King Kante

Sterling may be an option for them: https://www.skysports.com/football/news/20876/13201510/raheem-sterling-arsenal-boss-mikel-arteta-opens-up-about-exceptional-relationship-with-Chelsea-forward-at-man-city

He actually looked OK yesterday. He appeared in the small sample to be at least a couple of levels up on distribution and passing anyway. Let's see how things go. As I always say I need 10 full games to judge a player - with GK this can be a bit longer.

I honestly do not think it will be such a disaster if we don't get VO. CB is more pressing for me.

Yeah, I like him a lot too. Direct, has a bit of confidence/attitude, works hard and knows where the goal is. For sure, he isn't a technical God but he has developed consistently this year and continues to improve. I wouldn't be selling him either.

Indeed Villa are one of the biggest clubs in England.

I do understand the concerns about Felix but equally I do think there is a argument to be had that he and Simeone was always a bad match and he got overhyped and moved at too young of an age. Additionally, I think there has to be some credit given to him that he has seriously cut his wages to get his moves. As I said, if people drill down with him, there are positives. However, he is now at an age were he does need to kick on in the next 12 months and become consistent or at least more consistent in terms of application and minutes on the pitch. For me, he is does fall into 'wildcard' but for me, he is a 'wildcard' that makes sense.

His stats aren't actually bad: 23/24 - 10 goals, 6 assists, 2143 mins (24 full games) 22/23 - 9 goals, 3 assists, 2144 mins (24 full games) 21/22 - 10 goals, 6 assists, 2050 mins (23 full games) 20/21 - 10 goals, 6 assists, 2353 mins (26 full games) Therefore over 4 seasons he has the following stats: 97 full games to mins, 39 goals and 21 assists (60 total g/a) If you look at his minutes to goals/assits he is actually performing at a pretty high level. The issue is keeping him fit, focused and in the team. For me, I look at him as a player to bring off the bench on a consistent basis who can actually contribute. Is he perfect? No, of course not otherwise we wouldn't have got him. Is he better than Sterling or Mudryk? Yes.

Also, as an aside, does anyone know what is going on with Palace? They're about to sell Anderson and Guehi looks bound for Newcastle. Both of them are there main CB's and they don't have much depth there.

The potential of getting rid of both Disaster and Sterling seems too good to be true.

Is this with a obligation to buy? I thought I had read that was the case....

I am still expecting Duran to end up here for some reason. Personally, I don't see the VO signing fitting in with the boards strategy. Duran still makes more sense than that one.

We don't need Sancho at all. Even with Sterling going, we probably have too many still with the South American boys coming.

If we can clear Lukaku, Kepa and Sterling before the end if the window that would be great.

I think Brentford may be in a bit of trouble this year as they were pretty bad in the second half of last year and when it comes to teams in the mid-to-bottom sections of the league, form can quite easily carry over. Apart from that, I largely agree. However, I do think it will be tighter this year than last.

Wow. That is a good deal for us.

I think the deal is fine. Ipswich aren't as bad as some of the promoted teams last year and there is a chance of further point reductions for other teams. For sure, the odds say they will go down but there is a chance they stay up.

Pretty much this. He has to play in the pivot. At no point should he be played as an AM, despite how much he may want to.

Yeah, shifting players has to be priority No.1, No.2 and No.3. For me, unless we clear the following, we are going to have issues: Petro - beat Sanchez to the GK1 position fair and square last season, yet gets dropped because he isn't a 'ball playing' GK, despite the fact that Sanchez isn't either, it is just that he looks confident when giving the ball away. Kepa - Needs to go as his wages area high and he clearly wants to leave. Bergstrom - Needs a loan. Trevor- I would keep but having him with the development squad for no reason other than for FFP reasons isn't a great look. Especially as he is better than a number of the CB's ahead of him. Disaster - Cannot have him playing and expect to win games consistently. Add this to the Trevor situation and he has to go. Chilwell - Not sure I would sell but once the manager comes out and says you're surplus, it is pretty much game over. Injuries have also taken their toll with him. Gallagher- Again I would keep but the circus this Summer means he has to go for everyone's sake. If not we will have the constant articles about how he has been treated. Carney - Needs a loan for his development. Hopefully not sold. Angelo - Needs a loan for his development. Don't know enough to know if he should be sold or not. Kellyman - Needs to go out on loan otherwise we will have him pop up as having 'disappeared' all the time. Sterling - Already getting a bit toxic. However, he will be the most difficult to move. Broja - Similar to Trev but to a lesser level as he isn't good enough. Lukaku - This one needs no explaining. Fofana - Loan with a option to buy of £25m+ seems about right for him.

This sounds like nonsense. Chelsea and Utd are both trying to get rid as they're both underperforming and overpaid. I do not see how a swap works. Well he can then stay and Napoli and get publically clowned by his own clubs social media team. VO doesn't have any options, he can take the loan or stay at Napoli. The fact no other club is looking at him should tell us the club are completely right to ask for a loan as he has potential disaster written all over him.

About £4.8-£5m according to some reports. Hope we have some sort of sell on as whilst I do not expect him to become WC I do think he will become a usable PL player so a further kick back down the line would be nice.

Well he still has 3 years of £300k plus. He ca. Easily sit that out and retire. The money for him isn't the issue as he has the contract. I just can't see anyone taking his contract unless it is Saudi. However, I can't see him in Saudi. This has toxic fallout written all over it.

Tbh, I can't see him leaving England. He has always striked me as someone who has any interest leaving the country.

That win streak was at the end of the season when half the teams were on the beach. In addition, Caicedo needed to be flanked by both Gallagher and Cucu in order to not be a liability positionally and allow everyone to play straight through us. So, I am not really buying his late season form marked a turning point for him and expect him to go back to par, which is what we saw yesterday. As for Enzo, I am not really defending him, he also has to be doing a lot better. However, Enzo can move the ball better than Caicedo and Lavia is the best DM of the three. As a result, Lavia starts with Enzo because as a pair they should compliment each other better.

That also could mean feck all, as it is hardly something that sets anything in stone. Could easily be a negotiating tactic. I mean let's face it, AM have been trying to ship him for 18-24 months now, can't see how they now think he is integral because there is about £5-10m disagreement on price.

It is because Caicedo is being protected. He shouldn't be in the starting line-up with Lavia back but they want him crowbarred into the side because he cost £120m.