An agent at this agency just posted on Twitter that he was visiting the training ground today. Seems to focus on South American, particularly Uruguayan talent. https://www.transfermarkt.us/gbg-global-business-group/beraterfirma/berater/3384
Interesting, there was a story a few days ago saying that the same agent was at the Barcelona training ground recently to discuss Uruguay's U20 captain, CM Fabrizio Diaz - but Barca won't meet the Uruguayan club's €8mil asking price. Surely we're not going to be gazumping them for the same player?! https://www.besoccer.com/new/barcelona-have-to-cough-up-euro-8-million-for-fabricio-diaz-1248916
Diaz was the player I liked most on that list but if it’s going to be in the £10m range I can’t see us shelling out. If we spend that on a single player this window it will surely be on a striker (doubtful).
I really hope so, I have no idea how he's stayed in Uruguay so long, lovely player. I really liked him here: https://wfcforums.com/index.php?threads/scouting-thread.59642/#post-3169240 - a nice all rounder with a lot of potential imo.
Same. Though given we'll likely ditch Choudhury, and possibly move on Kone and Louza for fees, then our central midfield could also have a lot of space to fill soon.
I think Louza and Kone will stick around personally. Not really based on anything but if we get someone like Farioli in they’ll do well. Still think we need a DM and this lad has a lot of experience and leadership qualities but is very young. Impressive fellow (which is why he’s headed for better things)
Sort by contract end date June 2023, look for player that's played a bit of time in a Europe and will be a free transfer and Bob's your uncle!
No I know but if they rejected Barca’s offer at €8m as @lowerrous suggested then surely they’d want a bit more than that. So I rounded up a bit. That said, maybe he was saying that they are seeking €8m and Barca won’t/can’t get there due to FFP. In which case something like £5-6m+ bonuses + sell on would do it. But if this fellow has for Barca interested he can probably find a first team role in a big 5 league.
I do think that we should be leveraging our South American reputation etc and the presence of Asprilla to a) sign his best u20 teammates and b) sign PL youngsters from South America on loan. Kendry Paez, Andrey, Carlos Borges and the Brighton lads would all be good and maybe more likely to come here given that there are players like Asprilla and Spanish/Portuguese speakers and a good reputation for developing South American talent at the club.
That isn't what I or the article said - they said the selling club want €8m, but Barca won't pay that much. The selling club also seem to want to either keep a share in the player or have a significant sell-on percentage on top that.
Got it. Easy mistake. In that case we probably could stretch there but still doubt we would for that profile given that CDM is by my reckoning our fifth priority at best (ST, LB, CB, GK all bigger priorities)
ST is easily top priority, ideally we need two top additions there. But I'd say central midfield is next, even if Louza and Kone stay. None of our current CMs have been very good, and Choudhury and Bacuna (who've both had to play lots of minutes) will surely be leaving. Gosling and Cleverley are also out of contract, and TDB is a perma-crock. We're incredibly light on quality options there. LB might already be covered considering Zemura has been signed by Udinese - so one of him or Kamara could be here with Morris as backup. Depending on our level of ambition, RB might even be more important, as although both Andrews and Ferreira have promise, they'll also both have plenty of mistakes in them as regular starters. While Ngakia will never be good enough and should be moved on. At CB we have Porteous, Hoedt, Kabasele and Sierralta still - none of them have really pulled up trees, but unlike some of the other positions we have players there capable of being starters. One more good CB would still be welcome, of course, but unlike at CM we do have bodies there to put out. GK - I still think Bachmann's a good keeper at this level. He's had a poor season, but was good 2 years ago and is at an age where he should still be able to regain that form. I don't see it as an urgent priority unless somehow a clear upgrade that isn't expensive appears. With JP and Sarr likely going, and given our struggle with scoring goals this season, I'd put wingers and/or attacking midfielders as 2nd or 3rd priority. We'll likely need to sign at least a couple - although they've often both been underwhelming this season, their goal and assist contributions will need to be replaced (if not improved upon).
I think this depends on who our new manager is gonna be. A Farioli or uber possession type manager and we'll probably need an upgrade due to his lack of ball playing ability. If a more run of the mill manager comes in though then he'll likely do and we can hold off for another year
There’s that but given the championship’s physicality I think his weakness under high balls is a real liability and costs as a large amount of points. That’s why it’s an important priority for me. Also, get it right and we have the position sorted for years which may also settle our defence a bit. @lowerrous as to the other positions: ST: yes we need two with Assombalonga/Bayo as backups. CM: I put Kayembe and Dele-Bashiru in a similar category to Kabasele and Pollock. Viable backups. We then have Louza, Asprilla and Kone. I think we need a CDM to replace Choudhury but not convinced it’s the biggest priority. AM/Winger: this is dependent on the system we play, but yes we need at least one. CB: Cathcart is leaving and Kabasele should be moved on. Hoedt is ok but I think we need to prioritize a good partner who works well with Porteous. Big priority for me as a settled goalkeeper and back four is something we are really lacking. LB: yes, it might be easy to sort with Zemura. I’d be very happy with him. But still a priority to actually bring one in. No guarantees that we do; we didn’t bring in Ebosele in the end. But if we bring him in that’s LB sorted. I think RB we don’t have any exceptional options by any means but we have four players two of which should be sufficient for the new coach.
He's played 44 of our 45 games this season and is 29, so our defence shouldn't have been unsettled already by us not having a regular goalkeeper. Dele-Bashiru hasn't shown himself to be a viable anything other than treatment table-filler. Kayembe has also seemingly vanished. Louza + Choudhury + Kone/Asprilla was nowhere near good enough last season, so it'd be miraculous if without some more quality added to the CM positions it'd be good enough next season. I just wonder whether Udinese will keep both Kamara and Zemura. It's very much quantity over quality. Ngakia and Gaspar should both be moved on as neither are up to it there. We'll then have Ferreira and Andrews to give chances to, but we'd have to be alright with that position consistently being a bit of a weak link which could cost us points. It could be we give the two of them a chance at the beginning of the season, but we may be forced in to signing a more nailed-on quality starter in Jan if they're not improving but we still have a chance of promotion.
Our defence is unsettled by Bachmann being crap. They know he won’t come for anything and take command. That’s what I meant. I think your guess is as good as mine on many of the other points, but I think Kone, Asprilla and Louza, are all good young players who could and should improve significantly under a better coach who gets the team to gel.
Bachmann has to go. Too weak on crosses, won't come off his line, doesn't command his area, unsettling for our awful defence, other sides know his dreadful against the high ball. Bachmann, turn and drive right out of here. Ok, that was a poor play on words.
Free agents and free transfers only for us this summer. For the couple of seasons we have shopped at the bargain bins of European clubs. This summer, we will be going to the food bank for help. 2023/24. My money will be on us for relegation. I will be happy to lose it in exchange for a season of struggle, but survival.
Kone probably isn’t ready to start 46 games so we might need two. Louza with a loud, vocal, leader in the middle will be very important. I reckon they’ll end up signing Livermore though.
Got to be thinking that Manga and Costa will be looking at: - overseas young players that have played a few times for a top flight club so can get a work permit but are either out of contract or available cheap (* la Ferreira) - out of contract older PL players that aren't complete crocks on short deals to add a little bit of experience and leadership (someone like Milivojevic) - out of contract younger players in the EFL who are looking to step up (no idea but must be a few who have run their contracts down) or alternatively good young players at clubs that are broke - loans (hopefully better than this season's) - Udinese (maybe one or both of the young Irish defenders there that have been around first team squad but not got too many minutes) Can't see us splashing much cash at all so they'll need a pretty good hit rate...
A few players I've come across that look to have interesting profiles (but who knows). Would be curious to see what the data says on them. If you have time @reids it would be cool to see what you think. No pressure though! Paulo Vitor - Chaves (GK) Yann Aurel Bisseck - Aarhus (CB) Shawn Adewoye - RKC Waalwijk (CB) Zoumana Bagbema - PSG U19 (DM) Ezechiel Banzuzi - NAC Breda (AM)
It’s been mentioned before but wouldn’t mind Keiffer Moore. Muff will look to upgrade strikers in the summer, so he could be available. Given he’s 30 would be a short-term deal, but wouldn’t cost too much. We need championship experience
Paulo Vitor: Yann Aurel Bisseck: I've liked him for a few years now as watched a fair bit of him when I was working in the Danish league Shawn Adewoye: Zoumana Bagbema: Only has the UEFA Youth League data so is only based on 3 games or so - so take these numbers with a bit of salt! Ezechiel Banzuzi:
Thanks @reids - data seems to be showing up well for Paulo Vitor and lots of good reviews from Chaves fans. Should be available on a free this Summer, might be a good option for us.
Supposedly Frankfurt enquired after him in January, so he could be a player Manga is very much aware of. He also supposedly has a release clause and will leave this summer. There'd be competition for his signature for sure.
He’s a bit old but if he’s performing that well, who cares (as a GK). What an eclectic and interesting group of players! Some cracking suggestions.
Definitely second Bisseck from what I saw of him before. A proper warrior of a defender. Decent bringing it out of defence. His pace did get him out of trouble on occasions when he got caught wrong footed but he was very young then.
Isn’t that a good thing? Just found it interesting as you seemed to say that to caveat your otherwise good review of him. But recovery pace is of course a great attribute.
True. I just remembered smaller nippier players ghost past him on occasions like he wasn't even there. Admittedly he was younger and he would of improved his body position on jockeying or tackling the opposition. Buy yes pace on recovery is obviously a good thing but not having to rectify your own mistakes is better.
