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He’s not really shown he’s better than Iwobi though.I have a horrible feeling Bernard is going as well, dont think ive seen him in training pics? Was a free signing and on big wages, would be good for FFP.
Shame as he's better than Iwobi. Not paying £35m including addons for Iwobi would have be even better for FFP.
I think we'll give up on the CB hunt if Gabriel decides to go elsewhere.
Personally I'd be looking at:
No idea on left back. Wouldn't be surprised if we promote Niels and hope for the best lol.
- Allan - £20m.
- It makes too much sense now. He's out of favour in Naples, Carlo knows him and he has everything we miss in midfield (aggression, ball retention, tackling). He's not going to get 10 assists, but someone who can win then keep the ball in midfield would be a game changer for us. If we can get him on a 3 year deal for £20m, the lack of resale value isn't a big deal.
- Bailey - £25m.
- Despite having a bit of an off season he's still highly rated and turned 23 today. If the rumours are true that he's available for £25m we should be all over it. He's lightning quick, direct and tricky. The perfect kind of purchase for us as one decent season doubles his value. Wages wouldn't be cheap as he's supposedly on 75k pw at Bayer.
- James Rodriguez - loan £6m fee (Bayern paid £12m for 2 seasons).
- One year left on a massive contract and just turned 29. I can't see any clubs coming in for a big fee so it'll probably be a loan. Carlo absolutely loves him and he loves Carlo. The hype around him signing alone is worth every penny and it'll show our current players, and football generally that we're serious. Absolute magic and would make things happen in the attack.
- At right back Celik (£20m) would be brilliant. I watched most of Lille's games last season (less this season, but he's looked just as good) and he has a bit of everything.
- For a cheaper option Centonze from Metz was solid all season and is only 24 - could be worth going for if we want to spend money elsewhere.
- If we do decide to shift one of Mina or Keane, and can't get Gabriel in, we should be going for Thiago Silva on a free transfer with a 2 year deal @ £150k pw.
- Another one of Carlo's favourites, huge experience and still a top footballer despite his age.
Looking at the above we'd be looking at a total outlay of approx £70m (a chunk offset with the sale of Mina or Keane who I assume would fetch £20m+ themselves), and a sizeable increase of wages (hopefully offset when we manage to scam clubs into taking some of our terrible high earners).
The difference to the quality of the squad would be huge if we pulled off something like this, with a change back to 4-2-3-1:
View attachment 97154
Squad options being:
Virginia
Coleman
Niels
Iwobi
Gordon
Bernard (if he stays?)
Kean
Davies
Gbamin
Mina or Keane
Branthwaite
Looking back at this post, getting James and Allan, and Doucoure on top of them, is amazing business. We now have a proper midfield and arguably the best one we've had for a long time.
We'll need to shift some players. I'm guessing Gylfi and Delph are the two on their way out.
Wonder if we'll do much more?
He hasHe’s not really shown he’s better than Iwobi though.
This is indeed the hope isn't it. The whole standard should be set now.He has
and that’s not a compliment to Bernard it’s a criticism of Iwobi. Bernard should have absolutely produced more and it’s damning that Iwobi hasn’t.
to be fair to both, they have hadabsolutely no presence in the middle.Let’s hope either of them improve with this new midfield set up.
If the Romero rumours are true i can see Pickford being sold. Romero has hardly played the last 5 years i can imagine he wants guarantees to play if he comes hereChelsea looking for a new keeper can we sell them Pickford
Delph won't be going anywhere. He'd our back up left back
Bale has pretty much said he will happily run down his very lucrative contract at Madrid rather than move to play, which to me says a lot about his character.No chance re Bale. Too expensive, don’t think he and Carlo get on and I think his ego would put a big dent in the team we’re trying to build.
Getting rid of Davies would be as exciting as signing Bale anyway, tbf.