Yeah, what I’ve been saying or wondering these past weeks, I wasn’t sure that we’d even chase a new midfielder this summer.
Wouldn’t be the first time if we tried something opportunistic like Tchouameni or Gavi, but then if it can’t be done, leave it for another day.
So I’m not surprised.
Bellingham will be one, I’m pretty sure. But with our creativity (and how we manage to keep secrets) and financial structures, a year in football is a long time, could be some totally new names by the summer of 2023.
Isn’t this one of the guys we have been linked with this year?
Could be Wolves.
Moutinho is getting old, Neves could be on his way out, their strength in depth in midfield is thin.
Yeah, I would think Wolves would naturally be the first club to mind other than our own.
Maybe a type of midfielder who could fit at City as well, if Gundogan is leaving. But yes, Wolves is a bit of a safe haven for Portuguese players, so probably a better guess.
Just realized that it’s Vitinha, not Vieira. Vitinha was already on loan at Wolves! So could be another club.
Yeah this is what I was getting at in the who would you buy. As soon as they announced Milner new deal, I thought that sounded odd if a new midfielder was incoming. Could still happen, but next summer seems more likely now.
Also us wanting to keep/extend with Naby.
Maybe, but I still think we’re light there. Not in numbers, but in quality. there are only three and a half of them you’d be happy to see line up against top opposition.
I hope I’m proved wrong and Jones and Elliott have breakout seasons, but it seems like a gamble to me.
Plus Hendo turns 32 on Friday. He can’t go on for ever.
It does to me too.
I personally would have let Milner leave, sold Ox and have bought someone to phase in over the next seasons while we phase Hendo out.
But maybe we’re all in on someone like Bellingham and know it won’t happen this summer, but possible next year so would rather wait than spending big money now.
As you say numbers wise we are okay, just not from a reliablility and consistency pov unless everyone can stay fit and Elliott and Jones can step up a level.
Can we match Spurs’ bid for Bissouma just to piss them off again?
Don’t know if there’s better value for money out there than him.
I think it’s inconsequential. Though he will get the odd minutes here & there, Milner’s role will be mostly in the training ground.
This. After finalizing the Nunez and Ramsay deals we will focus on the sales. But if a reasonable offer for Naby materializes, we will sell him and bring a new midfielder.
I think our summer could easily be:
IN: Ramsay, Carvalho, Nunez… potentially a cheap/free/experienced GK if something happens with Kelleher and/or Adrian.
OUT: Well known names, maybe only struggling to sell someone like Nat, but then loan him out again.
And that’s it, roll on July 4th and start pre-season with our main things already completed.
One name not mentioned for a while (ever?) on this thread despite getting a lot of attention before now looks officially off the table - Bayern have announced the signing of Gravenberch from Ajax for a fee of only 16-20 million.
Renato Sanches going to Milan.
Whatever happened to the Neuhaus links? Wasn’t he available for something like 30m?
Remember the ‘no ducks’ policy
Yes, but nothing since then, I think. The links to Bayern seem to have cooled as well, which suggests maybe he just hasn’t kicked on…?
I haven’t watched that many Gladbach games, but a few here and there. I think he’s good, has both the physical and technical qualities, but for me doesn’t seem to affect games quite as much as his ability suggests he could.
There’s a lot of virtual shoulder shrugging in this thread, but if we are facing any of the top four in the league, or our major European rivals, only Hendo, Thiago and Fab would fill me with confidence. Naby is good on his day, but not reliable for a number of reasons.
The others are young and unproven at this level as we speak. It may be that they have outstanding seasons and this time next year are indispensible members of the team, but at the moment I wouldn’t want to be facing a top team with them in the starting eleven.
If one of the main three suffers a serious injury, we would soon look light in midfield and the remaining players would shoulder a heavy burden, given the amount of games we play.