Possibly. But we’re always led to believe the club have several targets for each position, so I’m sure it wouldn’t matter!
Would be surprised if Brighton want £5m for a defender with no Prem experience whose contract runs out in a year, and if so, I'd be surprised if we spend that sum on anyone
Either Spurs are about the buy a load of sh1te…or we have criminally sidelined a great scout because, well, Mogi.
Did he perhaps leave because of the supposed Spurs interest? Regardless he seems to have been the head of our UK+Europe scouting network, which hadn't been hugely successful in recent seasons even if you exclude Mogi associated players that we've signed. The Athletic also mention that we've just added a new UK scout signed from Doncaster Rovers: https://theathletic.com/3507726/2022/08/15/graham-younger-watford-role/ As one comment on that Athletic article highlights: "Doncaster supporters saying that as the lead for talent identification, he pretty much failed to identify any talent. 22 players signed in a year leading to relegation is hardly a great track record."
Graham Younger has joined the scouting and recruitment team. He left Doncaster earlier this summer and certainly seems to have a good eye
If we were to sell Joao Pedro, do people reckon Everton would be able to terminate Ellis Simms' loan deal at Sunderland to flog him to us for £4mil or so? 21 year-old Homegrown striker who had a very good scoring rate in League One last season and has got off to an absolute flyer in the Championship. Seems quick, strong, a good dribbler and decent in the air. I could be wrong on this bit but he might be able to play as a 10 as well.
It's just that I wonder if he could still be bought for a snip now, and would be a fairly comparable stylistic replacement for JP. Come the end of the season his price could have at least doubled. The only remaining loan replacement at CF who might be possible is Liam Delap, though with the Southampton links having cooled it now seems West Brom are very keen. It'd be amusing if we nicked him ahead of them after having already done so with Davis. I can't really think of any attacking midfield/number 10 loan replacements who are left, which would mean if we switch back to more of a 3 in midfield then we'd probably have to dip in to our pockets for someone, but there also aren't many candidates if we want HG to even spend money on.
If we have a unexpected and vast amount of money to spend (ie because we weren’t planning on selling Joao Pedro) I’d hope we would be able to pursue a different class of player and go after someone like Brereton Diaz or Semenyo who’d both cost £10-15m and are homegrown. Maybe that’s implausible - who knows.
I'd hope so too but that sounds even less like something we'd do. I've seen links of Bournemouth and Palace interested in Semenyo even though he's not back until next week. Us spending such a fee on him without seeing how well he returns to action could be too much of a risk for us regardless. Brereton seems like he could go for more than even £15mil at the mo with the form he and Blackburn are in.
The club that 'employs' Mogi Bayat and who have pissed off everyone from Nigeria to Nailsworth absolutely would have no qualms about doing it, but whether Everton would be that bothered about £4m quid is another matter
The list of HG attacking midfielders who could still be available and improve us, even with money, isn't that long either. Maybe Chris Willock would be worth considering if he can also operate as a 10 - had a breakout season last season and scored a belter on the opening day. QPR are a club who'd probably struggle to reject a significant bid for him. If not he'd only be worth considering if we stick with more of a 433.
I wonder if Ashley mainland-Niles would come into consideration he has a year left on contract can play rwb and cm and lives locally to training ground. Wages might be high but can’t see many prem teams beating a path to his door. Arsenal want rid.
He might be tempted if played as a very high wingback looking to get a lot of assists, like Wilson at FGR, and he can fill in across the midfield as well. I’d have thought that with this “special relationship” with Arsenal that he would’ve been discussed as an option, but you never know really- would be a fantastic signing though
The special relationship that has seen Edu's son shifted to us. Nothing to see here, all completely normal.
Maybe but I reckon he'll be player moved on at the very end of the window. I'm sure he believes he's to good for the Championship.
The transfer window staying open after the season starts is a pain in the arse. I had expected Dennis and Sarr to go. When they played a couple of games, we had a slight hope that we could keep both or at least one. Now it seems likely that we will lose all three of our star forwards. I can imagine that the horse trading for football clubs at this time is intense. We are not really in a position to sell too early, as this reduces the price. This then leaves us selling our top assets very late in the window, with little or no time to get quality replacements in. I would think that they have scoped out possible targets in the event that we sell all three, but that is playing a risky game. Perhaps the hierarchy are happy with their lot in Davis, Bayo, Manaj and Asprilla. I hope they are right. If we get a combined £60-70m for the three, it is not bad business, I suppose, but hugely disappointing for fans. Just a consequence of the big drop.
I’m glad someone agrees with me. I think it’s bad for the game, clubs and players and only good for agents.
Huge issues with character and desire in recent seasons admittedly - but talent wise, I’d like to see Dele Alli drop a league for a year and try and get back on track. In talks with Besiktas apparently and that just seems a graveyard for his career even more than Everton. They are happy to let him go free too. I know there will be plenty of us who will say ‘no way/wages/etc’ - but a decent coaching approach, and a sensible approach from him for 12 months re.wages and I’d be on board.
I wouldn’t touch him with a bargepole personally, something has gone very wrong with him behind the scenes
You’ve summed it up perfectly in your first 12 words. His career is in a flat spin and you wonder if he has the desire to get back to the top again
I agree. But for me, there’s something still that sets him apart from the Wilshere/Sturridge/Barkley etc bracket. I just feel like he had age and ability on his side to get it back. He isn’t an injury risk like others. You sign him and he’s available. Just feel like a sensible, mid-term approach like dropping down a division and getting back to regular and enjoyable game time could get him back. And he would still have time on his side with his talent. Turkey, better short-term wages aside, feels like an awful decision. Basically it’s kissing goodbye to your career in the top leagues ever again. If we could negotiate a sensible wage and get him for 1 season with a years option, I’d be keen.
Are they really letting him go for nothing? It would be a gamble but one worth trying out for a season.
Absolutely. But the Pozzos may be gambling on lesser (or less expensive) players getting us up. Also, once young players' heads are turned, you run the risk of having disgruntled or disappointed players on your hands, potentially losing value or being disruptive or just not in the right head space. It is a long time ago since I was in my early 20s, but I can imagine the thought process where they are offered a job with multiples of their current wages, at a higher profile job, basically doing the same thing. They are going to jump at the chance and be disappointed if they are not permitted to do so. Loyalty and contract obligations are the counter argument, but young men from Africa and South America, indeed anywhere outside Herts, are not going to feel an emotional attachment to the club. Furthermore, it is in the Pozzos' DNA to sell the star assets when the players outgrow our club.
Yep. Free to leave. Either loan or free transfer. Which is where I think wages become an issue for most. Suspect the choice for him is keep the fire alive, take a drastic paycut domestically and drop a league for a year and show your worth - or let the current malaise play out and allow Turkish/Middle Eastern/Australian clubs pick up the tab.
He's had one hell of a fall from grace. I suppose it's all down to him to show everyone. But he can certainly play and would be interesting if he'd accept z massive pay cut to get back on track.
