Can you really see us going for a Left back now Masina is nearing full fitness and how well Kiko and Ngakia filled in? The others I know next to nothing about though.
We’ve also been linked today - as one of several clubs interested - with Duncan Whatmore (by Sky) and Rabbi Matondo (by Wales Online). The former has his short-term deal at Boro expiring next month, while the latter is at Schalke and is supposedly seeking a U.K. loan. Both seem to tick the same boxes (though maybe not as well) as Zinckernagel- a contingency plan should we fail with a work permit? Or maybe lagged reporting on interest from a few weeks ago?
Presumably as we couldn't afford to buy him having failed to move on Deeney or Gray. "....so the lines of communication were open, but with other players futures unclear at the time, it wasn’t acted upon."
Are you sure? There do seem a number of ways/loopholes we could use, some of which we are reported to have made use of in the Norwegian press (namely that he could somehow pre-settle in the U.K. from October and the agreement was made then). I also don’t know whether we could just sign him on Thursday following his contract expiry but before the new rules kick in. But is it 100% not an issue?
Pickering has been discussed. Will he be an upgrade on Masina? Who knows. Could replace him if sold? Seems good on the ball, but not sure he has the pace to be a top full-back. Doughty - no idea. Been out with a hamstring injury for the last two months and still not back, linked with Celtic. Siriki Dembele - started the season on fire with 5 goals 3 assists in first 11 games, making him the highest rated League One player on whoscored at the time. Since then though he's got no goals and 1 assist in his last 8 games and been yanked early in his last two games. Posh fans think he's gone off the boil. Not sure where he'd fit in no either with us signing Zinckernagel. Didn't know about his contract though, so perhaps could still be worth a punt if he's not to expensive. Unfortunately he's strongly linked with Newcastle though. Whiteman - not convinced he's any better than say Cleverley or Chalobah. Only plus point is he has time on side. Jephcott - as I've commented before, I don't think he's good enough or has a particularly high ceiling. Same as Watters I reckon he could be an alright, average Championship clogger CF, but I doubt much more. Honeyman - can't say I know too much about him, but from what I've seen we should be aiming higher for a Capoue replacement. 26 and still at Hull? Twine - no idea, but if even you're not sure he's ready to step up then he prob isn't. Iorfa - we're well stocked at CB still. Watters - see above. Might have a tad more promise than Jephcott, but that's about it.
I hope we do. If Masina gets injured again, we have no natural LB. Kiko can definitely do a job there, but he’s 29 now. That’s why we must sign Pickering. We’re going to regret it if we don’t.
Unfortunately the idiots that run our club have given Cathcart a contract that runs for another 2.5 years so they see no need to get younger centre backs.
Maybe. I don’t know. Nothing on Transfermarkt about it. Just hasn't been selected for the squad based on their website.
I suggested him a few days ago. Good to see that we're at least interested, though depending on where we plan on using Zinckernagel he might not be needed as much. Watmore is probably more able to function as a striker than Zinck though. Also, if the report is true and Burnley and WBA are also looking then we'd probably struggle to get him. As for Matondo, it seems he's struggling to get in to a terrible Schalke side. He is also definitely more of a winger.
Inspired by the fact Zinckernagel played for Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League (albeit they got knocked out in the 3rd qualifying round), I looked through other clubs that have just dropped out the EL Group Stages for players who would qualify for work permits. There are two potentially excellent prospects who could be worth signing in positions we need. First, a possible Capoue replacement - 21 year-old Ladislav Krejci at Sparta Prague (not to be confused with Prague's 28 year-old winger with exactly the same name). He was top 10 out of all CMs for both interceptions per 90 and tackles per 90 in the EL Group Stage. Can't find too many highlights, but from the ones below he looks a tough-tackling b45tard with a Capoue/Britos-esque nasty streak. He's been described as a "warrior". As with Capoue he also happens to be left-footed. In addition he's excellent in the air. Only negatives are his corresponding disciplinary problems, and I can't tell how good his passing is or isn't. As far as DM destroyers go though, he really seems a hot prospect. Czech U21 international. Would prob cost the fee we receive for Capoue. https://www.transfermarkt.com/ladislav-krejci/profil/spieler/345911 Next, 24 year-old CF/targetman, Ercan Kara at Rapid Vienna. They signed him for just €200k from the Austrian 2nd division last January and he's seemed a big hit. 6 goals + 5 assists in 12 Austrian League games as they sit 4th, and 2 goals + 1 assist in 6 Europa League games. He reminds me in his build and style of Glenn Murray actually, but in his pre-zimmer frame days and seems ideally suited for the English game. Main question mark is his finishing on the ground when one-on-one seems lacking a bit in composure at times, but given his age that could still improve. His heading seems excellent though and he can strike a fierce shot when needed. Would also prob cost about €3mil. https://www.transfermarkt.com/ercan-kara/profil/spieler/320701 He got an assist vs Arsenal in the EL Group Stage by tackling Leno (1 min in the vid below). Could follow in Sema's footsteps of a player being signed by us after doing alright vs Arse in the EL...
Give me some Krejci, please. Appears more competitive than just about the rest of our squad combined. We need somebody with a proper nasty streak. A real piece of ****.
Exactly. Munoz has said he wants his players to "fight like animals" - this guy most certainly does that!
Krejci is an absolute nutter. Just got sent off in his last game for elbowing someone in the face. Ref initially booked him, then went over to the monitor and rescinded the yellow and issued a straight red. Lots of Czech football league fans rate him highly and basically have the same opinion. He’s a very talented boy that could have a great career but he needs to stop with the nastiness. Just a red card waiting to happen every game. Some even go as far as saying they want to see him called up to the national squad but not until he sorts his attitude out. They believe he is a future captain one day, but again it all boils down to his nastiness, and aggressive attitude. He could be a shrewd piece of business or an absolute nightmare. I’m all for having a player in the squad that doesn’t mind doing the dirty work, but judging by the people who watch him week in week out, he’s just not worth the hassle. I don’t want to be going down to 10 men every time this kid plays. Definitely one to watch, but in a promotion pushing season, we don’t need this headache.
Fair points, good post. Though maybe his latest red card and a move to a new league will aid in maturing him a little bit? I reckon if we were to have a shot at getting him then now would be the time, or at a stretch at the start of the summer transfer window if we got promoted. We have a bit of money to spend on a player of his type and could pitch ourselves as somewhere to get regular game time to develop (with the option of him moving to Udinese later if we got stuck in the Championship). Otherwise, if he does start maturing a bit more soon, and/or has a good Under-21 Euros in the summer, then he might go straight to a bigger club. Looking at how well Soucek has been doing at West Ham now (he'd already had 20+ full caps when they signed him), it could be "shrewd" as you say to go for Krejci at this stage of his career.
Krejcis first video was in the Derby match against Slavia. Let's be honest who wouldn't want him to be unleashed against the scum with passion like that. Good age too. No doubt he will smarten up with age so not so worried about his disciplinary issues. On par with Holebas I'd say for that problem.
With Capoue gone, the two most obvious transfer I can think of would be Ben Pearson who's contract ends this year.
I would only unleash him for the last 10 minutes once we were already 4-0 up. If he started against Lut*n, we would be down to 10 men in the opening 20mins.
That is very true, and could possibly be what he needs. It may be that he’s comfortable and under challenged in the Czech league. Therefore a move to a new country and league would help him grow up. I agree with you in that sense, if he has a good Euro’s for the U21’s then he will most likely move to someone bigger than us. So if we were interested in him, now is the time to sign him. I still think it would be a risk, but a risk that could pay off. The other option of CDM who doesn’t mind doing the dirty work, and equally has a nasty streak is Cubas at Nimes. They just bought him this summer for £2mil and he has been getting some great reviews in Ligue 1. Paraguay/Argentinian citizenship, although he has elected to play for Paraguay, so being the Pozzo’s know all about South America, I’m sure they would know him. Tough tackling, puts his body on the line and runs through brick walls. Since his red card against Marseille on 4th December, he has been omitted from the squad. With Nimes bottom of the league, and him not being in the squad for the last 4 games, he may want a move. He’s valued around £3.5mil. Also worth noting he played for Boca Juniors 39 times, before moving to Talleres. Nimes picked him up from there. He represented for Argentina U20’s before making his decision to represent Paraguay. He had his first and only call up in 2019.
Cubas is a good shout. Came up really well on my cursory statistical check in Argentina but I discounted him after seeing he’d moved to Ligue 1. Thanks for supplying that context - he’d def be a good option if we could get him in.
He is a decent player. Can’t see him staying at Nimes, especially if they get relegated. Still only 24, so has his best years ahead, if we offered Nimes £4mil, I think they would accept. Just found this article https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2020/nimes-unable-to-pay-players-after-march/ Nimes unable to pay their players after March. Owner has frozen bonuses etc. so they are desperate for cash. If anytime was right to sign Cubas, it’s now.
I know money is tight, but it’s not that tight. With sales, wages off the books, the only high earners we now have are Gray and Deeney. We’ve balanced the books and have some to spend. It just has to be wise investment and not an Oulare type of investment. I’m sure we will use Udinese to help us again, Walace or Mandragora on loan (if Juve let us have him from Udinese) will be Capoue’s replacement. However I can see us spending some money this window. Probably setting myself up to be disappointed but with Giraldi gone, I’m hopeful,
We simply don’t know that money isn’t that tight. Bournemouth’s manager for example had already come out and said they’ve got no money to spend so bot he’d to imagine we are in the same situation. Fingers crossed we aren’t though and I do think we might have a little to spend. I really don’t think we will be spending more than a couple of million at best though - I’ll be staggered if we spend more than that on one player. I also don’t think we stand a chance of getting Mandragora - be great business if we could.
I admire your steadfast optimism - from thinking we'd get £30m for Suarez and Estupinan, to thinking Doucouré would go for about £45m. We have never spent a single penny on a transfer outside the Pozzo group whilst in the Championship under their ownership. They also don't really like doing permanent business in January. There's a slim possibility we might spend a little bit of money this window but we won't be spending £4m on one player I wouldn't have thought. We spent nothing in the summer and we're only £2m odd plus Capoue's wages better off now.
Cubas seems a bit similar to Lucas Torreira, I wonder if it wouldn't make more sense for them to play in La Liga or Serie A.
The deal between Juventus and Udinese for Mandragora is notoriously complicated, and as far as I understand it, was designed in such a way as to help Juventus do some dodgy yet FFP compliant accounting. Mandragora has hardly played this season though (61 minutes all season) and needs a bit of a fresh start. I’d imagine we’d need Juventus’ approval to assign the loan, but I wonder if there is soon goodwill there given the nature of the underlying agreement. Maybe it’s not likely but I don’t think you can say there’s no chance at all.
Bournemouth are in a different boat than us in my opinion. Their wage bill was £30-40mil higher than ours. They will look to sell King this month or risk losing him for nothing in the summer. I’m not saying we have a ton more than them, but I suspect we would be able to spend a little bit more than what they are. As you said Tindell said they won’t spend anything. I can see us spending, I don’t think it will be more than £5-7m, in fact in think it will be £5m or less, but that will get us what we need to get promoted. Mandragora isn’t playing, Juve spent £10mil on him buying him back from Udinese, they will want their investment being used. I think it’s a long shot, but I don’t think it’s an absolute impossibility. Finding a Capoue replacement ASAP is an absolute must. Our midfield is significantly weaker without him.
