First rumour post TT joining Bayern, he wants Mendy and Kovacic.

I suggest a deal might be done.

 

1 hour ago, The Rising Sun said:

I'd like to see Maasten brought back from his loan at Burnley, he can play in a few left side roles. And he's better than Cucerlla 

Maatsen's main problem is we've spent too much money on other left-sided players, so they'll be ahead of him in the queue by default. There is also competition from Lewis Hall, who is similarly left footed and versatile, and already has Potter's attention.

He'll probably end up being sold for a healthy fee - the fact that it is pretty much pure profit (I think we paid about £100K for him) will make a sale attractive on FFP grounds, and especially so with the likely huge hole in the CL revenue.

14 minutes ago, strider6004 said:

First rumour post TT joining Bayern, he wants Mendy and Kovacic.

I suggest a deal might be done.

 

Mendy I can see happening. He's in a similar contract impasse to Mount, plus he's seemingly bang out of favour.

Kovacic will depend on whether Potter wants to keep him. He has just made him captain, so I'd be surprised if he was considered expendable, albeit if he doesn't sign one of Boehly's new contract extensions then the decision might be out of his hands anyway ?

Edited March 25, 20233 yr by Sexyfootball

5 hours ago, strider6004 said:

First rumour post TT joining Bayern, he wants Mendy and Kovacic.

I suggest a deal might be done.

 

Joint 40mill deal imo. Would be more if Kova had longer on his deal. 25mill Kova and 15mill Mendy. Bayern are good at negotiations. 

Maatsen is 5'6, he'll struggle in the prem - best to sell for a good fee with a decent enough buyback clause in there

Based on what we have heard in rumours, Todd and co won't allow Rudiger and Christensen situations to happen again that an asset worth good value to it is allowed to leave for free.

 

So that leaves the following in the sign up or sell bucket:

 

Christian Pulisic

Callum Hudson-Odoi

Matteo Kovacic

Mason Mount

Baba Rahman

Ruben Loftus-Cheek 

Pierre Emerik- Aubameyang 

 

With two exceptions to that rule being senior leaders:

 

Cesar Azpilicueta 

Thiago Silva

 

There is also the matter of Kantes renewal as well as the free transfer Bakayoko at long last.

 

So these players will be the ones we look to clear out to cover our transfer needs and ensure we comply with the PL FFP.

 

It is likely we would receive little to nothing for PEA and Rahman, the others worth more however:

 

Christian Pulisic - 25mill

Callum Hudson-Odoi - 25mill

Matteo Kovacic - 30mill

Mason Mount - 60mill

Baba Rahman - 2mill

Ruben Loftus-Cheek - 15mill

Pierre Emerik- Aubameyang - 2mill

 

 

 

Kepa the flappy.

If I had to pick a squad for next season (3-4-3)

 

GK: Mendy/Bettinelli

RWB: James/Gusto

RCB: Fofana/Chalobah

CB: Silva/Kouliabaly

LCB: Badiashile/Ampadu

LWB: Chilwell/Cucurella

CM: Enzo/Carney/Zakaria

CM:Kante/Kovacic/Santos 

LW: Sterling/Mudryk

RW: Nkunku/Madueke

ST: New striker/Datro Fofana

 

Loan: Colwill (will develop more at Brighton), Maatsen (same with Burnley), Hutchinson, Hall, Slonina, Casedei, Broja, Vale

Sell: Pulisic, Ziyech, Havertz, Mount, Azpillicueta, Gallagher, Kepa, Loftus Cheek, Hudson Odoi, Aubameyang, Bakayoko, Lukaku, Anjorin, Rahman, 

 

MUST GO

- Koulibaly
- Azpilicueta
- Kovacic
- Loftus-Cheek
- Gallagher
- Aubameyang
- Pulisic
- Sterling
- Ziyech
- Havertz
- Lukaku

SHOULD PROBABLY GO

- One of either Kepa or Mendy
- Cucurella
- Chalobah
- Zakiara

SHOULD GO ON LOAN

- Chukweumeka

NEED TO BRING IN

- A first choice GK
- A first choice ST
- Some decent midfielders

 

We have far too many players, and most of them are average.

 

 

Sell/Release

1) Mendy

2) Azpi

3) KK

4)RLC

5) Kova

6) Zakaria

7)Auba

8. Pulisic

9) Sterling

10) Ziyech

11) Lukaku

12) Chalobah

 

Loan

13) Hall

14) Chukwuemeka

15) Hutchinson

16) DDF

17)Madueke

18) Broja

 

Keep

19) Kepa (Back up keeper)

20) James

21) Silva

22) Fofana

23) Baddie

24)  Chilly

25) cucu (back up to chilly)

26) Mase

27) Kante

28) Enzo

29)Mudryk

30)Gusto

 

Buy

First Choice keeper

New DM

new CM

Striker x 2

New Winger(s)

 

 

 

We've got 40+ players already on the books who could reasonably be in scope for shaping a competitive 25 man squad for next season. A lot will depend on the incoming new manager's preference on formation etc as to how that 25 man squad will be made up. If we are playing 5 at the back then we would clearly need more defenders in the 25 than we would if we are going say 4-3-3.

Putting square pegs in square holes, who is in the frame currently ?

5 GK: Arrizabalaga, Mendy, Bettinelli, Slonina, Bergstrom

12 DEF : James, Gusto, Azpilicueta, Chilwell, Cucurella, Maatsen ; Silva, Koulibaly, W.Fofana, Chalobah, Badiashile, Colwill

8 MID: Kante, Kovacic, Fernandez, Loftus-Cheek, (Zakaria), Santos, Casadei, Hall

12 ATTACKING MID: Havertz, Mount, Gallagher, Chukwuemeka, (Felix) ; Mudryk, Madueke, Sterling, Pulisic, Ziyech, Hudson-Odoi, Hutchinson

4 FWD: Aubameyang, Broja, Lukaku, D.Fofana

In addition we have the rest of the loan army to assess/move on, including the likes of Bakayoko, Rahman, Ampadu, Sarr, Anjorin, Vale, plus anyone else in the development squad that might be deemed worth a look at.

There is plenty of raw material there for the incoming manager to work with, supplemented by perhaps 4 new signings in areas where we need to improve (goalkeeper, defensive midfielder, central midfielder, striker) plus the apparently already agreed signing of Nkunku.

So in terms of a summer clear out, it will be around 20 from the 40+, plus all the remaining loan army, that will need moving on (or loaning). Probably about 35 players in total.

I can see a scenario whereby we buy the feeder club in France, Portugal or wherever, and park a few players there to "develop" under a coach that is good at player development, working with younger players etc etc.

On 25/03/2023 at 23:25, Big Nigel said:

Maatsen is 5'6, he'll struggle in the prem - best to sell for a good fee with a decent enough buyback clause in there

Watched him against Boro and ge looked a liability tbh. Of course that's just one game and apparently he's been the mainstay of their defence but he looked anything but PL ready the other night,  imo

15 hours ago, nonotnowjim said:

Sell/Release

1) Mendy

2) Azpi

3) KK

4)RLC

5) Kova

6) Zakaria

7)Auba

8. Pulisic

9) Sterling

10) Ziyech

11) Lukaku

12) Chalobah

 

Loan

13) Hall

14) Chukwuemeka

15) Hutchinson

16) DDF

17)Madueke

18) Broja

 

Keep

19) Kepa (Back up keeper)

20) James

21) Silva

22) Fofana

23) Baddie

24)  Chilly

25) cucu (back up to chilly)

26) Mase

27) Kante

28) Enzo

29)Mudryk

30)Gusto

 

Buy

First Choice keeper

New DM

new CM

Striker x 2

New Winger(s)

 

 

 

I'm pretty much with you Jim  although I would probably keep Zakaria if a cheap deal could be done, as a solid back up that could turn good. I would also probably move Kepa out if I could but tbh I don't really rate any of our back ups so Kepa is as good as any others.

Just going to put the “ain’t seen nothing yet scenario” out there not because I think  it’s going to happen but because I think there’s way too much complacency on display even after this miserable season:

US economy starts unraveling in may/June. Epicentre is commercial real estate. Ripple effects across the economy and boehly and co are getting margin calls in August. Forced to sell most of the players, but ALL of the good ones on everyone’s “keep” list. We get to keep cucurella. Relegated 2023/24.

With the mess we are in we may well have to sell our best assets to stay away from issues.

Might be James on his way along with Mount, Colwill, Enzo and Wes Fofana.

Also been rumours City could take advantage by snapping up James and Chilwell.

Chilli will have 2 years left on his deal, a book value of 20mill, Reece having no book value as an academy player for FFP reasons.

There are so many threads on underperforming players, it's much easier to air grievances in this one. 

Trouble is, we are in such a mess, with such a large squad with a lot of deadwood on big wages, it will be hard to shift all that need to go - unless we come to some amicable agreement and release them as free agent whilst paying up contract.

I wont bother listing players who have been out on loan for the last decade and are all but forgotten about (like Bakayoko etc), but here's my list.

Keep

Silva     

Fofana

Badiashile

Colwill

James (But hopes he sorts himself out as he has gone right off the boil of late - injury?)

Chilwell

Kante

Enzo

Zakaira

Gallagher

Hall

Broja

Mudryk

Madueke

Chukwuemeka

Undecided (Maybe stay / Maybe Go_

Mount

Chalobah

Felix

Kouliably

Get Rid Of 

Kepa

Mendy

Ziyech

Havertz

Pulicic

CHO

Aubameyang

Kovacic

Azpi

Cucurella

Sterling

RLC

+ Any others I've forgotten...................

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 13, 20233 yr by Nibs