The Squad planning thread

[TonyColemansbagofapples]

It’s so obvious we need to strengthen, and we must have the money given our continuous appearance in the CL, title wins and low spend over the last few seasons.

Yet we’re almost never linked with any signings in the media outlets, bbc transfer rumours, etc. Why is it always rags?

Do we seriously not think Gyokeres, or Osimhen, or getting Leroy back wouldn’t properly improve our attacking threat and finishing our chances created, both of which this season have been far from good enough.

It’s frustrating when it looks like we’re happy with what we have, yet recent performances have been so poor and so many key players getting old.

I'm sure you know the answer to this. Anything red linked sells papers, gains clicks. Anything positive towards us results in the opposite.

 

[Gaz (FMwkdsoul)]

It’s so obvious we need to strengthen, and we must have the money given our continuous appearance in the CL, title wins and low spend over the last few seasons.

Yet we’re almost never linked with any signings in the media outlets, bbc transfer rumours, etc. Why is it always rags?

Do we seriously not think Gyokeres, or Osimhen, or getting Leroy back wouldn’t properly improve our attacking threat and finishing our chances created, both of which this season have been far from good enough.

It’s frustrating when it looks like we’re happy with what we have, yet recent performances have been so poor and so many key players getting old.

we get linked with players 24/7 tbf, just mostly guess work

 

[King Jay]

Reijnders has 3 years left on his contract at the end of the season, with no release clause. Milan has made it clear they don’t want to sell, but if we can get him out, that would be great—especially since he's a year younger than Barella. Dias isn’t great on the ball either, yet we still bought him. That said, we need a fast CB and FB, and VDV can cover those positions. The main point is that we should prioritize signing a fast CB and FB, or ideally, a player who can cover both.

Hakimi hasn’t signed the contract extension and the current contract runs out in 2026. Maybe it's the political tension between them, I doubt there’s a "no-poach" clause and with just 1 year remaining at the end of the season, we might get him for a good price. I’m sure PSG doesn’t want more players leaving on a free transfer—it would make them look incompetent. Livramento is a good shout, but good luck dealing with the Saudis and negotiating him out of a contract with 3 years left at the end of the season when they are trying to build a team that can compete in the EPL and UCL.

Lewis, on the other hand, gets exposed against strong wingers. He’s still young and will learn, but I agree that we need someone who can handle world-class wingers.

Van De Ven plays for a club that doesn’t wanna sell and knowing them Levy would ask for 200M out of nowhere while selling him for 60 to some Italian club. Hakimi honestly is a must have. Fast, reliable and a top 3 RB. Should be priority number 1 at this point when I am honest but as always there are no rumors. Since PSG and City are Abu Dhabi and Qataris I still think there’s some pact not to interact with each other on the transfer market. Never thought I would say this but Hakimi + VDV would probably end our defense problems. 2 faster players are better than one. We rely on Walker too much. So if hakimi goes down having VDV too would be nice.

Beside Reijnders there‘s also Stiller from Stuttgart. Left footed, very good on the technical side and also on the list of Munich. Came from the Munich Academy and is one of the standouts in a Stuttgart team.

 

[Dialog]

Van De Ven plays for a club that doesn’t wanna sell and knowing them Levy would ask for 200M out of nowhere while selling him for 60 to some Italian club.

Definitely. Levy is Levy, and he would Levy us out of that transfer.

Hakimi honestly is a must have.

I have been crying for this boy since his Dortmund days, he has a wicked cross, attacking and dribbling abilities that put many attackers and wingers to shame.

Fast, reliable and a top 3 RB.

He is definitely in my top 3.

Should be priority number 1

Watch City pretend like he does not exist!

Never thought I would say this but Hakimi + VDV would probably end our defense problems. 2 faster players are better than one. We rely on Walker too much. So if hakimi goes down having VDV too would be nice.

A part of me, feels like we won’t address the lack of pace at the back—let alone bring in two fast defenders. I can see us bringing in a slower defender just for their passing ability, while ignoring players like Hakimi, who bring great passing, dribbling, attacking, defending, and pace attributes and can handle and absorb pressure!

Beside Reijnders there‘s also Stiller from Stuttgart. Left footed, very good on the technical side and also on the list of Munich. Came from the Munich Academy and is one of the standouts in a Stuttgart team.

Lol, he’s still Kimmich's heir. He’s going straight back to Bayern, wanting to represent his country as a Bayern player. We have a better shot getting Reijnders this Jan than getting Stiller ever.

 

[Alexia_Ko]

The main issue in our team is that the starters haven't been good enough or injured. Grealish, gundogan-underwhelming, Foden-finding form, Rodri, KDB, Walker, Doku, Stones, Dias-injured/ just come back from injury. Haaland, Lewis, Silva, Kovacic, Gvardiol, Akanji-overplayed.

 

[skillman]

I'm sure you know the answer to this. Anything red linked sells papers, gains clicks. Anything positive towards us results in the opposite.

That. And the leaker of any transfer story has since moved from us to the rags in Omar. Ever since he left, the leaks have go radio silent.

 

[MCFCFanTX]

City won't touch another player with r@pe allegations in the past after Mendy. Add in he's a PSG player, Hakimi is likely not happening.

If we do go for any PSG player, I'd want Vitinha the most. Ruiz would be a decent squad player too. Zaire-Emery would be a dream but he's PSG's golden child so no chance.

 

[Semper aggressus]

All hypothetical of course but seeing how Harwood-Bellis has now been called into the England squad, Adarabioyo and Lavia and of course Palmer doing well at Chelsea, I can’t help wondering whether we are too quick to let these academy players leave.

 

[salfordbluetrue]

the first two are no guarantees though mate? we need world class in key areas now?

okay here is my thoughts, do not laugh.
City pretty much kept their hands in their pockets this summer, why i do not know but they had their reasons, reasons that probably still exist. City will have been well aware of no back up ST and no back up DM, Rodri showed us last year what happens, but still City gambled. What we have now is a ripple effect, one player goes down and the strain gets added to others who go down, pretty sure City were aware of the possibility, due to the mobility of our prime players, more than likely they are gambling on Pep`s genius to maintain a top 4 finish, but City know all this and still kept their hands in their pockets.
The first three are not guarantee starters, but they are guaranteed being here, to help stop the ripple effect. As for buying anyone else in January, has the reason changed? do we buy in January?
Now summer is a different story, but that is a long way off.

 

[Paul1970]

All hypothetical of course but seeing how Harwood-Bellis has now been called into the England squad, Adarabioyo and Lavia and of course Palmer doing well at Chelsea, I can’t help wondering whether we are too quick to let these academy players leave.

We are good at letting players go aren’t we.