Sorry if this is the wrong place or has been posted elsewhere but I couldn't find anything.

With our season running out of steam (again) I started to think about next season. 

Who will we sell (and who do we need to sell for FFP)?

Where do we need to recruit and who is a viable option?

What will our squad look like?

Sales

I think FFP is a big factor so home gown players (Gallagher, Chalobah, Broja, Maatsen and Hall (obligation to buy)) will go.

We then have players that aren't good enough/wanted. Lukaku, Cucurella, Sterling, Kepa and Ziyech.

Add to that Thiago Silva as his contract expires.

As an estimate I think we could make over £200m for these sales.

Gallagher £50m

Chalobah £35m

Broja £20m

Maatsen £30m

Hall £28m

Lukaku £35m

Cucurella £30m

Sterling £30m

Kepa £20m

Ziyech ?????

Purchases

I think we need a utility defender (to cover injuries), LB, LW and ST.

I'm not sure on good candidates for this or what money we'll have to get these players in so I'll leave speculating on that for now.

Squad

I've assumed Poch is staying and he'll continue playing a 4231 formation. For the sake of ease I've gone with 2 in each position. You'd obviously want an extra defender (with our injury record) and GK (probably Bettinelli)

Where do I think this squad comes in the league? I think we've seen some signs of progress recently so I'm hopeful this squad could push for Europa league places next year.

Who knows with this board, we will probably buy another few teenagers that we never heard of before then buy that Swed that was playing in the Championship last year for 100 millions.

Theres no way we gonna have the luck once again of Saudi and coming to get our deadwood. Get ready to see Sterling and Cucu for a few more years.

4 hours ago, DidierDrogbalala said:

Who knows with this board, we will probably buy another few teenagers that we never heard of before then buy that Swed that was playing in the Championship last year for 100 millions.

Theres no way we gonna have the luck once again of Saudi and coming to get our deadwood. Get ready to see Sterling and Cucu for a few more years.

Yeah I'm not confident in getting rid of Sterling or Cucu either. As sterlings wages are so high I'd be happy if he left for free. I guess Cucu could be our "utility defender" to save us some money?

22 minutes ago, DiMatteo43 said:

Yeah I'm not confident in getting rid of Sterling or Cucu either. As sterlings wages are so high I'd be happy if he left for free. I guess Cucu could be our "utility defender" to save us some money?

I dont really like Cucu but i would be okay to start next season with Chilwell, Maatsen and him as left back, invest the money in a striker.

Its hard to make any predictions when we don't even know who's going to be managing us. Most assume that Pochettino is going to be sacked but there seems to be a pathway to 7th or even 6th place in the league and a FA-Cup final with glory and Europa League to play for. I don't think it would be a wise decision but even with a loss at Wembley I think he surivives if we end up in 7th place and secure Conference League football. I would rather not be in that competition myself, flying all over Europe to face poor teams for very little money but I think the owners are desperate for any kind of European football. If we qualify for Europa League then I am 100% sure he stays, though I would still move on from him for a whole host of reasons (severe disconnect with fans, generally shambolic in defense/midfield, poor results)

If everyone involved could swallow their pride it also seems to me that a Tuchel return would be an increasingly good idea. It would instantly buy the
owners some much needed goodwill with supporters, there would instantly be a deep connection between supporters and the manager again and the entire mood in and around
the club would lift in an instant. Which should count for a lot after two years of toxicity.

I would not be expecting any short term miracles this time around but am I confident Tuchel would have this squad competing (not necessarily achieving) for Top 4? Yes I am.
We know when the wheels came off last time. The system was built around the wingbacks bombing up and down the flanks and it was when we lost Chilwell and James who were the  only suitable wingsbacks in the squad back then that it unraveled. Now we have a few more options like for example Gusto who's very good. To protect Reece James he should be converted into a RCB where he has all the tools to thrive and the side could look something like this:

                  GK

       James Disasi/Fofana Colwill

   Gusto Caicedo Lavia/Enzo Chilwell/New

             Palmer  Nkunku
              Jackson/New

That's a balanced side. Tuchel would sort out the midfield and defence like the first time around and this time we have more talent in attacking areas to make us a really
dangerous side potentially.
 

Edited March 13, 20242 yr by OriginalS

The problem is PSR more than FFP. 21-22 was a 121m loss (Roman taking money before he left the building?) and 22-23 was a 90m loss. That requires a 106m profit this year by the end of June to meet the 3 year loss limit of 105m. Other teams know that so a lot of the players listed will be moved early at lower prices. 
 

Is there a reason James is not on the list? At 260k weekly he wouldn’t fit the new wage structure if Lukaku and Sterling are gone. 
 

Under PSR it’s no surprise that the teams with bigger stadiums, hence more money, are rising to the top. We need Boehly to make the stadium decision soon if we are going to have the cash flow to compete. 

2 hours ago, BS66 said:

Under PSR it’s no surprise that the teams with bigger stadiums, hence more money, are rising to the top. We need Boehly to make the stadium decision soon if we are going to have the cash flow to compete. 

That would make a lot more sense if we hadn't splashed more cash than any club in the sports history since the owners came in.

We need Boehly to develop a 2nd brain cell in order to compete.

We could have built something special with the money we've wasted on dross now we're in a position in which we're going to have to make some tough decisions.

7 hours ago, BS66 said:

 Is there a reason James is not on the list? At 260k weekly he wouldn’t fit the new wage structure if Lukaku and Sterling are gone. 

Mainly because he's a good player and the club captain.

However, with his recent injury record and Gusto's performances, if good money was available then I wouldn't be mad if we sold him.

3 minutes ago, DiMatteo43 said:

Mainly because he's a good player and the club captain.

However, with his recent injury record and Gusto's performances, if good money was available then I wouldn't be mad if we sold him.

I think a lot will depend on how Reece does following his return from the latest injury, aligned with what we need to raise to meet PSR. Nobody really knows the latter total but the likelihood is we will need to sell a few academy-trained players. Assuming that Hall is definitely going, I would say Gallagher and Maatsen would both be the next easiest options to raise decent fees. Chalobah may be another possibility. Broja's Fulham loan has only lowered his value so far. If we don't find buyers at suitable prices for these players though, perhaps the board will look at other options like Reece. All will become clearer by end of June I imagine.

On 12/03/2024 at 14:59, DidierDrogbalala said:

I dont really like Cucu but i would be okay to start next season with Chilwell, Maatsen and him as left back, invest the money in a striker.

While Cucurella isn't a fan's favorite he has improved this season and provides valuable cover in a few positions. If we sold him at this point it would be at a loss too. So, no help with PSR. For those reasons I reckon we are more likely to stick with him for now and try to sell Maatsen.

I just want a reliable LB. 

Cucrella will forever have a bozo moment in him and Chilwell isn't durable. 

1 hour ago, Sconnie Blue said:

I just want a reliable LB. 

Cucrella will forever have a bozo moment in him and Chilwell isn't durable. 

Robinson from Fulham would be my choice if we are able to sign him.

Good realistic squad for 24/25

Goalkeepers:
Petrovic (1st GK)
Sanchez (2nd GK)
Bergstrom (3rd GK)

Defenders:
Colwill (1st LCB)
Badiashille (2nd LCB)
Cucurella (1st/2nd LB)
??? (1st/2nd LB)
Diomande/Scalvini/Yoro (1st RCB)
Disasi (2nd RCB)
James (1st/2nd RB)
Gusto (1st/2nd RB)
Gilchrist (Extra)

Midfielders:
Enzo
Caicedo
Lavia
Ugochukwu
Chukwuemeka

Attackers
Sesko (1st ST)
Jackson (2nd ST)
Mudryk
Madueke
Palmer
Nkunku

 

Sales
Kepa - 10-15m
Slolina - 5-10m
Chalobah - 15m
Maatsen - 30-35m
Chilwell - 10-20m
Wesley Fofana - 20-30m
Bashir Humphries - 20-30m
Hall - 20-30m
Malang Sarr - 1-5m
Gallagher - 40-50m
Vale - 5m
Casadei - 10-20m
Anjorin - 5-10m
Broja - 20-40m
Ziyech - 5-10m
Lukaku - 20-40m
Sterling - 20-30m
Moreira - 10-20m
Thiago Silva, Bettinelli, Beach, Cumming - end of contract
 

Loans:
Angelo
Kendry Paez
Omari Hutchinson
Datro Fofana
Deivid Washington
Dujan Richards
Charlie Webster
Andrey Santos

 

Probably forgetting a couple of names, but there you go that should be us sorted
We still need a top RCB, ST and a quality backup or starting LB. Also maybe a couple of backup options around the squad but that entirely depends on if our medical department gets better, if it does we have enough cover in most positions. For incomings we really don't need too much more as most the squad already looks set.

We can make a massive amount of money potentially on sales, but of course its highly unlikely. Here's hoping we rid the squad of the remaining unwanted players/deadwood and get our books nice and balanced. I for one am pretty happy with the squad we have, just need a few more additions.

Edited March 20, 20242 yr by SHrIT

You have to wonder if Sanchez will remain committed staying here being #2 or if he will force a move.