Doesn’t matter if he has no interest in joining us though
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Yay looks like we’re signing Barcola
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L’Equipe are generally quite terrible so I wouldn’t worry too much.
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Well you barely see kids out in the street playing football nowadays right?
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He´s a good player but is he really better though? He´s done well for Spain but not been that tested at club level.
Plus injuries last year-
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His release clause is 86M next summer. I think we’ll wait on this one unless Bournemouth decide to sell now for something close to that fee.
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Tbh I’m not sure Barcola is any better than Gakpo (who I think is a lot better than most on this forum give him credit for). Barcola’s numbers are not worthy of big money, 11 goals, 1 assist last season. Guess there’s the argument that he’s still only 23 tho.
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Different player type for me. I see Gakpo as a pure end product player, if he’s not involved in goals I don’t think he’s got much to offer. For me, Barcola is much more able in terms of being a 1v1 threat, create with a one-two in small spaces, running in behind.
If we can get Barcola and maybe primarily use Gakpo as a backup to Isak, I think that’s a two birds one stone type of move. I rate Gakpo highly as a finisher, but not as a creator.
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PSG not willing to sell Barcola due to a lack of replacements?
Might be true, or it might be a negotiating position. Let’s see.
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Given that last season they won the majority of their league games while not even using Dembele, Kvara or Doue I doubt they are really that concerned.
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My opinion is it is a PSG negotiating position and we will sign Barcola, although the price will be high, possibly around the Isak number.
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I just can’t understand how we can pay these fees when we haven’t sold anyone. I know we sold a bunch of players last summer and our net spend wasn’t awful, but we let a lot of players leave on a free. We haven’t sold anyone yet this summer if I’m not mistaken.
They won’t mind if we sign Akilouche too then.
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He has already said he won’t sign a new deal, and he wants to join us.
So the question for PSG is how much do they want to dig their heels in. Are they willing to be stubborn and cost themselves £100m?
I don’t think so.
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i think alot of people are brushing off the main point here… we are all aware that wingers can perform different roles and switch different areas of the park…hell, you can even play them through the middle to effect (Diaz, Mo)…
but at the very base we are pursuing another footballer who has operated, predominantly, from the left, thats where he has built up a backlouge of performances that see him rated at over 100m
its funny in thatif it was 5 years ago, id be happily waiting to see what the plan is, becuase i knew thered be one…
Hughes (cant even follow if hes here still or not-thats on me) and the current regime seem to flirt with just stockpiling players…
maybe theres a master plan and im certainly not being chicken little here… but if there isnt, after the relentless pursuit of Isak even after securing Ekitike last season…its getting closer to MUFC circa 2019, than LFC circa 2019
Granted, this is speculation, but given the new info that Rayan has a release clause that kicks in in 12 months’ time, and knowing our record for being prepared to wait until the right player is available - I’m thinking our new plan is to go in for him then as our starting RW.
Meanwhile, this season we’ll see Barcola being our primary LW and the likes of Munoz, Rio, Chiesa, heck maybe Frimpong on occasion, sharing the RW spot this coming season.
I also wouldn’t be surprised if the idea is to hang onto Gakpo until January as CF cover, then sell him then when Ekitike is close to a return, and put that money towards the Rayan fund.
Then in 12 months time it would look something like LW - Barcola/Rio, RW - Rayan/Munoz, with the disclaimer that basically all those players can play on either side as well.
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now that would definately make me shut the fuck up!
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Well, Kroupi is injured, and will be out for a few months. Rayan is off the table then.
https://x.com/david_ornstein/status/2082509002328445187?s=46
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There is a Barcola thread now…
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