Transfer Rumours Ins, Outs, Rumours & Tosh. Summer 2019.

GET WESSI BACK!!!!!!! Player coach!

 

Personally I can understand the DM links. Trybull is first choice but had several injuries over the last two seasons, he's made 60 appearances out of a possible ~100. Tettey is 33, has his own injury issues, and whilst Farke has got a lot out of him, he isn't likely to be an option beyond the end of next season. Then we've got Treatment Table Thompson who the club definitely can't rely on for a full season yet, and Godfrey who is currently first choice CB - I wouldn't want to be forced to disrupt a CB partnership due to injuries further forward.

We've played with a "DM+CM" combo this season, and whilst we could use a Leitner/Vrancic-type pairing in midfield, it might be quite lightweight against the top sides. Tettey+Trybull might give us more defensive strength, but sacrifices fluid and creative passing through the phases - and it's not that likely both are fit.

So for me, a DM makes a lot of sense. Thompson goes out on loan, Tettey becomes a squad player, Godfrey continues to focus on being a CB. Trybull and the new player either compete for one slot in midfield (playing alongside Vrancic/Leitner/McLean), or play together if desired. A DM who is tough-tackling, has excellent positional sense with good close control and passing could be a real asset (and yes, that's a £40m+ player and Webber will try and do it for £4m).

Sure a backup striker is probably a greater priority, but I really think there's a lot of value in a good DM addition.

 

My guess is that we'd have to get the 3 essential players first and then see if we can manage a DM after that with Thompson going out on loan. If we're looking at 30+ DMs, then that doesn't seem like long term thinking to me.

 

DM is a very important position in the Prem, a lot of teams play through central areas and you therefore need to have strong defensive cover.
Trybull is good but has his injury problems, I’m not sure Tettey has the legs or the ability that we need anymore although he has been a brilliant servant, I don’t think he is capable for the PL anymore.
Thompson has just spent another season injured and as much as I’d love to see him stay and become a first team regular, I think he will go out on loan, at least for the first half of the season.
I personally wouldn’t mind seeing Godfrey deployed at DM though

 

Am I right in thinking that the 25 man squad doesn't include anyone below 21, or has that rule changed?

 

Emi Buendia wants to star for Norwich City in the Premier League.
https://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwi...ndia-looking-forward-premier-league-1-6058539

 

That's great news; he was one I was afraid might have his head turned by money with his young family and all.

 

You're quite right ZK:

"The Premier League introduced new rules mandating that each club must register a maximum 25-man squad of players aged over 21, with the squad list only allowed to be changed in transfer windows or in exceptional circumstances. This was to enable the "home grown" rule to be enacted, whereby the Premier League would also from 2010 require at least eight members of the named 25-man squad to be 'home-grown players'."

That gives SW more scope as long as we hold on to our four young players, assuming that the rule means any player under 21 on 1 January 2019. Aarons will be the only one under 21 next year, which SW will also have to consider. That might make loans more attractive.

Another factor though is that 8 of the 25 players named have to be 'home grown'. We now have 9, but if we lose Rhodes we'll be down to 8, including all four U21 players, which takes us back to square one.

 

So we need to unearth a couple of young Englishmen to make it easier

 

That would help! On the current rumour list the following would be homegrown:

Nick Powell AM (Wigan) FT (25)
Semi Ajayi CB/DM (Rotherham) £3m (25)
Kasey Palmer CM (Chelsea) £4m (22)
Harrison Reed CM/RB (Saints) Loan
Rekeem Harper WBA (19)
Lucas Connell RB/DM Bolton 300k (18)

There may be others as well.

 

Mignolet?

 

To confirm that one: "For the 2018/19 campaign Under-21 players will have been born on or after 1 January 1997".
So of our young players, Jamal (25/1/98), Godfrey (15/1/98), Cantwell (27/2/98), Oxborough (9/5/98) and Aarons (4/1/00). Incredibly that means Aarons could play a full 3 seasons in the Premier League as an U21.

To clarify the second part, it's worth mentioning that none of that 5 count towards the 25-man squad. Our squad can consist of 17 non-homegrown players, plus up to 8 homegrown senior players. And there's no restrictions on the matchday squad as far as I'm aware.

Currently, our non-homegrown contingent consists of:
Michael McGovern, Christoph Zimmermann, Timm Klose(?), Alex Tettey, Kenny McLean, Mario Vrancic, Tom Trybull, Moritz Leitner, Marco Stiepermann, Emi Buendia, Onel Hernandez, Teemu Pukki and Dennis Srbeny, which is 13 players.

We might create difficulties for ourselves in 12 months time, but this summer we could theoretically sign 4 senior overseas players, without worry. Given Farke/Webber's preference to work with a relatively lean squad, I can't see us troubling the 25-man squad limits to be honest, given how many of our key players are U21s.

 

Nah!

https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/footba...-set-gbp15m-mignolet-asking-price_359703.html

 

Can't see anything in Mignolet. He was Liverpool's starting 'keeper for ages, he's going to be on far too large a wage for us. Plus the transfer fee, and that he's not great with his feet - this can't be more than lazy paper talk.

Bit disappointed the Pinkun are faithfully reporting whatever crap they can dredge up, with a simple "is said to be", or "it's been reported". Very much just fuelling these baseless rumours, when they should be in a position to offer better reporting.

 

In fairness to the Pinkun, they have been giving a "likelihood" at the end of the articles. In this case it's "No chance whatsoever."

 

To be fair, the Pinkun does often put a verdict at the end as to whether the story has any merit and this one is 'too expensive for us', which does make you wonder why they bothered at all.

Back to who we recruit, IMO we should plan for this year but with the possibility of relegation considered as well. We have a good squad so we should build on that so we don't end up with aging, expensive players if it doesn't work out this time. I think we will survive, but we need to aim long term rather than a quick fix.

 

Pontus Jansson? No freaking way!!! I can't stand that petulant arse. I think he was disruptive at Leeds and if Bielsa stays I expect him to ship Jansson straight out.

Verdic: Please God, No!

https://www.footballinsider247.com/...-in-running-to-sign-leeds-man-for-around-10m/

 

Like Rick said, it makes you wonder why they bother - it's either clickbait to generate revenue at the detriment of their reputation, or the NCFC reporters struggling for a way to fill their time over the summer. You've made somebody read an entire article just to say "this is complete fantasy and you've wasted your time reading it" at the end.

I think that's definitely the approach we'll take. I can't see any Yobo/Elmander-type signings this time around, the signings are all going to fit into a long-term plan, which will look to make sure every player we spend reasonable money on has resale value, and use free agents/cheap signings to add more experienced figures. I'm sure the demands of relegation will be covered.

 

I don't mind the Archant reports because they put down dubious rumors, or at least put them in perspective.

Every year I promise myself that I won't pay attention until we actually sign someone, but I always do.

 

Hands up if you're guilty of this!!

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