Summer 2017 Transfer Speculation

MrsGrey

Hamstew said:

Even Arsenal have signed a player

We signed one first!

TwistandShout

They also signed a left back...

2 vs 1 ;fishslap

MrsGrey

#nextlevel

Lukerz

Lanzini and Obiang close to new deals, according to Ex.

OldCastleSwift

So Ex's round up:

Gray is a strong possibility as a direct replacement for Valencia.

Giroud is a target and we're in a fight with Everton and Lyon for him.

Hernandez we want but face a lot of competition and his wages would comfortably be the highest at the club.

A move for Bats would depend on Lukaku going to Chelsea but again there'd be strong competition.

We're also looking for a winger and a centre midfielder but won't move for those players until the striker situation is sorted.

Get the feeling this is going to roll on deep into August...

Lukerz

Some of the panic on social media is embarrassing. Some real derogatory remarks aimed at the club and owners. I get concern but some of it really is laughable.

I only use it to browse news quickly but some of the comments I've seen are putting me off doing that.

TwistandShout

Ken Dyer who is pretty close to the club (if i remember rightly)

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/west-ham-lead-race-for-15m-burnley-striker-andre-gray-as-slaven-bilic-targets-pace-a3580801.html

IronHerb

They seem to aim all the abuse to DG as he has a twitter account. What they don't seem to realise, as West Ham fans too, is that DG has little or no involvement in signing players. ;doh

baracks_a_hammer

So if Andre gray is a "direct replacement for Valencia", what category does Valencia count as? An attacking winger? Does that mean two strikers ON TOP of gray to replace Zaza, Calleri plus either of ac/Sakho?

OldCastleSwift

Nah, I reckon Gray would be one of the two strikers; a pacy, direct striker. The other a more robust target man, e.g. Giroud or Bats.

baracks_a_hammer

So we'd have lost Zaza, Calleri, Enner and I would imagine at least one of ac/Sakho to then get only two replacements?

;hmm

As long as the two we get are fit, do a decent job, and are reasonably injury free I suppose it may not matter?..

MrsGrey

But barracks - we didn't have Enner last year at all. Sakho was out injured. Zaza went back in January.

So if we still have no Enner, a fit Sakho to replace Calleri, and 2 new strikers, we'll be better off than last season. ;hmm

alderz

If we're counting Enner as gone then we should also be counting him as a replacement for Calleri or Zaza, tbh, as he's been gone a year.

To me, Gray isn't exciting but is a step up on Calleri, and we need to improve upon the replacements so I'm ok with it. I think him + another and AC would be a good pool to choose from

Hamstew

If we sign Gray. Does that mean MrsGrey is coming with him?

#hopenot #shescaresme

baracks_a_hammer

alderz said:

To me, Gray isn't exciting

Considering all the work done on making this site an enjoyable experience I think that's a little harsh...

Mrs G, care to offer any comments??.

IronHerb

Gray or Grey? It's black and white to me. ;lol

MrsGrey

;lol

We aren't allowed to comment on spelling.

;whome

baracks_a_hammer

IronHerb said:

Gray or Grey? It's black and white to me. ;lol

Too many different shades...

IronHerb

;run

Adam

OldCastleSwift said:

So Ex's round up:

Anything about the Feghouli rumour?

OldCastleSwift

He said that we'd listen to offers, but nothing about the Galatasaray rumours.

Hopefully unfounded, because I think he could be pretty useful this season

Lukerz

Looks like Andre Gray is close. Around £15m. Also odds on for Wilshere this evening.

TBH I think that's a solid signing. When you consider how Burnley played last season and how defensive they were. Was it like 9 away goals all season?

He scored plenty of goals at Champ level for Brentford and Burnley and 10 last season in the PL. Still only 26 and he's quick and direct and will qualify as HG, which is important to us as we are low. Certainly an upgrade on Calleri and Zaza. As long as he isn't our sole striker purchase.

Gray, Wilshere another winger and a no.1 striker and we will be very well set if they are quality players. Then we need to replace and upgrade anybody else who is let go.

Jorderz_Moyes_will_be_Moyes

Wilshere has talent but it's just buying another Carroll.

Moojor

baracks_a_hammer said:

IronHerb said:

Gray or Grey? It's black and white to me. ;lol

Too many different shades...

about 50 I think..

Pearces_Left_Foot

Gray would be an OK signing , pl experience decent age quick . I think if we got him and one of incheanho , bats , Giroud would be v happy . I think gray would help us with quick counter attacks especially away from home .

Yeoldhammer

I think Gray is a good move. English for the home quota. Has pace. Has experience. Decent age. Of 1 of 2 strikers we need he would be that second striker and hopefully we can get in Hernandez. Signing Hernandez and Gray for under 30m for both should leave room for another winger to compliment Antonio and Lanzini maybe Tadic?

Lukerz

So, as of now, forward targets appear to be...

Giroud £20m+
Hernandez £13m
Iheanacho £24m
Batshuayi loan
Gray £15m
Bakambu £22m+

Also being linked with Delph, Wilshere and N'Diaye this morning.

baracks_a_hammer

The problem with signing both gray and Hernandez as our striker additions is that neither have the physical presence to lead the line on their own - we need to assume AC will fall some way short of delivering a full season and this will therefore leave us pretty stuck

And putting Ayew up there as a back up is not viable IMO

Lukerz

Personally I think it's Gray v Hernandez, not both. Both smaller and quicker, both similarly priced.

And then Giroud v Batshuayi v Iheanacho.

OldCastleSwift

Baracks ;ok If it has to be Gray, I'm hoping it's Gray and two strikers, i.e. a Hernandez/Iheanacho type and a Giroud/Bats type.

It may cost us a fortune in fees and wages, but well worth it, IMO