The Unreliable Transfer Rumours Discussion Thread (Part 5)

[Liverdinner]

I still think Guela Doue is an obvious right back pick up.

[CanuckoLFC]

If I remember correctly, Endo also plays CB for Japan when called upon.

[Mascot]

@RedOverTheWater

Yesterday I was reading crazy rumors that we also might be interested in Rayan

Realistically I don’t think we’re going to prise Rayan out of Bournemouth six months after signing him. But I wonder if the plan is to look at him for summer 2027, with Gakpo departing at that point.

@RedOverTheWater

If we are playing with a double pivot in midfield and we are in a world where we sold Macca, like others I’m wondering if Szobo, Gravenberch and Jones (on a new deal) will be enough, if they are backed by Nyoni and Endo? (Arguably Bajcetic comes into the picture as another back up). Would that be enough for two positions? I think it would be, especially if we are in a world where the sales of Macca and Gakpo (hypothetical at this point, just thinking out loud) would help to offset the large outlay we would be making on the sort of players mentioned above.

I think that’s where I am too, and the Sunderland game has really shifted my thinking on Nyoni. Not that I’m getting carried away with a performance against a weakened team in pre-season, but he just looks like a man now, and because I always thought of him and Rio as a pair, I hadn’t realised that Trey is 19 now, and almost 18 months older than Rio. We’ve been linked to players younger than that for tens of millions of pounds.

[GaryBarlow99]

Not great sources but a few rumours we are looking at Ezri Konsa

[Kopstar]

I’m on board. @ILLOK rated him years ago.

[Limiescouse]

It came up a week or so ago with arsenal sniffing around but getting priced out. For me he’s the right profile but too expensive when a tomori is going to be available for trivial money

[rupzzz]

Probably the right age (28) for a senior CB with PL experience to join.

Two years left on his deal - Villa have sold big (Rogers and Tielemans) so prob don’t need the money. Villa in the CL, so they probably want to keep him put.

If Konsa wants it, then there’s a chance I feel - but for what fee…£40m? £65m? more? less?

[Limiescouse]

I think it was 70m they were reportedly telling arsenal they’d have to pay

[Aurelio]

I rate Konsa, don’t think Quansah is far behind him though. Tonali is a no from me. *Tomori

[rupzzz]

Tonali isn’t a CB…?

[Limiescouse]

And he’s already signed for spurs

[Limiescouse]

Speaking of Newcastle midfielders

https://x.com/lukeedwardstele/status/2082070309340160101?s=61&t=VxX1vHU3NOwwNhlbyICG-g

About as cast iron guarantee that he signs for arsenal as you can get

[Sweeting]

@rupzzz

Tonali isn’t a CB…?

I think he meant Tomori.

I’d love to sign Tomori personally. I think he’s a good centre back, only 28, lots of experience, good passer from the back, wouldn’t demand a starting role. He’s not elite in the air which may be an issue for us though.

For a price of around £20m he’d be a great addition. That’s basically a free transfer thesedays.

[Aurelio]

Yea I meant Tomori.

Tomato, Tomato?

[RedOverTheWater]

I like the idea of Tomori. Decent player. But the age and price also appeal. We have a number of talented young defenders who will emerge and likely go past him, but in the meantime, we need some depth that is ready to go as needed.

I can’t wait to see Leoni find his feet here. Jacquet too. I suspect he will be in the team sooner rather than later. And then a bit behind them Ndiaye and Ndukwe.

While all those permutations are cooking, Virg needs some help, and poor Joe Gomez - smashing player though he is - just cannot be relied upon, and will be more of a luxury option until his deal expires.

So an experienced Tomori at a fair price seems very sensible indeed.

[rab]

Say we did do someone like Tomori, what do we think that’d mean for any potential Quansah return? I believe next summer is the last one we have a pre-agreed clause for him, it being cheaper than this summer.

Is that goodbye Virg and Joe and welcome back Jarrell? What if we think there’s another good year, or even two, to come from van Dijk, even if that’s a squad option rather than guaranteed starter.

Wouldn’t be against the Tomori option at all but there’s a few considerations as to what the knock on effect would be beyond adding some much needed depth for the season ahead.

[GermanRed]

Why are we discussing Tomori now? He’s shit. Ah wait but he’s homegrown. That’s the main criteria now.

How was responsible for the squad in the last few years?

[Patchwork]

I think there is a lot of moving parts to potentially bringing Quansah back next summer. Including how players like N’Diaye and Ndukwe develop but also Quansah himself after another year of first team football but I don’t think we can put of signing some more cover at center back this year to keep space clear for Quansah.

[GermanRed]

I think we should offer Joe Gomez a new three year contract. He is homegrown.

[The_Hermit]

@Mascot

However the question I would have are

• It’s obvious that Joe Gomez, God love him, cannot be included as a reliable quarter of our CB ranks. So what is the plan - roll into the season with three (of which one is injured)? Is Endo considered a CB? Or are we looking at bringing through Ndiaye or Ndukwe (who I think has work permit issues)
• What are we going to do with Right Back? Bradley needs an injury free run before he can really considered our starting option, and there is a question over Frimpong’s quality (I know it’s pre-season, but he looked wretched against Sunderland). Are we going to be asking Midfielders to play there again?
• What are we doing to cover striker with Ekitike’s injury (and I don’t think we’ll see anything of him until 2027). We cannot ask Isak to play every game.

I share the same concerns. Frimpong, in particular, has me worried. He looked awful against Sunderland. I feel we absolutely have to do something at RB.