Transfer Rumours Tosh, goss 'n twaddle - Summer 2020

Can't see us letting Max go on loan to Barca, especially without an obligation to buy. Doubtless SW has RB transfer options ready with Byram out until January, but it'd be a major disruption to bring in a new player now. The current options would be 18 year old Mumba or Rupp, who can also play there. At least we already had a replacement for Jamal in Quintilla, who had the pre-season to settle in. Max would be much harder to replace, but his agents seem to be working hard to find him a move.

 

Are Barcelona hard up or something?

 

Somewhat, yes. But still, what a ****ty move from them. Clearly throwing their weight around to unsettle a player, so they can try and get him cheap for a season whilst they sort their issues out.

 

How much did they pay to keep Messi? I suspect big clubs see these loans as 'try before you buy' deals. He'd probably play in the second team and be cover for injuries.

 

The rewards for going up are so great that loaning him out and weakening our team considerably would not be good business especially as Byram is out until 2021.

Messi is on $646,000 week if they want Max we should hold out for minimum £25m plus bells and whistles

 

Pritchard from Huddersfield is the latest rumour along with Brentford interest. Surely not? Unless Beundia or Cantwell is off and their potential move is being kept quiet?

 

That would be a poor decision.

 

I’d tend to agree, but I did think he was the best player on the pitch last week and we really need someone to boss the centre of the pitch and break the press. Skipp’s got buckets of promise, but is clearly too inexperienced to do it reliably.

So I wouldn’t totally object.

 

We bought him for about £8m sold him for about £11 m his wages are quite high and he has only played in teams getting relegated or struggling .

At 27 he's probably worth about £5m and we have loads midfielders.
He would be a welcome addition but potentially an expensive luxury .

Unless he took a large pay cut or sold cheep then I wouldn't bother, it could mean Cantwell or Buendia are off for big money and we are already covering his position

 

We paid over £3m for him which for is is quite alot , if Quintilla and Aarons pick up suspenjuries or Aarons gets sold we are going to struggle, Lewis is already a big loss on the left

 

Not to mention the prolonged absence of 'perma-crock' Byram?

 

Judging by last week, Pritchard has improved his defensive skills, but he's no DM. It's interesting that he's been moved back from AM to RCM in a 3 man midfield in a 4-3-3 with a DM in the middle. Our success came from attacking down the flanks to bypass their midfield. WhoScored rated Pritchard at 6.0, while McLean was 7.2 and Cantwell was MotM at 7.5.

 

Though it allows Sam to get Championship experience, this does seem strange, given that Lewis has left and Byram is out until January. McLean can play at LB, but it'd be a makeshift solution. The other option is Aarons moving to LB and Mumba playing at RB. Might it mean that we're looking to sign another LB?

 

After we exited the League Cup I thought some of the squad would go out on loan to gain experience, Quintilla and Byram are top 2 left backs and I'm guessing that we have a good working relationship with Cov after Maddison and Sam , they look like our new feeder club along with Luton

 

Byram is out until at least Christmas, so now we have three full backs in the squad - One wanted by Barcelona and another who is 18 and never played that role in a senior game?

 

The Pinkun sees Byram as the first option after Xavi, and then:

"Max Aarons and Ben Godfrey have both played on the left previously, while summer signings Bali Mumba and Gibson are also understood to be seen as options and Marco Stiepermann has also played at left-back under Farke previously."

I hadn't thought of Gibson, but that makes sense and it would give him game time.. It all seems a bit risky, given how Quintilla skirted with a red card for his tackle yesterday. Neil was curious that it wasn't given.

 

. Curious? Or furious?

 

Stieps needs a gig.