13 Mar 2021 20:14:29
Lads, for rubbishs and gigs, you're Dean Smith and you have 135M to spend in the summer - Who do you sign?
I'll start. Think we need a LB, CB, MF, Winger, Striker!
LB - Rico Henry (15M)
CB - Axel Tuanzebe (20M)
MF - Yari Verschaeren (30M)
Winger - Dwight McNeil (40M)
Striker - Myron Boadu (30M)
Martinez
Cash, Konsa, Mings, Target
Luiz, McGinn
McNeil, Verscharen, Grealish
Watkins.
13 Mar 2021 22:54:51
I really like Boadu BK, him, Armstrong or Malen would be my picks if we were to be going after a striker this summer. They would all suit the way we play well and are versatile.
Verschaeren a little bit too young and unproven for me at the minute to be counting on him and a regular starter, I’d probably be looking at the likes of Minamino, Golovin (ambitious) or Ihattaren.
I’d like to see Rowe given the back up left back spot, so I wouldn’t look to buy there.
I’d like to see a winger brought in and one of El Ghazi or Trez moved on. Some of the strikers I mentioned, and Watkins himself can play out wide so they give us plenty of options. But players I’d look at McNeil as you mentioned, although he’s very comfortable on the left which is where Grealish is at his best, so I’d probably look at: wamangituka (having a brilliant season), Sarr (should Watford get promoted) or Chukwueze.
If we got some good deals and some decent fees for players going outward, I’d have a look at Berge, should be available on a good deal due to relegation, and I think he’d add some height in the middle that both Luiz and Nakamba miss. Obviously centre mid isn’t really a priority unless we moved one or two on, but I think he’d suit us well and be a great addition to the squad.
Obviously these are just my suggestions off the top of my head without too much thought given to the original budget you suggested😂 and some are clearly a lot more realistic than others, but we’ve seen some strange signings come off over the years.
14 Mar 2021 00:49:30
Agree with Henry if we can get a good deal but suspect generally we'll be looking at getting some top U23 players as back up for our back four with them looking so good now. Most of our budget will hopefully go on a top centre midfield player and in attack. Personally I think Winks could be on the move and a good upgrade for us and then players like Lindgard, Abraham, Harrison, Cantwell should be looked at, but I'm sure we'll be looking at players few of us have heard of too from further afield.
Was having a good chat with a mate about bringing Benteke back too. I know some will see it as a backward step but on a free could be great to have as a plan b/ rotation option.
As frustrating as the end of the season is going so far, in a roundabout way, maybe our form flattening out and struggles without Grealish might give us the push we need to go to the next level in the transfer market. Hopefully the end of the lockdown, Euro's and a few marquee signings in early and this could be a cracking summer!
14 Mar 2021 01:35:03
I don’t think we need a CB to be honest, hause proved he’s adequate cover and no way we are going to pay 20 million for a bench warmer, axel is not as good as mings for the same money and we paid what 12 or 14 for konsa, we have to start looking at our U23’s aswel we must have a talent fit for the bench instead of engles, I don’t think we need a center mid as we just bought sanson we have Ramsey coming through we have maginn Doug and marvellous,
I’d buy a LB, striker and either 2 wingers or 1 winger and 1 CAM,
Rico Henry is a good shout at LB,
If we’re talking wingers (creative midfielder) give me any 2 of the following.
I’d try pinch that pereira guy from the baggies when they go down,
Lookman at Fulham is another I’d be interested in,
EZE from palace,
Neves from wolves I’d love in a villa shirt,
Sarr from Watford,
Emiliano Buendia,
Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford,
I think we really missed a trick with benerahma especially at the price he was sold for.
up front I’d like
Tammy
Toney
Eduward
Any of those 3 would keep me more than happy, I’d like 4 players in total and I’d spend my whole 135 million on them,
That said I couldn’t see us spending that much unless we make 30+ million through sales, I think we will spend 70-90 million tops.
14 Mar 2021 08:25:04
Don't profess to know a lot about some of the names mentioned but McNeil would be a great signing. Don't think we'll be spending a lot for players to sit on the bench tho, they'll have to be definite starters and an upgrade on what we have. Don't think we're at that stage yet where we can have a bench full of internationals ala Man City but is something to build on over a few seasons.
Maybe a couple of more experienced players to add a bit of nous to our young squad? How about someone like Chris Wood? Yes he's 29 but he'd offer a bit more of a physical presence up front and take a bit of pressure off Watkins. I suppose its all dependent on what Wesley can offer when he's back fit.
Plenty of food for thought over the summer but I think it'll be a measured approach rather than a raft of new signings and also depends on what the plans are for our crop of promising youngsters.
14 Mar 2021 09:14:10
The thing is with players like Eze, is your going to be paying absolutely ridiculous money for them. I am a huge fan of him and was saying all summer we can’t miss out on this one, but unfortunately we did and that’s how it goes. Now he’s a first team main stay in a premier league fixture, you’ll be paying twice, if not more than what he’s worth in order to get him, I really can’t see that being worth it.
I do like McNeil as I said, but he is a left winger, full stop so to speak. He doesn’t really switch like some, and as Grealish has said he’s most comfortable on the left side of a front three, are we really going to be shoe horning our best player into different positions to accommodate a new player? I really can’t see it personally.
As I said for me the priority would the number 10 role, we haven’t played with a ten the last few weeks and it has shown in an attacking sense. A winger, Traore although on his day is brilliant, he’s very hit and miss, and if things aren’t going his way he seems to shrink a bit and you don’t notice him. And then dependant on Wesley’s form returning from a very bad injury, and what formation and options we want, it could be a striker (maybe one who could play as a winger aswell), and potentially a centre mid. The defensive positions we need cover in are left back and centre back (assuming we get rid of engels) I’d love to see the youth players given chance to take those, especially Rowe at left back, however look at the deal Liverpool got for Ben Davies, there is bargains to be had that would give the Youth opportunity to go out on loan and play week in week out.
14 Mar 2021 09:31:42
Some great suggestions here lads, love the idea of Golovin Chris, think he is exactly what we need! Reason I like McNeil is I noticed him popping up centrally and on the right yesterday and I think that could offer incredible felxability during matches. Imagine Grealish, McNeil and say Golovin :-) interchanging over the 90 minutes, wow! Also, gives us options if players are injured, McNeil could fit in left, right or in the 10 for us. We can dream I guess LOL.
14 Mar 2021 10:59:57
To be fair BK I thought McNeil was strictly left mid/ wing on that left foot of his, if he does play anywhere across the three, I’d love him. Would be expensive but he’s a work horse and got a wonderful left foot.
14 Mar 2021 12:15:14
£135 million to spend. not sure we will spend that much but if we could would love something like this.
Henry £15m
Abraham £35m
Minanmino £20m
Nathan Collins £7.5m
Berge £25m
Lookman £20m
Total of £122.5m so left some in kitty if needed to up any of these figures slightly 😂😆.
14 Mar 2021 12:58:41
Love the Nathan Collins suggestion Pricey, bags of potential!
14 Mar 2021 15:33:14
Reading back through this thread I meant to say Neto of wolves not neves.
14 Mar 2021 22:31:57
Yeah I think so bk1982. could be a signing like konsa was. not straight in the team as we wouldn't need him to, but the potential to grow, get bit of experience as cover for mings/ konsa and push them the following season,