Left footed CB from Preston who is out of contract in the summer. Good player and good age. Now Udinese linked by Sky (they have the advantage over English clubs that they can sign him on a pre-contract already, rather than wait until June). Presumably would be for us. From Sky’s transfer centre page: “Udinese are set to rival Sheffield United andBournemouth for Preston’s Ben Davies. Their interest is at an early stage but they have joined the race for the centre-back, who is out of contract at Deepdale in the summer. Davies is one of the Blades' top targets at centre-back as they look to strengthen and avoid relegation from the Premier League, while Bournemouth saw bids rejected for him last summer. Udinese are owned by the Pozzo family, who also own Championship promotion-chasers Watford. Davies was offered a new contract at Preston, but has not signed it. Celtic and Belgian side Genk are also interested.”
Munoz to Gino: So, our defence is pretty strong, but we need a midfielder and a striker Gino: here's a defender For that reason I believe this is as good as done!
Ah yes, the old Udinese on a pre-contact wheeze last seen with one of the Longstaff brothers at Newcastle, who is... errrmm... still at Newcastle.
Might have joined had we stayed up. Might have been the old ruse to get a better contract. Might be that we dodged a bullet. Barely any signs of improvement this season. We need two players to leave and a midfielder and goalscorer to come in. Davies is not a bad bet given Cathcart is getting past his prime and Langston is still not ready for the step up.
Well Preston to Watford is probably a more attractive (underlying) move than Newcastle to Watford. It’s a good gimmick if you can convince the player
He'd be bonkers to commit to Udinese now with a promise of a future loan to us if there are other clubs interested that he could have the pick of in the summer! Bournemouth look far more likely to go up than us.
True. The chances of getting him are practically nil. Given that unless we have a miraculous improvement in away form we are destined for another playoff challenge.
No guarantee we will be in the play offs. I would think 60/40 we will be but very possible we won’t be.
You missed a bit: Ivic to Gino - I need a left-footed CB and a creative midfielder. Gino - you're fired. Munoz to Gino - I need a defensive midfielder and a striker. Gino - here's a left-footed CB and a creative midfielder (Zinckernagel).
I was thinking exactly the same with the supposed interest for Josh King from Albion. What is the point, sit out this season then take your pick come the Summer.
Tbf if the idea is that he goes to Udinese now and then comes to us in the summer, at least he'd get guaranteed top flight football unlike if he decided to go to Muff
There's no guarantee Udinese stay up this season though. I reckon it's only a matter of time before they drop like us.
He is an all round sportsman. Probably the first academy product who will be a fixture in the first team for a long while.
I can see most players whose contracts run out in the Summer, to just sit them out. But I'm always wrong......
Bournemouth are not that much better off than us in the grand scheme of things, 4 points with 24 games to go is nothing. Plus at least he would be guaranteed a Seria A club, playing in Italy would be great learning experience for any defender. Probably go to Sheffield United though and to be fair Celtic are massive despite playing in a crap league.
Signing a pre-contract with Celtic supposedly with stories that they might pay to make the deal happen this month.
