26 Dec 2025 14:51:27
RE the Elliot deal, where if he plays 10 games we're 'obligated' to buy him for £35M says to me we have at least £35M to spend, don't know if that obligation' has to happen before the PSR BS deadline but my thinking is why would we have got him in unless we were prepared to pay out for him? If he's going back to L'pool then I guess he can be replaced with another loan player. Been looking around who we've been linked with and Gonzalo Garcia would be perfect. Young, hungry, would like to play himself into the Spain squad for the World Cup, not getting a sniff at Real Madrid, the Spanish/Emery link is there, looks like he has all the attributes to play in the Prem, he looks that good I'd like to see an obligation to buy around his TransferMarket price of around £15M, perfect solution all round I think ??♂️
UTV
26 Dec 2025 18:23:57
Elliott came in because there was uncertainty over Buendia and we missed out on both Pacqueta and Asensio.
Monchi got desperate and made a last minute deal without Emery signing off on it which eventually led to Monchi leaving.
I think Elliott has only played the games he has because of the injuries early in the season and he hasn't shown enough to warrant that level of outlay.
I get the feeling we will show interest in Pacqueta again in January and maybe West Ham will be more open to a deal with their desperation to buy another striker. I'm not a fan of his but trust Emery's judgement if that is who he wants.
26 Dec 2025 20:41:49
More questions than answers there, if as you say we want Paqueta in Jan then the only way that would happen is by paying a fee, so does that mean we have money, and shouldn’t that go on what we need, not on a replacement for someone that hasn’t played? (hardly) ??♂️
UTV
26 Dec 2025 21:55:12
Why? We obviously had money otherwise we wouldn't have made a deal for Elliott that included a buy obligation. We are also sending Sancho back which saves a couple of million in wages.
Paqueta plays on the wing mainly but can play anywhere across the front 4 if need be, Emery likes versatility.
Paqueta also has better physicality than Elliott.
Elliott doesn't play because Emery doesn't want him and thinks he is only useful as a 10 where we are well covered.
I personally think Paqueta is lazy and will be like Sancho but if Emery picks him then I'll back it as long as we get the right effort in return.
26 Dec 2025 22:22:11
I think Emery sees Elliott as a no 10 and with Rogers and Buendia covering that position Elliott isn’t going to get a look in. I think in all likelihood we will send Elliott back to Liverpool and try to get a loan with an obligation to buy in the summer Brennan Johnson would be ideal.
27 Dec 2025 09:22:30
So we have £35M to spend on someone other than Elliot then, and can be spent before the PSR deadline? and we don’t need more cover in positions we are covered in but have no cover (an actuall No9) for the main striker slot? Time to stop playing nice and be also rams. Get a No9 in is the priority, not someone (wingers) who does a few step overs then falls down wanting a foul ??♂️
UTV
27 Dec 2025 11:09:51
The only old #9 top scorers in the top 5 leagues playing for a top 5 club are way out of our price range.
The only one remotely affordable would be Edouard and he couldn't get a game for Palace.
The game has moved on, it seems like a lot of people here are struggling to catch up.
27 Dec 2025 11:38:21
What ever the outcome in January no one can say our recent transfer dealings have been successful by any stretch of the imagination, yes it appears Monchi has a lot to answer for but others must have been involved.Money is an issue we all understand that, however I just hope we get a couple of quality signings asap, players that will improve our chances of top five or better finish.
27 Dec 2025 14:40:22
My bad RK, I guess Citeh will be selling Haaland in the summer and get an attacking mid to replace him, same with Kane at Bayern, and so on and so on, because the game’s ’moved on’ ?
UTV
27 Dec 2025 15:21:39
How exactly does that not prove my point? Kane was over £100m, Haaland would cost £150-200m.
Martinez from Inter and Ekitike also nowhere near our budget.
Despite that small number of examples, here are loads that have been a main source of goals this season or recent seasons that aren't #9 and can do it without a traditional 9.
Salah/Jota
Saka
Sterling/Foden
Palmer
Ferran Torres/Yamal/Raphinha (doing it without Lewandowski) .
Alvarez/Greizmann
You still have ignored the point I made, including Haaland and Kane, of the 25 teams in the top 5 of the top 5 divisions, how many play with a natural #9 and how many of those are top scorers? Arsenal paid £70m for a striker and decided a defensive midfielder was a better option to play up top.