So, with safety now secured, and all to play for being the top half finish that so few of us expected at the start of the season, eyes are surely starting to turn to what we are going to do in the summer in regards to incomings and outgoings. So I thought I would do a thread summarising some of the rumours, and where I expect the focus to be.
Start off with the outgoings. I expect the club to find permanent moves for Hernandez, Alioski (both released), as well as Adam Forshaw (but I would give him some pre-season to see how he does first), Jordan Stevens, Ryan Edmondson, and a few other of of the youngsters/loan players. New loans for both McCalmont and Gotts, hopefully at a higher level (I would want a championship club for McCalmont, who has excelled at Oldham). Other young players I would be looking at loans for would be Casey, Kamwa, and McCarron. I could see championship loans for Greenwood or Gelhardt, but think that will come down to their own decision. Davis also falls into this group, with Huggins stepping up to a more senior role.
So incomings...
Well the first thing that categorically needs to happen is Harrison confirmed. He's a player who has bought into Bielsa ball, and is having a really good first season at this level. Think about it like this. If you were told we were signing a player with 7 goals and 6 assists in his first PL season for 10 million then what would you do? Absolutely take it. Steal.
So then we can focus on replacing players moved on. The big one is at LB. We seem to have been strongly linked with Romain Perraud at Brest, who is an attacking LB, with 3 goals and 6 assists this season, and seems to fit well into a Bielsa system. Another option recently linked is Nicolas Tagliafico, who is a much more established option, having played a part in some strong European seasons for Ajax in recent years. He would be a top signing, with a price estimated at around 17 million.
Replacing Herandez is a funny one, as he hasn't played much this season, and hasn't really looked up to speed when he has. Rodrigo has played this position much of this season, so the question would remain as to what happens here if we sign another 10. Obviously, the rumours around Rodrigo de Paul haven't gone away, with him supposedly still keen on the move. Not to beat around the bush, this would be a top signing. He is a quality, quality player. The sort of player who drives you towards Europe. I haven't seen us linked with a whole lot of 10s, so maybe the plan from the club is for Rodrigo and Roberts to cover this role next year.
A slightly out-there thing is that the club seem to want another winger. Now, I'd be happy with Raph, Harrison, Costa, and Poveda carrying on there, but if one is signed and Poveda gets some loan time away from the club with regular starts then that may also be a positive. The big names I have seen here are Ryan Kent, Dan James (as per usual), Romain Faivre (another Brest player, they have a very similar style to us), and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (good luck with that one LIW), who plays for Ruben kazan in Russia, and seems to be a slightly younger option. Seems likely to me that any of these would not be a guaranteed starter, and would instead be to improve our depth in that position.
Personally I would be looking at another option in the deeper midfield roles. Someone who has impressed me this season has been Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa at Fulham, who seems like a ready-made Phillips cover. He's strong, technically adept, and likes to carry the ball out. I would love for us to snap him up at relegation discount to add a bit of steel in the midfield.
I would also be looking at another striking option, just to cover Bamford, who I think deserves to retain the starting striker role next season. Although, in fairness, I don't think we have really been linked with one. Ivan Toney is a very good player, but would cost far too much money. A slightly more out there option would be Daryl Di. ke, who is currently on loan at Barnsley, and has been a big reason for their surge in the second half of the year. He's big, strong, quick, and a good finisher. Would probably be less expensive, too.
---------------------Meslier
Ayling-----Llorente---Cooper----Tagliafico
---------------------Phillips
Raphinha---Dallas---Rodrigo----Harrison
---------------------Bamford
-----------------------GK
Dallas-----Koch---------Struijk----Dallas
--------------------Anguissa
Costa------Shackleton---Klich---Kent
---------------------Gelhardt
Personally, think those teams balance quite well for a solidification season, and important to remember we will probably have less money to invest this summer. Anyway, that's just my team and ideas, so what would you all do?
Looking to the Summer
posted on 28/4/21
comment by HaveFaithInLeeds (U8688)
posted 23 minutes ago
comment by Lubo - Super Dooper Liam Cooper (U14008)
posted 5 seconds ago
Kamara for some reason wants to overhaul a team that is likely to finish comfortably mid-table in their first season back. This is a similar attitude to what some said last summer, that the club didn't adopt. Continuing the development of players at the club is how Bielsa will want us to progress, with a few targetted additions to supplement that. Thinking we should sell anyone who doesn't start is ignorant of the fact that football is a squad game, and depth is something we don't have in abundance.
Its about quality in the positions we need, not quantity of replacements for players that are doing well. Why replace Harrison? He's having a very good season. His stats are not to be sniffed at. Raphinha is effective at RW, Harrison is effective at LW. Why upset that balance?
I am genuinely baffled by the number of people who aren't on board the Harrison train. These people aren't in line with Bielsa's thinking, in my view.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think it's really hard to decide which position is targeted for improvement after LB & CM. Hence my question above.
I do not see any urgency to improve beyond the two. But obviously if we can then great. But would not try to for the sake of it because we could easily end up with worse than we already have.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
same as me then?
posted on 28/4/21
you think we need 2, i think we need 3, hardly an overhaul lad
posted on 28/4/21
I agree with Faith. LB.
After that I'd say CM. What I hope we get is someone
who is better than we have (obviously). Who can do
the things that Pablo does, Tyler does, Dallas does,
Klich does. But in one top drawer player. Someone
who can boss a game, control a game, open up an
opposing team, and score. I have no idea who that
player is. But, they're out there.
After that, and assuming the club feel Greenwood
and Gelhardt are still a season away, a striker who
can spell Patrick.
And I hope the only departures (if any) are Alioski
for a big pay day. And Pablo for a well earned and
much deserved return home. Love them both.
posted on 28/4/21
It'd also be great if Forshaw returns to full fitness.
I liked him in the side when he was available.
posted on 28/4/21
we need forshaw fit so we can sell him
posted on 28/4/21
comment by Kern (U4664)
posted 1 minute ago
I agree with Faith. LB.
After that I'd say CM. What I hope we get is someone
who is better than we have (obviously). Who can do
the things that Pablo does, Tyler does, Dallas does,
Klich does. But in one top drawer player. Someone
who can boss a game, control a game, open up an
opposing team, and score. I have no idea who that
player is. But, they're out there.
After that, and assuming the club feel Greenwood
and Gelhardt are still a season away, a striker who
can spell Patrick.
And I hope the only departures (if any) are Alioski
for a big pay day. And Pablo for a well earned and
much deserved return home. Love them both.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think we are looking for someone similar to Forshaw. Who is good defensively, especially positionally and at reading the game....similar to Dallas. But good on the ball and capable of finding passes and definitely receiving the ball under pressure...similar to Klich.
Forshaw and Klich were brilliant together when Klich had the more attacking role.
Klich and Rodrigo have struggled together because there isn't enough awareness of defensive responsibility/pressing. Since Dallas has come in we have improved defensively but we are not able to control possession as well or be as creative.
A Forshaw that's fit and a step up would be brilliant.
posted on 28/4/21
Forshaw's a very tidy, intelligent player. Just wish
his body was more durable.
Sheff U are the cautionary tale. Finished 6th (?).
Relegated next season after poor transfer summer
and a slew of injuries. I know the club know that.
This summer will be huge for us.
posted on 28/4/21
comment by Kern (U4664)
posted 3 hours, 20 minutes ago
Forshaw's a very tidy, intelligent player. Just wish
his body was more durable.
Sheff U are the cautionary tale. Finished 6th (?).
Relegated next season after poor transfer summer
and a slew of injuries. I know the club know that.
This summer will be huge for us.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ground hog day lad
posted on 28/4/21
it is great we all see things differently
posted on 28/4/21
comment by kamara's left foot (U21862)
posted 3 hours, 31 minutes ago
comment by Kern (U4664)
posted 3 hours, 20 minutes ago
Forshaw's a very tidy, intelligent player. Just wish
his body was more durable.
Sheff U are the cautionary tale. Finished 6th (?).
Relegated next season after poor transfer summer
and a slew of injuries. I know the club know that.
This summer will be huge for us.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ground hog day lad
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think Bielsa is unlikely to bring in players like McBurnie and Brewster.