Also, that'd be a terrible way to go about your business in the transfer window, most of the players you might have been after will have been sold before you'd got round to making a bid.
The club has to be careful, they don’t want a bloated squad of players who aren’t going to get a look in!
You're talking as if the Pozzos have never been through a transfer window before - there'll always be one eye on who can be brought in and another on who will be got rid of.
Another slightly left-field suggestion, Daleho Irandust, 22 year-old Swedish attacking midfielder and the star player for minnows BK Hacken who have made a strong start to the new Allsvenskan season. He's left-footed and can either play in a similar kind of central attacking midfield role as Pereyra played for us, or as a right-winger in the style of Mahrez. Left-footed right wingers who pose a goal threat are pretty rare despite their usefulness, and he could potentially be a bargain as a replacement for either Pereyra or Sarr, or even just as an extra squad option. Hacken's average attendance is about 3,000 and the highest fee they've ever received before was just €1.5mil. His performances have earned him 3 caps already for the Swedish national team (though only in friendlies so far). He's scored from inside his own half this season, and we already know he's comfortable in yellow and black (bottom pic, far-right).
Sure, but some good players can still come out of there every now and then. There's not too much info to go on in the case of Irandust but he's only just turned 22 and seems to be standing out there this season and making a real breakthrough (4 goals and 2 assists in the first 11 games of the season from Am for a small club). Now that we're relegated we'll need to be making a few more of these kinds of cheap punts. Watford have seen fit to sign Dahlberg from Goteborg and Sema from Ostersunds in recent seasons, so it's not as if we're unwilling to tap into the Swedish market. They haven't been roaring successes, but not complete flops (yet) either. There will def be some good players to be found for relative peanuts in fee and wage terms, especially for the Championship.
Another CB. It's difficult to gauge quite how good this guy actually might be though. One of the most random and surprising players I've ever happened upon: Nathaniel Phillips, 23 year-old CB at Liverpool. He's somehow got to the age of 23 only having made 20 appearances in senior football (supposedly he was injured for most of 2018/19). Only 1 of these was for Liverpool in a 1-0 FA Cup win vs a full-strength Everton in January when supposedly he did well. He signed a long-term deal with Liverpool last summer before going on loan to Stuttgart in 2. Bundesliga where he played 19 games this season; he only seemed to play when they went 3 at the back, but was meant to have been very good when called upon. He must have something about him. Won't get a look-in at Liverpool despite the contract, another loan surely beckons - could he cut the mustard in the Champ? He seems decent in this highlights vid, very good in the air and alert, but all the clips appear to be taken just from Liverpool pre-season games. He appears tailor-made for the Champ, but hard to tell if that'll be as an excellent Champ defender or just an alright one. From what I can gather his main weakness seems to be passing when under pressure.
I mentioned a bunch of league 1/championship players who we should be looking to sign and here is another one. Can’t believe I forgot about him. Jayden Bogle RB at Derby. Racked up 5 assists, only 20 yrs old, but will most certainly move to a bigger club if he continues to progress. We are a much much bigger club than Derby, who are very insignificant compared to us. With the uncertainty surrounding Derby, their incoming points deduction and financial troubles, Derby will have to sell some of their players. We should go in for both their full backs. Better than what we currently have and have a higher ceiling. Although my first choice RB would still be Matt Cash at Forest. I would imagine Forest would want £20mil for him though. Don’t know much about the next suggestion but based on stats and what I’ve read about him he could be a good signing. Tosin Adarabioyo CB at Blackburn. Only 22. Had a very good season this season. Rated very highly by your avid championship watchers and sounds like he could well be the next Danny Shittu. We need one of those.
Tosin Adarabioyo is on loan from Man City. Which should make signing him even easier. He will never play for them. They are about to sign Ake. This could be a good piece of business. Purely judged off more knowledgeable people than me of the championship, he’s proven he is good enough at that level.
Little bit more research on Tosin Adarabioyo. His contract expires next year. So unless he signs a new contract with Man City, he won’t cost an arm and a leg. Basically I’ve just done Giraldi’s job. CB - Check Young with plenty of potential - check Proven in the championship - check Could make the step up to the Prem - check Cheap - check Make it happen.
If transfermarkt is to be believed then Filip Benkovic, who was on loan at Bristol City from Leicester, has his contract expiring this month. I could be wrong but I thought we were in for him at some point? Anyway a CB, still only 23, didn’t play much for Bristol City, but from what I can find on him, when he did play he was pretty solid. If we’re serious about shipping out our defence, then, Benkovic would certainly be a better squad player than what we currently. For a free signing, this would make sense. Edit: just found that his contract expires in 2023. Nevermind. Moving on.
Another striker idea if it appears that we're not after Toney; 24 year-old Israeli Shon Weissman, top scorer in the Austrian Bundesliga with 30 goals in 31 games for 3rd place Wolfsberger. For comparison, Haaland's rate was only slightly better at 16 goals in 14 games for top-placed RB Salzburg before he moved to Dortmund. Weissmann also scored a goal against both Monchengladbach and Roma in the Europa League earlier in the season. So far I've only seen Celtic linked with him. According to both wiki and transfermarkt when Wolfsberger signed him in 2019 it was only on a 2 year contract, meaning it's already expiring next summer, so he'll definitely be available. Shouldn't cost more than about £4mil-5mil either. Seems a determined, solid goal-poacher with excellent movement, in the mould of someone like Aguero. Another benefit of him in case we decide to play more of a front two next season, is that unusually he prefers coming in off the right-side of the pitch. This would be useful as Cucho, Suarez and Welbeck all prefer the left-side of the pitch. First goal here: First Wolfsberger goal here (50 secs):
Maybe worth a punt. The fact that he is a left footed attacking player shouldn't be underestimated. We don't have too many of those.
I actually had considered posting about Adarabioyo on here a few days ago but decided against it because he's already had two successful loan spells in the Championship and it appears now that PL clubs are enquiring about him. I expect he considers that he's already proven himself at the level we now find ourself in and will end up playing PL football next season one way or another. As you say yourself, he could make the step up to the Prem, and chances are he will, which rules us out (and Giraldi still has his job) https://www.90min.com/posts/man-cit...ew-contract-with-promise-of-first-team-action
4 players I would go for: Dael Fry, Defender, Middlesbrough - 22 year old first team player could form a formidable partnership with Wilmot at CB. Dwight Gayle, Striker, Newcastle - never really nailed down a starting place but does score goals when he plays and has really good movement. Proven 20 goal striker in the championship Luke Freeman, Winger, Sheff Utd - we were after him when he was with QPR but joins Sheff Utd instead. Not done much in the Prem but a really decent championship player Eberechi Eze - QPR, Attacking Midfielder - QPRs best player and a really good one as well. Scores goals and creates them as well
We’re the same level as QPR, Eze surely wouldn't come to us? Same goes for Fry. Maybe we could tempt Freeman or Gayle down a league, though I expect the latter would consider himself somewhat proven at PL level now. He’s not done badly when given a chance and finished the season their first choice #9.
Not a chance on Fry or Eze. They will both be in the Premier league. Gayle no thanks Freeman never heard of him.
Eze is a dead-cert for a PL club, if you'd read anything about him here or elsewhere that would already have been obvious. Gayle was suggested on here by someone a few days ago - he's been one of their best players since the restart and started most their matches, it'd be a surprise if they let him go now and would prob keep him as a squad player at least. Fry could be an option, though supposedly he's not had the best season for Boro and his reputation has dropped a bit. He still has time on his side but the hype around him has definitely died down. Could make him more obtainable for us though (but Boro would still ask for a bomb). Luke Freeman is actually a good shout - kudos! Takes set-pieces as well.
With Giaretta looking like he's coming in to replace Eric Roy that could suggest the Pozzos will go back a bit to the transfer strategy we had last time we were in the Championship which involved loaning a lot of players surplus to requirements at Serie A clubs such as Tozser, Cassetti, Munari etc. I'll have a look in a bit who might be on the radar if that's the case.
Considering our new DoF Giaretta seems open to bringing players with him from his previous clubs to his new one (as per Bruno Fernandes), I had a look at his last club CSKA Sofia to see if there might be any prospects there. The only intriguing player is a 19 year-old Bulgarian who came through their academy, Valentin Antov, who is primarily a CB but can also play at DM. He became a regular in their team last season, has earned 2 full caps for Bulgaria already, and has been watched by scouts from Man Utd and Arsenal last winter. He made his Sofia debut at the age of 14! He'd probably still be too young to the PL, but perhaps Giaretta will recommend him to us? He'd probably have a lot of upside. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/f...r-old-CSKA-Sofia-defender-Valentin-Antov.html 1:40 in this vid:
He's quite possibly a good prospect, although I don't think the fact that he has Bulgarian caps means much anymore because they are dire
One out of the blue and honestly I know nothing about him, but Crewe always seem to produce talented youngsters. So I went at looked up players of the season for league 2. Crewe were promoted to league 1 and Harry Pickering, their LB was in the team of the season. So I went and looked him up. 21 yrs old, contract expires next year, so will be cheap. Played every game bar 1, got 3 goals and 5 assists. According to Whoscored these are his strengths Passing - Very Strong Key passes - Very Strong Crossing - Strong Holding on to the ball - Strong Taking set-pieces - Strong Tackling - Strong Blocking the ball - Strong Granted it’s league 2 so I know the championship is much higher quality, but at 21 he good be a decent back up option. This article was just done on him. Very good read. Looks like I accidentally stumbled across a gem. https://www.scoutedftbl.com/post/one-to-watch-harry-pickering Edit: just found this article and his metrics. Apparently Liverpool want him for competition with Robertson. If that’s true, we have no chance. https://www.caughtoffside.com/2020/...entified-as-a-potential-target-for-liverpool/
Well spotted mate, you should apply for Giraldi's job Seriously though, we might have a chance even if Liverpool are interested, as he would almost certainly be a first choice player at WFC, if not immediately, then probably not long after joining us. Plus with us he has a good chance of reaching the PL hopefully at the end of this coming season, where he could make a real name for himself and possibly look to move on if he wanted to after that. Whereas at Liverpool he may never wear a first team shirt and possibly fade into obscurity as many players that join the bigger clubs often do.
Ok I was just wondering what the other Horns in Norway reckon about Jens Petter Hauge of Glimt. 20 year old forward who I believe is the next big thing coming out of Norway. Glimt are smashing in goals for fun this season 38 in 10 games and are very entertaining to watch. He can play across the front three, Has everything to be a top player. Goals, assists, dribbling, passing are all top notch. If anything he could be a little more greedy. International at every level up to the U 21. Just a matter of time before he reaches the full national squad. It's always hard to judge how a player will develop from Norway though. There's a few reports in the press that a team in Belgium has put a bid in for around £1 million sterling. If he goes for this price it's an absolute steal.
Haha I would love to. I honestly think your avg football fan could do a better job than him. You make a good point, and honestly after doing some more research on him, we really should be in for him. The sad thing is, we won’t. 2 years from now we will be bumping this thread asking the question, why weren’t we in for him.
Needs a youtube vid. Has slightly less terrible music than your usual football highlights vid, for that reason I'm in! . Although, you say he plays across the front three, but this season it appears he's been playing exclusively as a left-sided forward and it's where he has had the most success - that position is also the last one we need addressing right now tbh. The Belgian club that seem to be in for him are Cercle Brugge, who are AS Monaco's feeder club. Decent goal at 2-05:
Thanks for the video. My head wasn't and still isn't working properly today, so left the video out. Yes he lines up on the left usually but you find the two wider players interchanging alot. Yes he probably is more comfortable coming in off the left and shooting with his right. But he's excellent on the right side too and puts in decent deliveries into the box. Agreed possibly with the left side if GD stays, otherwise we're left with Pedro maybe Welbeck. Hasn't he been linked with a possible move? So in reality it could leave us with one left sided forward if Cuchos Visa is a problem. For 1 million it's not even a massive gamble. Can cover the right and left sides easily, plus can work from a number 10. I have no doubt that he's the biggest talent in Norge at the moment and is destined for much bigger things. Whoever gets him are getting one hell of a player for ,relatively peanuts
So, here are what seem some of the most feasible Serie A loan possibilities: Yildrin Mert Cetin, 23 year-old Turkish CB at Roma. Signed last summer for £3mil from the Turkish league. Only made 4 sub apps and 2 starts this season, and was sent off in his first start for 2 yellows. Seems to love cards as much as Britos. Seems quick for a CB. Roma could easily let him leave on loan or even permanently to make room for Smalling: Nicholas Opoku, 22 year-old (supposedly) Ghanaian CB at Udinese. Was on loan since Jan at Amiens who got relegated from Ligue 1 so I doubt he'll join them on a permanent. Pozzos will look to ship him out somewhere again next season probably. Arturo Calabresi, 24 year-old Italian RB, spent the last season on loan from Bologna at relegated Amiens where he played alongside Opoku and according to whoscored was their second best player. Bologna goal here at 3:15 - Sebastian Cristoforo, 26 year-old Uruguayan DM at Fiorentina, was on loan at mid-table La Liga side Eibar in the second half of last season and did fairly well, but Eibar have decided against signing him on a permanent and he only has 1 year left on his contract. Can't find much in the way of highlight vids but seems quite a terrier. Capped at Uruguay youth levels many times.
Sounds promising, so there are probably a few clubs sniffing around, lets hope we are one of them, and he is as good as you say he is.
Brighton just signed a Champions League centre back, full time Netherlands international. Jealous isn’t the word, what a wonderfully run club. Ih the meantime. Shane Duffy anyone? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
