Summer Transfers

[harvo the blue]

We still don't have a clear picture of who all our primary targets are. Last year we knew for months that Stones, Laporte, Sane and Gundogan were targets.
Nolito, Jesus and Bravo were the only ones that came as surprises.

But we know Txiki starts early. I'm sure that in 1-2 months it will become clearer. Henrichs is certainly starting to look like a target.

FABINHO

 

[KCblue]

Just my guess, we bring in:

Ederson
Bernat
Fabinho
Laporte
Carvalho
Isco

We don't extend:

Caballero
Sagna
Zabaleta
Clichy
Navas
Toure

We sell:

Hart
Mangala
Nasri
Bony
Otamendi
Delph
Fernando
Nolito
Mooy
Denayer
Celina
Barker
Angeliño
Ntcham
Zuculini

We promote:

Adarabioyo
Maffeo
Roberts

Loan out:

Iheanacho
Unal
Moreno
M. Garcia
Zinchenko

Give the likes of Brahim, Sancho, Foden the occasional minutes. So the squad would be:

Ederson, Bravo, Gunn
Fabinho, Maffeo, Kompany, Laporte, Stones, Adarabioyo, Bernat, Kolarov
Gundogan, Carvalho, Fernandinho, A. Garcia, De Bruyne, Silva, Isco
Sterling, Sané, Aguero, Jesus, Roberts

Think that's realistic and tbh I'd be very happy with that. Now bookmark this so you can see when it's 100% correct [emoji6]

 

[The Riot Club]

Serious question, I'm not being an arse - what does everyone see in Isco? Is it just because he'd be relatively cheap (does that matter to us though, surely it's about quality?) Would he get a game with us having Yaya, Kev, Silva, Sané, Sterling, Gundogan and Fernandinho?

What we need in midfield is a hard bastard. And only spend on another passer/attack minded midfielder if he'd hugely improve us, e.g. Bale, Alli. Otherwise we should just focus on sorting the defence out.

 

[dachoosen1]

Yep he was up until the u-21 level, but Pickford has grasped his opportunity for their first team.

Yeah the difference is opportunity gunn could be twice the keeper but never has got a chance no point in signing a player who is a similar age and was rated worse then our third choice up until a year or so ago.

 

[kun]

Serious question, I'm not being an arse - what does everyone see in Isco? Is it just because he'd be relatively cheap (does that matter to us though, surely it's about quality?) Would he get a game with us having Yaya, Kev, Silva, Sané, Sterling, Gundogan and Fernandinho?

What we need in midfield is a hard bastard. And only spend on another passer/attack minded midfielder if he'd hugely improve us, e.g. Bale, Alli. Otherwise we should just focus on sorting the defence out.

You think Alli would hugely improve us and Isco wouldn't? Alli would cost >£70m wouldn't even get in our best 11. Alli suits Pep's system less than Isco, more versatile and would be a quarter of the price.

 

[Larry Stranger]

Serious question, I'm not being an arse - what does everyone see in Isco? Is it just because he'd be relatively cheap (does that matter to us though, surely it's about quality?) Would he get a game with us having Yaya, Kev, Silva, Sané, Sterling, Gundogan and Fernandinho?

What we need in midfield is a hard bastard. And only spend on another passer/attack minded midfielder if he'd hugely improve us, e.g. Bale, Alli. Otherwise we should just focus on sorting the defence out.

He's good on the ball and a player who can break a press and can unlock a defence. A typical Pep type midfielder who is probably closest to being a Silva or Iniesta type player perfect for the duel 8 role. Neither Silva or De Bruyne are hard bastards. Quite honestly I don't think a hard bastard would do well in our system in midfield because most hard bastards aren't great on the ball. Isco does put in a shift defensively when he needs too. Silva will be getting on in age so I assume most people see him as his successor.

 

[RayCTID]

Yeah the difference is opportunity gunn could be twice the keeper but never has got a chance no point in signing a player who is a similar age and was rated worse then our third choice up until a year or so ago.

Gunn has potential but he has to step up in terms of development and convince Pep that he is ready for a first team place ahead of both Bravo and Caballero. I am not suggesting that we should sign Pickford in the summer as he too needs work to become first choice but at this time he is ahead as he has games under his belt.

 

[Dax777]

Serious question, I'm not being an arse - what does everyone see in Isco? Is it just because he'd be relatively cheap (does that matter to us though, surely it's about quality?) Would he get a game with us having Yaya, Kev, Silva, Sané, Sterling, Gundogan and Fernandinho?

What we need in midfield is a hard bastard. And only spend on another passer/attack minded midfielder if he'd hugely improve us, e.g. Bale, Alli. Otherwise we should just focus on sorting the defence out.

Isco is a better player than Alli. And no we don't need a hard has hard. That is just archaic thinking. Isco is as good as Silva and Debryune. That's what we are getting. He is far superior to Alli.

Also we wouldn't have Yaya either. Hope we get him. You'll see how wrong you were.

 

[Blue Hefner]

I see Jack Butland is making his way back to recovery. English. Possible reserve keeper next season?

Be interesting to see what Pep does with the keeper situation & how/if Gunn actually gets game time in our first team.

His agent/representatives have had talks with City. Not sure whether they were just exploratory or firming up a deal

 

[The Riot Club]

Isco is a better player than Alli. And no we don't need a hard has hard. That is just archaic thinking. Isco is as good as Silva and Debryune. That's what we are getting. He is far superior to Alli.

Also we wouldn't have Yaya either. Hope we get him. You'll see how wrong you were.

I hope you're right, if we do get him he has to improve us. I can't help thinking there must be better players available though in central midfield.

 

[salfordbluetrue]

Just my guess, we bring in:

Ederson
Bernat
Fabinho
Laporte
Carvalho
Isco

We don't extend:

Caballero
Sagna
Zabaleta
Clichy
Navas
Toure

We sell:

Hart
Mangala
Nasri
Bony
Otamendi
Delph
Fernando
Nolito
Mooy
Denayer
Celina
Barker
Angeliño
Ntcham
Zuculini

We promote:

Adarabioyo
Maffeo
Roberts

Loan out:

Iheanacho
Unal
Moreno
M. Garcia
Zinchenko

Give the likes of Brahim, Sancho, Foden the occasional minutes. So the squad would be:

Ederson, Bravo, Gunn
Fabinho, Maffeo, Kompany, Laporte, Stones, Adarabioyo, Bernat, Kolarov
Gundogan, Carvalho, Fernandinho, A. Garcia, De Bruyne, Silva, Isco
Sterling, Sané, Aguero, Jesus, Roberts

Think that's realistic and tbh I'd be very happy with that. Now bookmark this so you can see when it's 100% correct [emoji6]

Ederson probably but expensive
Bernat , Grimaldo is probably first choice but both expensive
Fabinho , Aurier is all but redundant at psg plus they want to sell
Laporte, probably but expensive
Carvalho, Fabinho cheaper faster and more versatile
Isco,good player we do not need, we need a big striker and have been linked to Llorente
money is going to play a big part in who and where we buy
as for your selling list i do not think we will see Kompany here next year so Otta stays and i hope we put on sell on and buy back schemes on. Forfana was too good to sell so cheaply

 

[Dax777]

I hope you're right, if we do get him he has to improve us. I can't help thinking there must be better players available though in central midfield.

I mean, there are midfielders with varying skill sets. Kante is good but has different skills from say Silva or Fabregas, and those gave different skills from say Hazard. But all those players are top shelf midfielders.

Isco is a top shelf midfielder. He is a mix between Hazard and Silva. I really don't see how he doesn't improve us.

Really I believe if he comes it will be a midfield 3 of Silva, Isco and Debryune. Folks keep thinking he wouldn't start. But I'm willing to bet he will. He is that good.

 

[Jazzman]

Mo Dahoud had a great game for Mönchengladbach yesterday. Played as 1 of 2 central midfielders and looked like a potential Yaya replacement to me.

 

[Manchester_lalala]

I mean, there are midfielders with varying skill sets. Kante is good but has different skills from say Silva or Fabregas, and those gave different skills from say Hazard. But all those players are top shelf midfielders.

Isco is a top shelf midfielder. He is a mix between Hazard and Silva. I really don't see how he doesn't improve us.

Really I believe if he comes it will be a midfield 3 of Silva, Isco and Debryune. Folks keep thinking he wouldn't start. But I'm willing to bet he will. He is that good.

A midfield of silva, Isco and de bruyne with sterling, Jesus and sane in front. We'd concede a lot but I think we might have a possibility of scoring 10 every game.

 

[The Riot Club]

I still think we need someone like Dembele, Wanyama, Kante in there. Not saying buy one of those, but someone as good as those at what they do, I haven't seen enough foreign games to know who, but we are missing that, some protection for the defence, and someone to break up opposition attacks. We're too easy to play against when we don't have the ball.

 

[blueparrot]

I still think we need someone like Dembele, Wanyama, Kante in there. Not saying buy one of those, but someone as good as those at what they do, I haven't seen enough foreign games to know who, but we are missing that, some protection for the defence, and someone to break up opposition attacks. We're too easy to play against when we don't have the ball.

You may think we need a ball winner when we're too easy to play against when we dont have the ball, Pep will think keep the ball more his pivot will be somebody to do just that, ball winning is down to everybody in the team pressing together.

 

[BlueCityfan]

You may think we need a ball winner when we're too easy to play against when we dont have the ball, Pep will think keep the ball more his pivot will be somebody to do just that, ball winning is down to everybody in the team pressing together.

Exactly. We need somebody to do the pivot role Yaya does right now. And Ferna did early on in the season.
Someone with some footballing brain. Not Fernando or Wanyama. More like Weigl.....but they are rare.

 

[blueparrot]

Exactly. We need somebody to do the pivot role Yaya does right now. And Ferna did early on in the season.
Someone with some footballing brain. Not Fernando or Wanyama. More like Weigl.....but they are rare.

They are rare, but it may well be somebody not playing that role currently. That said I Wondered about the Nzonzi links, but when I watched the Seville Leicester game was impressed with him in that role. Plus his height for defending set pieces. Weigl would be my first choice.

 

[IWasHere]

Exactly. We need somebody to do the pivot role Yaya does right now. And Ferna did early on in the season.
Someone with some footballing brain. Not Fernando or Wanyama. More like Weigl.....but they are rare.

Someone like diawara, tolisso, weigl or dahoud would be a good signing. We've been linked with carvalho lately but I've rarely seen him play so I'm not sure if he'll be good enough or not

 

[simon23]

I mean, there are midfielders with varying skill sets. Kante is good but has different skills from say Silva or Fabregas, and those gave different skills from say Hazard. But all those players are top shelf midfielders.

Isco is a top shelf midfielder. He is a mix between Hazard and Silva. I really don't see how he doesn't improve us.

Really I believe if he comes it will be a midfield 3 of Silva, Isco and Debryune. Folks keep thinking he wouldn't start. But I'm willing to bet he will. He is that good.

I agree with you on the Isco bit but where does Ilky then fit in????? Illy himself is a top class player but I think things started to go a bit wrong after our great start when Pep was trying to fit all his midfielders onto the pitch.....and you also still have Ferna to think about though Im sure he could play in the fullback role or even as a centre half