Happy to see us finally targeting positions we actually need straight out of the gate this summer. We are seriously interested in Bayer Leverkusen’s Edmond Tapsoba and a meeting with his camp is reportedly on the cards.

Let’s be honest, we've needed to sort out our centre-back situation for ages now. While Tapsoba might not be the single most elite, absolute world-class name on everyone's dream list, he is a seriously solid, proven defender who knows how to play out from the back.

What makes this even better is that this has Xabi Alonso’s fingerprints all over it. Having worked with Tapsoba at Leverkusen, Alonso clearly knows exactly how to fit him into his system, and seeing the board back the new gaffer's vision immediately is exactly what we need.

I’m genuinely optimistic about this approach — buying specific quality to fit the manager's tactical blueprint rather than just hoarding random talent.

If we are playing 3 at the back I wonder how much we need another CB, i could easily see a back 3 of Josh, Colwill and Hato

As we saw under Conte what might be a week back 4 line up turns in to something rather more solid, James can easily come in and do a Job at right CB as can Trev, the key as we have seen in recent weeks in colwill, when he goes down we are so much weaker.

and we have to clear out some of the dross, i.e Tosin

The absolute first position should be a keeper