Transfer Rumours The Rumour Mill, summer 2021

Maybe we do not believe that Ajer is good value at that price but Mendez would be excellent value. Totally convoluted logic.

 

I don't want any Celtic players they were awful.

 

All Scottish football league players are Championship quality at best

 

They did have that Dutch centre back that went to Liverpool but you are correct Celtic would struggle in The EFL

 

Teemu Pukki was once at Celtic

 

Correct, but he was useless there

 

It took DF to make him into a world class striker.

 

A Maddison transfer from Leicester to Arsenal or Chelsea could give us 15% of the fee. A potential £50m fee is being mooted. Reported in EDP. This could give us between £6m - £8m very useful. Not sure if anybody else would benefit in terms of sell-on clauses.

 

I've just listened to that podcast and the actual quote was "If Stuart gets the targets he wants hold on to your hats everybody!". That sounds even more exciting but the key will be whether he can actually get those targets, but here's to hoping! It's the latest podcast about fixtures, around the 20th minute.

https://www.pinkun.com/podcasts

 

Which podcast was it ?

 

The top one about Norwich open against Liverpool... (30.43).

 

The EDP has an interesting comparison between this window and past ones where progress was similarly slow. I think the difference this time is the nervousness after losing our player of the season. It reminds me of the loss of Maddison, where many wondered how he could be replaced and where the goals would come from. Enter Emi Buendia, Teemu Pukki and Jordan Rhodes. That brought many headlines about Pukki's 'failure' at Celtic. Teemu replied to those in the best way possible and, supported by the others, we had a great year as Champions.

So far, SW has made over 30 signings, of which around 15 have been truly successful. There are others, like McCallum and Sitti (£3.75m and £3m) who have yet to play a league game for us, so the jury is still out. Too many have been abject failures though, like Franke, Heise, Roberts, and Drmić and others were somewhere in between. Nobody expects every signing to work out and SW had had to work on very tight budgets, but with the money up front from selling Emi, are we able to hope for a higher success rate this year?

 

Peterborough United have made the first move for Exeter City star
Joel Randall but face rival interest from Celtic and Norwich City,

https://www.footballinsider247.com/celtic-exclusive-randall-bid-submitted/

 

I guess success will be whether come October/November we feel like we've got a stronger starting XI (injuries allowing) than we ended the Championship season with. With Buendia and Skipp leaving big boots to fill, Webber either needs to get a couple of signings very right, or make more, moderately successful signings to improve the overall quality of the team.

Based on last season, it's a failure of recruitment if Rupp, Hernandez, Stiepermann, etc are regular first team players.

 

SW has said that it will be quality over quantity this time so I'd guess the priority would be quality replacements for Buendia and Skipp (unless he returns), a quality CB, at least one more midfielder to replace Vrančić and a RB if Aarons leaves (more big boots to fill). Gunn will also strengthen us at GK and if the others happen, there should be a stronger squad this time than last time in the PL.

I think that Rupp, Hernandez, Stieperman and others will play a part when injuries occur and Rupp is one player who looked reasonably comfortable in the PL last time, considering he arrived midseason. Onel could be lifted by his international experience with Cuba so we'll have to see. Dowell is another key player and much will depend on how he makes the step up.

 

Sergio Ramos is available

 

Wages might be a bit of a stretch.

 

Ex Canaries on the move:

Cameron Jerome [MK Dons - Luton] Free
Henri Lansbury [Bristol City - Luton] Free
Elliott Bennett [Blackburn - Shrewsbury] Free

 

Potential transfer bargains?

 

Not the first time Bordeaux have been facing a crisis. Not a lot in their squad of interest to City. Their player of the season last year was 35yo Koscielny who was at Arsenal and the best of the rest were Ben Arta and Seri neither of whom set the world alight in the EPL. Their best youngster is probably Adli who originally came through the system at PSG but whilst he is similar to Buendia it would probably take him too long to adjust to the pace and physicality of the EPL. One for the future whom City might get for about £6m if they get in quick.