Donny Van De Beek

Baby steps though. We’ve only just proved that we’re worthy of competing in the CL again.

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We've earned our chance to play in the CL but we won't know if we can actually compete until we face some good sides and get to the latter stages. I think it'll be too soon for various reasons but in purely personnel terms, I think we're a number of players short and as I've mentioned I don't particularly rate or trust our defence despite what the stats say.

Maguire won't be going anywhere anytime soon however so at the very least it's important we find him an able partner. Then at some stage a better quality left-back that can stay fit over the course of a season.

and only Matic we don’t have or couldn’t find quite easily a ready replacement for.

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We could if we looked hard enough. Tbh we wouldn't actually need to look that hard.

comment by The Red Side™ (U11275)
posted 9 minutes ago
and only Matic we don’t have or couldn’t find quite easily a ready replacement for.

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We could if we looked hard enough. Tbh we wouldn't actually need to look that hard.
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Got some suggestions?

That's what we have scouts for.

Marc Roca who was relegated with Espanyol this season and is almost certain to leave with Espanyol looking around €20 million for him.

Amadou Diawara who I've mentioned previously or we could opt for somebody like Thiago who albeit is a different type of deep-lying midfielder but a fantastic option at a reasonable price nonetheless. There are others I like but would probably require higher transfer fees but there are options out there if we're willing to look.

Diawara is a good shout. Thiago is the wrong age profile for an Ole signing I think.

How about Soumaré or Partey?

Don’t think anything is going to happen on this front until next summer though.

comment by The Red Side™ (U11275)
posted 37 minutes ago
and only Matic we don’t have or couldn’t find quite easily a ready replacement for.

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We could if we looked hard enough. Tbh we wouldn't actually need to look that hard.
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By that I actually meant elsewhere within the squad or U23s or with a loan option.

Matic is the only player we have over the age of 27 that we’re really in any way reliant on. Which is quite awesome really.

I’m not saying you don’t want experienced players in the squad, but when the core of your side is made up of players in their early to mid 20s, you’re in good shape.

Diawara is a good shout. Thiago is the wrong age profile for an Ole signing I think.

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I think for a player like that you make an exception.

I've seen next to nothing of Soumare and the same goes for the likes of Camavinga and Sangare who play in France.

Partey I like a lot but I think he's better with a bit more freedom that a box to box role gives.

We're one month into the window, so wouldn't say this was quick.

One month left, let's see who else we can get.

Very exciting by this signing