2023 Summer transfers

Tammy Abraham is pretty realistic by your standards.

If Cooper stays Your’ll see!

Chicago: Tapping into English yoof (oo-er!).

Learned from the Citeh Chelsea commentary that MGW is godfather to Foden's kids. Maybe Foden not such a daft idea?

Calvert-Lewin?
Garner (if Everton go down)?

We haven’t had anyone from Atletico Madrid for a few weeks either.

Calvert Lewin is too injury prone.

Squad building for next season is complicated by the fact Danilo, Neco and Brennan will all be counted in the 25 as they are now classified as over 21.

Phil Jones

[Just to piss Russ off. I don’t actually want to sign him]

Be an interesting summer.
Obviously needs trimming with the three U21 (Neco, Danilo, Brennan) to be part of the 25 going forward. And Colback is only one space.
All the summer recruitment was built around playing 3-4-1-2, but we changed to 4-3-3, which led to different recruitment in late August and again in January, and then 3-4-2-1.
The ability to play different formations is obviously beneficial, but equally means we can't afford the luxury of two quality dedicated players in every position - (RB Aurier v RWB Neco for example), so players who can operate well in different positions become more crucial (eg Kouyate)
Where does Brennan fit in going forward? Do we need/can we afford to accomodate a Freuler and a Shelvey? How many centre backs do we need?
Do any of the 15 or so players who have been or are still out on loan have a future at the club?
Sadly I don't think any of the current U21 are going to be knocking on the first-team door anytime soon either (expect quite a few to be released this summer, with the few older ones retained heading out on loan).

Telegraph says we're trying to sign Henderson on a permanent deal.

So, as far as I'm aware, the following are out of contract or ending loans and leave at the end of the season unless/until something is sorted:

Navas, Henderson, Smith
Aurier (think we have an option), Lodi
Colback (already announced he's leaving), Cafu
Lingard
Taylor, Ayew

Which, I think means we start the summer with a prospective 25 man squad of this, after which it's one-in one-out:

Henderson (or other goalkeeper), Horvath, Hennessey.
Williams, Aurier, Toffolo, Richards.
Felipe, Worrall, Niakhate, Boly, McKenna.
Mangala, Yates, Danilo, Freuler, Kouyate, O'Brien.
Gibbs-White, Scarpa.
Awoniyi, Surridge, Johnson, Wood, Dennis.

Which already means loans or transfers for Biancone, Drager(?), Laryea, Mbe Soh, Panzo, Fornah, Shelvey, Ojeda, Bowler, Hwang.

I don't think Horvath will be around, so that's actually two keepers we need to sign.
At full back, wouldn't be surprise to see Lodi return and either Toffolo or Richards leave. If Spence is available, then it's goodbye Neco (maybe a season on loan as Aurier is obviously not going to be around forever).
Centre-half think we are fine - Aurier and Kouyate can cover in a 3. McKenna looks like 5th choice though, so may want to leave to get games.
Midfield, I'd prefer O'Brien to Shelvey but, realisitically there is room for upgrade in that slot and I think Freuler can go and be replaced.
Think we can stick with Gibbs-White and Scarpa, with Johnson and Danilo also able to play between midfield and out and out strikers.
I think we are stuck with Wood but Dennis is another one we can upgrade and, probably, Surridge as well.

Which means something like 6-8 signings, which feels sensible and improbably low for a Marinakis summer.

Richards is an interesting one. I don't know if I've just missed him, but I've not seen around the squad on matchdays like say Biancone or Henderson.

He's training at the same time as the rest of the squad (unlike Lyle Taylor for example who I'm told trains in the afternoons), and I've seen him at a number of games this season. (used to go in through the Peter Taylor stand turnstiles near the players' entrance, but think he drives into the players' car park now) - the lounge above the Robin Hood suite is used by players and their families. I think he goes in there with his family/friends, then takes a seat in the Peter Taylor stand at pretty much kick-off.

Reports Lodi's £30m option to buy has expired, but we are exploring a more reasonable fee with Atleti (apparently he's unlikely to play there again as his relationship with Simeone has completely broken down).

twitter.com/callumcasteln/status/1660355652072484864?s=20

Looking at this, it sounds like his family is still in Spain. Maybe signs permanently and his family moves over but that sounds like the dependency.

Having recently been on Nottingham city centre (for the first time in quite some time) get him to sign before bringing his family over.

That was my take. I think if they were going to come they would have done. Looks like a no go to me.

Percy says we aren’t extending Lingard, which was inevitable really.