from Gvardiol all injured at same time and also for quite long injuries not just a week or two for 2/4 months ones.
so it was bit of a panic purchases, investment for the future too, but unless there are 2 outgoings from Akanji, Ake, Stones hard to see how Khusanov or Reis will get decent minutes from mid August. Pep wont use them and keep his trusted players on the bench.
Is Reis more likely to stay with him starting ahead of Kushanov in the 1st game of CWC
 
The must keep players aside (Haaland, Rodri, etc.) who are the players who might leave according to you (apart from those you listed above)?
Echeverri and one of either Reis or Khusonov on loan, with the ones I named that gets the NHG list down tom17 I did think Stones, and we’d just go with 3 HG but with todays talk maybe not.
Think we end up with a squad something like below with Nunes, Akanji, Khusonov and right back the grey areas.

Free list 17
Ederson Ortega
Reis, Dias, Gvardiol, Ait Nouri, Nunes or Akanji Khusonov ? or right back
Gonzalez, Bernardo, Rodri. Reinjders
Cherki, Marmoush, Savinho, Doku
Haaland

Home grown 3 or 4
Bettinelli. Ake. Stones, right back?

Academy trained
Bobb. Foden

U21
Lewis. O’Reilly
 
Is Reis more likely to stay with him starting ahead of Kushanov in the 1st game of CWC

Pep had both them long enough for him to asses them to which he prefers Expect Khosonov to play later let’s see how he does we know pep though he will know now who he thinks is there better centre back..
 
Kova is unlikely because of his injury and recuperation.

Kova will likely go because his injury is not serious and there are actually people willing to pay for him and give him a much higher salary than us. Don't forget Saudi transfer window generally stays open till like late September.

It's basically the Ederson scenario.. with the difference being we want him to stay but he has offers too!
 
Kova will likely go because his injury is not serious and there are actually people willing to pay for him and give him a much higher salary than us. Don't forget Saudi transfer window generally stays open till like late September.

It's basically the Ederson scenario.. with the difference being we want him to stay but he has offers too!
Yeah I always thought 2 of Bernie, Gundo and Kov could go if we seriously gut and recruit.

Gundo is going and Bernie is obviously not. If there’s a deal on the table for Kov which he wants and we can get a deal made for a midfielder we are interested in (MGW) then I’d expect him to go.
 
Kova will likely go because his injury is not serious and there are actually people willing to pay for him and give him a much higher salary than us. Don't forget Saudi transfer window generally stays open till like late September.

It's basically the Ederson scenario.. with the difference being we want him to stay but he has offers too!
Not sure that’s true. Believe it closes on September 2nd, so highly unlikely Kovacic would have time to prove his fitness to any prospective buyer.
 
I wouldn’t read too much into team selections at this point, but once the games become meaningful, the choice of defenders should become more informative.
Once the games become meaningful then I would expect Dias & Gvardiol to be the CBs. Reis looked comfortable on the ball & possibly better than Khusanov although the Moroccan team weren't the same level as EPL.

I do wonder if theY were any ttruth to the rumours that Pep & Khusanov had fell out or that they didn't want to hit his 10 game payment to his former club
 
Not sure that’s true. Believe it closes on September 2nd, so highly unlikely Kovacic would have time to prove his fitness to any prospective buyer.
The 2025-26 Saudi Pro League summer transfer window will open on 18 July and close on 2 September.
 
Echeverri and one of either Reis or Khusonov on loan, with the ones I named that gets the NHG list down tom17 I did think Stones, and we’d just go with 3 HG but with todays talk maybe not.
Think we end up with a squad something like below with Nunes, Akanji, Khusonov and right back the grey areas.

Free list 17
Ederson Ortega
Reis, Dias, Gvardiol, Ait Nouri, Nunes or Akanji Khusonov ? or right back
Gonzalez, Bernardo, Rodri. Reinjders
Cherki, Marmoush, Savinho, Doku
Haaland

Home grown 3 or 4
Bettinelli. Ake. Stones, right back?

Academy trained
Bobb. Foden

U21
Lewis. O’Reilly

Imo, Echeverri and Khusanov are far more likely to leave (on loan) than Akanji and Kovacic, and it's not close (might be wrong, time will tell). Echeverri competes with too many players (Foden, Cherki, Bobb, potentialli even Reijnders...), Pep seems to see Khusanov completely different from fans, etc.

Letting several experienced players go is enough, Pep rates experience highly.
 
The issue of moving Kovacic on as well as Gundogan is down to either of our new midfield signings initally struggle to adapt or Rodri's recovery takes a major set back during the season. Still need the depth.
 
A point that is often overlooked is that many of the players slated for the departure gate on here (Ake, Akanji, Gundogan, Stones, Kovacic) are guys that have taken the injections and played through pain and injuries for us. They might just feel that the club owes them and that now they’re fit and well, they don’t want to be forced out.

If this turns out to be the case and they all stay, then the winter window is going to have been like Christmas Eve shopping as the bells chime five.
 
Once the games become meaningful then I would expect Dias & Gvardiol to be the CBs. Reis looked comfortable on the ball & possibly better than Khusanov although the Moroccan team weren't the same level as EPL.

I do wonder if theY were any ttruth to the rumours that Pep & Khusanov had fell out or that they didn't want to hit his 10 game payment to his former club
I would imagine the back four will be Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, Ait-Nouri, but I could also see them working Akanji, Ake, and even Stones into the 4 if needs arise, so one can already see the problems facing Khusanov and Reis.
 
I would imagine the back four will be Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, Ait-Nouri, but I could also see them working Akanji, Ake, and even Stones into the 4 if needs arise, so one can already see the problems facing Khusanov and Reis.
The pertinent question will be how long Johnny Stones stays fit and Pep has shown with Kev, Sergio & Vinny how ruthless he can be when he can't rely on the long term fitness of players.
 
A point that is often overlooked is that many of the players slated for the departure gate on here (Ake, Akanji, Gundogan, Stones, Kovacic) are guys that have taken the injections and played through pain and injuries for us. They might just feel that the club owes them and that now they’re fit and well, they don’t want to be forced out.

If this turns out to be the case and they all stay, then the winter window is going to have been like Christmas Eve shopping as the bells chime five.
Pep is ruthless at times but is also loyal & I can see him sticking with Ake & Akanji, especially if we don't sign Livramento. Kovacic will likely stay & it depends on how much truth there is in the Gundogan to Galatasaray transfer rumours.
 
The pertinent question will be how long Johnny Stones stays fit and Pep has shown with Kev, Sergio & Vinny how ruthless he can be when he can't rely on the long term fitness of players.
True, but in his case we know that he’s already entering the final year of his contract, last legs if you will. May just find that he is used even more sparingly and goes through the season unscathed.
 
8 players can leave on loan and Bah is 1 meaning we have 7 spots available.

I’d bet there are some deals lined up already.
I don't think there is any limit on loans you can send out, only their destinations.
We could send 6 to Europe, 19 to PL clubs and a truckload to the championship and lower divisions
 
True, but in his case we know that he’s already entering the final year of his contract, last legs if you will. May just find that he is used even more sparingly and goes through the season unscathed.
He'll play even more internationals for England then which he often comes back injured from
 

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