The Transfer Window

WHU_Champo_league_in_7_years

GK: Fab, Areola, Randolph
FB: Cresswell, Coufal, Johnson
CB: Zouma, Aguerd, Dawson, Ogbonna
CM: Rice, Soucek, Lanzini, Downes, Coventry
AM: Bowen, Fornals, Benrahma, Cornet
CF: Scamacca, Antonio

Even if Diop and Vlasic leave we still have a decent squad above, I count 21 there

Think that we will get 3/4 in, even if Diop and Vlasic go

LB, CB, CM and an attacker (not sure whether a CF or a winger)

IronHerb

The pace of the Prem is a big factor which tests overseas players. It is pretty relentless.

buffybegood

I made a case for 3 more signings, although one is based on Diop leaving. If we only register 3 keepers (surely either Randolph or Trott goes on loan), and Coventry isn't part of Moyes's plans (he wouldn't be if we do bring in a good third choice CM), those 3 signings would take us to 24 senior players. So we could add a further player if we wanted, beyond that we really would need to move players on.

With Vlasic I think it's about Moyes being honest as to whether he'd use him. He seems to lack a bit of versatility, and that could be his undoing. His best position is CAM; he's shown little when used out wide. By all accounts he's had a decent pre-season, but you could argue that he's competing with Lanzini, Fornals and even Benrahma for that spot in the middle of our 3 attacking midfielders. Moyes has used all of those players in other positions, so may view them as more valuable squad members. In addition, we were linked with Lingard and Zielinski both of whose best position is ACM, so it may be that Moyes would prefer an upgrade over any of our options there.

Given his lack of game time I wouldn't be at all surprised if Vlasic himself wants a move, either permanently or on loan for the season, so although a case can be made for keeping Vlasic to provide depth I think it wouldn't be a surprise to anyone if he plays somewhere else this season.

Lukerz

Cornet is, for me, a Lingard alternative. He’s very similar. Direct, pace, good dribbler, left-sided (albeit left-footed) & very clinical when given chances around the box. Cornet would be an absolute waste as a LWB/LB, so we still need an option there.

Vlasic should be given game time in his preferred position. I feel for players who sign at clubs & never get a chance in their favoured role. Lanzini, Fornals, Benrahma - all have struggled to nail down a place as a regular AM.

ASLEFshrugged

Fulham have made Leicester an offer for Vestergaard according to Sky Sports Dharmesh Sheth

Diop could be staying for a bit longer

Lukerz

ASLEFshrugged said:

Fulham have made Leicester an offer for Vestergaard according to Sky Sports Dharmesh Sheth

Diop could be staying for a bit longer

I think our view here is simple; we are in no rush to sell Diop given the Ogbonna/Aguerd/Dawson situation. We have a price tag, if Fulham don’t meet it we are happy to keep him. They don’t seem prepared to meet the £20m for him.

buffybegood

Lukerz said:

ASLEFshrugged said:

Fulham have made Leicester an offer for Vestergaard according to Sky Sports Dharmesh Sheth

Diop could be staying for a bit longer

I think our view here is simple; we are in no rush to sell Diop given the Ogbonna/Aguerd situation. We have a price tag, if Fulham don’t meet it we are happy to keep him. They don’t seem prepared to meet the £20m for him.

Given that it's clear Moyes doesn't rate him, it seems shortsighted to me to let this opportunity to offload him slip by. By all means bring someone in to replace him, someone Moyes views as a better long term replacement for Ogbonna or Dawson who are both out of contract next summer. It seems clear the club have known Ogbonna is nowhere near ready for quite a while, and Aguerd's injury was 3(?) weeks ago already, yet it's only the last few days that we've seen any links to CBs.

I do get that there's a finite transfer pot and one signing may impact what's available for another one, but given the CBs we're being linked with are for less than we've been offered for an unwanted Diop, it seems inept to say the least to lose out on shifting Diop because we were too slow to get a replacement in. Given our injuries, we either keep Diop or replace with someone from the funds raised by his sale, so other transfers shouldn't really have an impact.

ASLEFshrugged

Ogbonna played a full 90 minutes with the U21s last night - and gave away a sloppy pass that led to Fulham's third goal

alderz

Lukerz said:

Cornet would be an absolute waste as a LWB/LB, so we still need an option there.

I disagree with this so strongly. If you look at his stats - not just his goals and assists - it’s really apparent that Cornet is a good defender. I think he’s a perfect LWB for us. At LB we may want another option, but as a wing back I think he’s made for the role.

EXETERHAMMER

I so prefer us playing 4 at the back. A new LB is a must still.

Lukerz

His goals will dry up at LB.

Fortuneseeker

IronHerb said:

Diop has been replaced already has he not? You could say the same for Vlasic too.

IF Diop goes we currently only have two fit CB’s. Vlasic is a CAM, we haven’t played him there, I expect Cornet to play on the flanks but not as a LB. 👍

Bazshuayi

For me, if Diop is fit we need him short term. If he isn't fit we should've sold him already. If anyone actually still wants him (Fulham with Duffy loan now) I wonder how we're going to get near the money Fulham are said to have offered.

buffybegood

Bazshuayi said:

For me, if Diop is fit we need him short term. If he isn't fit we should've sold him already. If anyone actually still wants him (Fulham with Duffy loan now) I wonder how we're going to get near the money Fulham are said to have offered.

Which is why, given Moyes clearly doesn't rate him, it's so bad that we didn't offload him. We've known for weeks that we'd either need him or a replacement (without the Aguerd injury we might have risked 4 CBs including Ogbonna), so surely better to take the good money on the table and re-invest it in a Moyes choice CB.

Bazshuayi

Exactly...

Ravel49

Broja on the Chelsea 🦁 bench today

Bazshuayi

we should be all over that

alderz

Lukerz said:

His goals will dry up at LB.

Yeah, probably. But we don’t really struggle to score. We need to be stronger in defence.

Fortuneseeker

alderz, Yes that is where a new LB would be a great addition. 😉

Ravel49

French defender Dan-Axel Zagadou, 23 and a free agent after leaving Borussia Dortmund, is attracting interest from West Ham and Roma. (Sun)

Quality defender but sadly injury prone 😔

OldCastleSwift

Yeah, the links with him and Eric Bailly are wide of the mark I think. With the injuries we've had, and currently have, at CB, I'd be surprised if we have any interest in signing injury-prone defenders.

Szalai is the one for me. Good player, good price and likely to welcome the step up.

Fortuneseeker

Rumours are Sangare has signed a new contract at PSV? So who is going to be our new CDM? 🤔

OldCastleSwift

Fortuneseeker said:

Rumours are Sangare has signed a new contract at PSV? So who is going to be our new CDM? 🤔

I think PSV have announced it. 5 year deal. Some are saying it's been done just to increase his buy-out clause, so I think he'll be too expensive for us now.

Some likes to Strasbourg's Sissoko, who is said to be available for £20m. Maybe one to keep an eye on.

Lukerz

Loan offer rejected for Gallagher. Benrahma available for transfer. From the Guardian.

Fortuneseeker

There is also Bellegarde who is also at Strasbourg & has been likened to Kante in the way he plays.

Hamstew

I hope Gallagher isn't waisted at Chelsea I really like him. Came on for about 1 minute yesterday.

Ravel49

With Timo Werner heading back to RB Leipzig, right now it looks less likely that Broja will be allowed to leave

#BrojaWatch

Ravel49

OldCastleSwift

I can just about understand letting one go, but both?

Cornet probably starts ahead of Benrahma on the left, but if Benny goes, who's covering Cornet?

Seems mad to further reduce an already light squad.

Bazshuayi

Hamstew said:

I hope Gallagher isn't waisted at Chelsea I really like him. Came on for about 1 minute yesterday.

Coincidentally, I was wasted last night