Onomah could come back and take Winks’ position while Winks goes out on a loan. Feel like I’ve fought Josh’s corner for years now, really do rate the lad but just needs proper chances in his preferred position, not being played as a RW in a rotated side! CCV similar with Foyth. He’s been getting some great reviews since he’s been at Ipswich, the Championship toughens you up and we’ve seen a number of CBs come up through there and do well in the Prem in recent seasons - Keane, Mee, Tarkowski, Mawson, Dunk, Gibson (when Boro were up). I’d be very surprised if we let him go, especially as it was just about a year a go Poch said he can become one of the Prem’s best CBs in the future. Foyth already has some brilliant technical attributes but he needs toughening up and there’s nothing better for that than Championship football.
Because the German press love us so much, today's Bundesliga rando is...Koln winger Leonardo Bittencourt, with Kicker reporting that we're considering activating his €8m release clause in the event of Koln being relegated this season (which, with them in 17th and requiring six points and a 19 goal swing in their goal difference, is a possibility) - although the speculation suggesting he'd be a GKN replacement doesn't bode well, given we have the GKN upgrade Lucas Moura in place now...
Contrac Watch The Torygraph are reporting that Dembele is asking for a three-year, £100k a week contract. Great, more window shopping...
Fabio Coentrao's loan at Sporting has been terminated and he's returned to Los Ladrones HITC will post an article suggesting him as a Rose replacement in 5...4...3...2...
But in all seriousness who do we want to replace Rose? I think we'll be lucky to get £30m for him with the season he's had. Sessegnon hasn't played LB for over a year now. Davies has done more than enough to make the 1st team place his on a permanent basis, so perhaps we only need to look at a budget understudy?
I'm thinking a double swoop for Rico Henry and Troy Deeney, just so Walsall fans can celebrate their sell-on fees being activated. Failing that, here's some of the non-Sessegnon options we've been linked with this season... Philipp Max (Augsburg) - basically a German Trippier who Bild keep linking us with Luke Shaw (Man Utd U18s) - the papers have been convinced we're going to sign him for two years, even before the Portuguese Albert Steptoe started publicly bullying him on a regular basis Kieran Tierney (Celtic) - another player we've been linked with seemingly forever, but he signed a contract extension in October so won't be cheap...plus we'll get inundated with Celtic fans asking "How's Tierney doing?" forever more Alex Grimaldo (Benfica) - linked with him in December, although with a £44m release clause I doubt it Layvin Kurzawa (PSG) - although, given his injury problems for the past couple of seasons, it sounds more like a blogger fishing for clicks Adam Masina (Bologna) - although this one lasted about one lunchtime, so was likely agent talk as he's got a year on his contract
He did well there in the cup but against weaker opposition and it was pretty clear that he wasn't comfortable being shown onto his weaker foot. RB is his best position and tbh he needs time out on loan next season.
On Luke Shaw, is the problem bad injuries, or attitude ?? I would trust Pochettino to rework his magic on the player to restore his Soton form if recovered from injury and not another Sturridge in the making On attitude, well Jose has not handled it that well, but if Shaw is now too prima donna, I doubt that Pochettino would consider him.
General Spitballing A couple of things jump out from the BBC Gossip pages today * Salomon Rondon has a £16.5m relegation release clause (which, at this point, looks set to be in play 2-3 games from now) * Marcus Rashford is unhappy that the Portuguese Walter Peck doesn't appear to know who he is due to him not being a Mino Raiola client I guess that covers the next couple of seasons worth of backup strikers...
Someone's fit again....and he actually looks fit. I mean really fit...like twice as fit as he was when he was with us. See, Danny? He doesn't need a C cup or girdle or anything.
I'd totally forgotten he even exists. Blimey we have a ****load of players to offload this summer. I think it's safe to say Rose Toby GKN Janssen Llorente Vorm (although iirc his contract is up anyway) Will all definitely be going. With CCV Onomah Sissoko All strong possibilities too. Quite a clear out.
That’s a fair bit of dough to be made on players that won’t be missed (barring Toby and Rose of previous seasons). Rose - £25m Toby - £50m GKN - £10m if we’re lucky Janssen - £10m Nando - £5m Potentially £100m there. Hope CCV and Josh are given chances next season. They can take the spots of Foyth and Winks who can go out on loan themselves. Sissoko I reckon will stick around, seems to be a highly rated squad player by Poch. Maybe I’m on too many drugs but I don’t even get the panicky feeling when he’s on the pitch now.
