King Kante

Can't say I have seen Rajkovic but I am now against a Onana signing, whereas before I was open to it. My reasons for this are: 1) He hasn't got the greatest hands. He saves a lot of stuff but he doesn't really ever catch it or palm it away properly, this results in the ball going straight back into dangerous areas. I have a friend who supports Ajax that I recently spoke to and he said, they call him a teflon GK as nothing sticks. 2) ACoN commitments are too much. Yes, there is not one this year but it is a bi-annual event. We cannot afford to have a GK1 missing for 6 weeks in the most important part of the season every two years.

Have to agree. My policy on CB's is, if Pep wants them, avoid at all costs.

A lot of talk about Gosens going on. I am slightly surprised if we did pick him as he is essentially Alonso 2.0. Personally, I do rate him but I am not sure about him in a back 4 as he usually plays LWB in a 5. Also, if he and Harvetz does happen, everything is going to get fairly Germanic pretty quickly. I just hope it doesn't mean we have to play Celine Dion at half time or something.

Yeah, Giroud being frozen out is easily the most cray, cray thing SFL had done since he has been here. I wouldn't even mind but he was one of the best players in the Super Cup final and was useful in a couple of others early on. Then he essentially got ghosted.

If he doesn't start the next two I will go ape sh*t. I was absolutely fuming when he didn't start WHU and SU. I mean if SFL wanted to give Tammy starts he should've done it against Norwich and Warford not the better teams.

Tbh, everything I have seen of RLC tells me he is just happy to be here. I cannot see him pushing to move if he is a squad player.

Yes but your initial post said it may be possible for James to turn into prime Cole but he has no chance of turning into a TAA player. That indicates you believe current TAA to be a superior footballer to prime Cole which is something I completely disagree with.

This only happens if it is Kepa plus cash. For that reason, I think this has no chance.

So, if we do get Harvetz in for £75m'ish, surely that is our transfer funds gone with Werner and Ziyech as well. What does everyone think we need after that and how do they think the club can raise the cash to pull it off? For me, I would be looking at something like the following: GK2 - I have no time for Kepa but also appreciate that shifting him is almost impossible. Further, Willy is now getting to the stage where you want him as a GK3 rather than a GK2. For me, we should look at someone like Foster if Watford go down. He would be free and keep Kepa honest. If Kepa continues to be crap then next Summer's budget can go towards a GK as Foster is not going to completely disgrace himself. Free LB - For me, I do not want to spend crazy money on Chilwell. I have seen a lot of Chilwell this season and I just do not get the hype. If he wasn't English no one would want him. All he has over Alonso is stamina and pace, but Alonso is much better going forward. For me, it seems we really need a Robinson type (note not level as there isn't anyone available) of FB so we can play a back four then use Alonso in a back 5. For me, Telles ticks all the boxes here. Cheap, right age and can also take a set piece. He isn't get at defending but I do not think any of the top FB's are these days as if you want one that is good at defending you then need to accept they are going to play like Dave/AWB. £25m CB - This is where things get difficult. I just do not see a player where we can all go, take that one, then we are set. KK is still very good but is getting on a will be a sunk cost if brought. Romagnoli whilst good does have questions over his ability to play in a more physical league. Further I doubt he will leave Italy. My ideal is De Ligt but that would take next level amounts of cash and wages so he has to be ruled out. The other players that have been mentioned such as the Florence CB, I have not actually seen play a game and I do not recommend or dismiss players based on their youtube vids/stats. They may be great, but I cannot say and I fully appreciate they may be better than the two I am about to suggest. However, I wouldn't actually mind someone like a Dunk or a Coady. Both of those players organise/lead their back lines, have plenty of PL experience and are at a good age. Obviously these players are not going to become VDV reincarnated but with the way our CB's have been playing this season, just getting someone who can organise us and head a cross would be game changing. £35m. DMF/CB2 - Rice - I think he would actually be a very good long term bet but something needs to be done about his price as people are talking about £70m, which is almost Harvetz level. For me, £45-50m is fair when you take into consideration English tax. This I think will take some clever swap. I reckon we should be looking at Barkley plus £20m. When looking at out goings, we then have to get shot of the following; 1 x AC/Rudi/Zouma - I would probably lean towards keeping AC as I want to see him play alongside a commanding CB but appreciate others will want him gone. Fee to be recieved £25-£40m (depending on who is sold) Emerson - Loan to buy (€20m/£18m) Barkley - £25m-£35m/Swap Baka - £20m - I see loads of people give him £30m values but I just do not see it as he will end up at a Milan or something and they just do not have the cash. Also, lets be honest he is crap. Batsh*t - £15m Potential sales Jorgi - £35-£50m - Let's see is Sarri wants his 'son' back. Kante - £75m - Only to be sold for a high offer. Can see PSG doing this. A number of the loan players these will probably go for £1-£6m.

Kai is young but he is not inexperienced. He has essentially been a first team player at Bayer since he was 17/18. He isn't a one season wonder like say a Mbappe was when he was brought (not saying he is better than Mbappe, just that he isn't no flash in the pan.)

This game has to be a 343 formation again. Virtually all our best wins this season have come when we have played the formation. The only changes for me would be: Puli in for either Mount or Jorgi AC in for Zouma/Rudi. I know people are going to find this one controversial but I am of the opinion that AC has to play in games where the front lines are less physical and press high. As great as yesterday was, Zouma and Rudi still nearly pulled a brain fart special when they allowed the ball to bounce then panic as Martial pressed them.

Barkley will have suitors if he is priced in the £25-35m range. At that price I can see Newcastle, West Ham and Palace all being interested.

€80m for me is a fair/good deal. I have been banging on to everyone I know for 18 months about Harvetz and thought last season he would be a €100m player, so if we can get him for €80m I think that is fair. The only problem we have is that in terms of numbers we are absolutely loaded at CM (I see Harvetz playing as one of the No.8's in a 433 or the No.10 in a 4231). Kante, Jorgi, Kova, RLC, Mount, Barkley, Baka, Drinky means we are now at a stage where is is vital we start to sell a few. In my book Drinky is a busted flush so a loan with 1/4 of his wages being paid would be good. However, after that we really need to get rid of Baka and Barkley as otherwise they will just drain the wage bill. I am sorry but RLC still has a lot to prove because of injuries and his own inconsistency. I was also a massive RLC fan from his youth performances but the fact of the matter is, that barring for two months at the end of last season, he has not been fit enough nor consistent enough to warrant a first team place. RLC has a massive six months coming up but it is on him. He really needs to start taking games by the scuff of the neck and imposing himself as his biggest problem in men's football as been allowing games to pass him by. So, this treatment is fair in my book. Indeed. The hate Mount in particular gets is ridiculous. For me, Mount has done everything one could've asked from a 20/21 year old in his first season in the PL. He also fully deserves his spot in the squad next year also. I think we may not be done in midfield yet but it may depend on how many players we can shift and if we can get decent money for them. For me, we are still lacking size/muscle in the middle of the pitch which is probably even lower than now if Harvetz takes a No.8 position which Barkley has been filling mainly. I honestly see SFL wanting a SMS, Partey or Rice for the midfield (I know these players aren't that similar but they represent the physical presence I reckon SFL will want.) However, to get such a player, it would mean the end of either Kante or Jorgi and both those players are hard to move on for various reasons.

Sorry but TAA is not currently better FB than prime Ashley Cole. Prime Ashley Cole was the de facto best LB in the world. TAA is excellent but there are other RB's knocking around that could lay claim be to the world's current best RB. Cole played when there was a different style of football so wouldn't necessarily be great today, however put TAA in a 00's/early 10's PL side and he wouldn't be considered WC.

The way people go on about our young players (either they are great or they are pants) on here makes me feel like I have walked into RAWK sometimes. People need to remember players like James and Mount are 20 and 21 years old and in there first PL seasons. For me, there are some questions about whether James is a long term RB or a DMF due to his positional work, pace and strengths on the ball. However, both of those two players have merited being apart of the squad next year as full time members.

I think there will be a number of players leaving on a free this Summer. New loan rules and Covid mean that I doubt we will see us extending/buying the likes of Hector and Miazga again and for the youth products in the 22+ range, I reckon they will start to be moved on much more quickly.

Thing that is interesting about Martinez is his handling. I haven't seen a GK catch as much stuff as he does when under pressure, for years. It is really impressive from what I have seen. However, there are a few things before everyone starts declaring he should be brought. 1) We only have a small sample size to go on, 2) He looks like someone that used to be obese and has lost a lot of weight - apparently one of the main reasons he hasn't really be seen until now is due to his weight, 3) His distribution isn't fantastic and everyone these days wants their GK to be as comfortable on the ball as a midfielder.

If Amapdu can get himself fit, I have a lot of confidence he will become a good player. However, the boy is now desperate for minutes so he will probably need a two year loan where he plays week in, week out. For me, he/we should benlooking to send him a Brighton/Brentford (if they come up)/Bournemouth (if they stay up) (i.e. ball playing lower PL team.)

Well of course. None of us on here know exactly what is going on, so we just speculate. However, for me, of all the CM's I am of the opinion that Jorginho (well actually maybe Barkley but I count him more of a squad player) is the most vulnerable.

Not really fussed about any of those players. Cantwell maybe, but for me Mings is not that great (although a decent midtable CB), Ake isn't what we need due to his height and lack of leadership and Grealish for me is one of those players that is best off as a big fish in a small pond. I do like Cantwell, but I do not see the need for him. Also, I see B'mouth escaping at Watford's expense owing to the goal difference, form and games left to play. They really should've got at least a draw at City.

Does anyone know what Hazard's add ons are from a reliable source? I have heard something crazy like the break down was as follows: €100m (£89m) initial fee €10m (£9m) x 3 for qualifying for the CL in his first three seasons €5m (£4.5m) - La Liga title bonus €5m (£4.5m) - CL winner bonus €5m (£4.5m) - unspecified appearance bonus €5m (£4.5m) - unspecified goal bonus Surely that is not right? I know the club where apparently very confident that he would get the full wack (€150m/£130m) but that seems crazily easy (the CL qualifying part).

If Watford go down (which is starting to look likely), we should be all over Sarr as an option for the AM4 position. Although not the same type of players, him and Torres look like they may be available and probably cheaper than they should be. Two excellent young players.

WBA only have one game left and are on 82 points (max 85 points) Fulham in 4th have 77 and two games (max 83). As for Brentford, I seriously hope that they do it. As WBA actually lost all they need is 4 points as they have a +12 gd. They play bottom of the league Barnsley and up and down Stoke. Really hope they do not mess it up, will be great to have such a small club up. Also hoping Millwall can knick a play-off spot as well, just for the Mad Max antics they will bring 🤣.

No. The problem would be, does SFL even want him as a squad player? I mean the only reason he has got back in is due to injuries to both Gilmour and Kante. In a Corvid world is it wise to keep a player you could get £30m+ and pay £100k a week to be the 3rd No.4? This goes double when you're also trying to rebuild your squad. From the outside looking in, it appears SFL wants to have a different make up in CM, even though it is probably our strongest area in terms of individuals. However, to make any serious moves he will need to probably shift 2-3 players. Personally I see him sticking with 433 but will want more fluidity. I would be surprised if he attempted something like: No.8 (No.10 in a 4231) - Harvetz + Barkley/RLC (I imagine Barkley would be the one to be culled) No.6 - Mount + Kova No.4 - Gilmour + Kante (or new player if someone offers crazy money for Kante.) I mean if he does want to go for an attacking No.6 and a No.4 that covers the ground, then I do not see where Jorgi fits. Further, in such a situation I also do not see both Barkley and RLC lasting long as you would just need the one of them. So, that is two players that need to be sold minimum, with Jorgi being the least likely of the three to survive*. *this is also before we get to a situation where someone offers good money for Kante.

I think Marina will have to be flexible. If SFL is going for a 433 with two No.8's then there is no place for Jorgi in the squad as you need a No.4 who can cover the ground.