Thor

You’re never going to have a perfect player in every position. We have serviceable enough options there. We are stacked in some positions. Sometimes the right player isn’t available. But some people on here always want us to buy for the sake of buying. I’m actually keen on the likes of Duran because I don’t see any out and out surefire thing at striker. Jackson is good enough and getting better. Why not sign Duran and see if he fills out potential and see if Jackson continues to grow. Sometimes those expensive options aren’t worth the risk and better to go for potential in meantime. Just need some time and cohesiveness.

Thank goodness. Think he’s highly overrated and will flop the next place he goes.

Please make it happen.

Mbappe probably gets signed early under current ownership lol.

I feel like this is a fairly responsible and very high energy defensive unit too. I’ve heard good things about Olise and his defensive work rate. I really think Lavia will be an important piece for us. As a midfield buster that breaks the lines a bit.

Olise and Duran. Would be huge. Great business if we get it done.

Duran and Olise would be enough for me this window. A LB and another CB would have been great, but interested to see Cucu play inverted where he shone, and see what happens with Colwill, Fofana and Tosin now there.

Honestly a nice looking map considering the limited minutes and the fact you take into account players need time to build and work into games. He has that bit of stoicism and asshole about him I think we need.

Exactly what I'm reading too. This guy is in the top 1% of non penalty goals per 90. His expected goals per 90 non penalty - is .38 and he slots in .95. I get that its a small sample to go off of, but even watching his highlights and some extended clips, he does a lot of things really well. He seems a bit one footed, but aside from that, off of the little I've seen of both him and Sesko he looked the more talented one.

Duran looks far tidier than Fofana. Looks a proper finisher and someone who can play with their back to goal. Go back and read the comments around the Cole Palmer signing - Duran looks a proper player too.

If Duran is a Shields pick, all for it. I saw the dross posted here when Cole got signed lol.

I don’t think there is many 100 mil players out there I trust to be actually worth that much. No out and out surefire things imo.

If this is a case of Duran going for 50 and Conor goes the other way for 80 we will know what’s up.

They’re all saying he is talented and only second choice because they have their best striker in the last 30 years.

This is the issue. Talent is there. Just a risk at that price. 25 to 30 seems fair. Hopefully we get something in the range for Broja so almost a straight swap.

I actually think Duran looks really good - but it’s a lot for a striker that hasn’t proved much. We got Cole for 40 mil and people were crying on here. So who knows. There is a good player in Duran though. The whole “he can’t play for Villa” thing is overblown. Villa were in a if it ain’t broke don’t fix it mode and they have their best striker they’ve had in god knows how long. Duran could be a big thing. He’s rapid, has great shot power, presses well, and has a bit of asshole about him.

Colwill had plenty of errors in him though did settle more towards the end of season. I think he has a bit to prove with respect to being this worldly talent people go on about him as.

Osimhen has as many 15+ goal seasons as Tammy Abraham.

I've heard great things about the pressing and work rate of both Alvarez and Olise, so it'd be great to get someone like that in. Jackson is a hard worker pressing. Cole does his bit, Nkunku does his bit. Another absolute terror up front would be good.

Ah yes - Osimhen the proven talent who has only scored over 20 goals once. Go pay 130 mil for him.

It would be great if we had some clarity on the Olise situation. Did he reject us last season, or was it simply due to the legal stuff that prevented him coming here? I think he is the better talent/more impactful player compared to Alvarez and cheaper. Just don't know if he wants to be here, and his recent hamstring stuff this last season isn't the most reassuring thing.

I mean. It’s probably happening. This stuff always leads to it.

Alvarez is a similar profile to Nkunku but will more than likely cost us double and then some. Probably a more relentless presser of the ball - but I think its wild to pay that much.

I thought my context was there, considering we are going to be paying near 100 mil (Osimhen money) for a guy who didn't crack 10 open play goals in 31 games this year. His shot on goal, conversion rate and total goals is less than our younger striker who people say isn't great and want to get rid of. Given our "money watching" - I think the fee for the risk is ridiculous. He should be a 50 mil player.

Didn't you complain about our players not being good finishers? He has plenty of games there as CF and SS. He has 16 more shots on goal than Jackson, and the same amount on target. Also 5 less open play goals since he took 2 penalties... I just don't think he is the sure fire lock that people think he is, and he is 80-100 mil...