Looks like a large part of our summer budget will be organizing a new midfield if the recent reports are anything to go by:
Hayden - will be off as everyone knows, the lad has been very open and honest about wanting to move closer to family and as long as he grafts for the rest of the year, he'll leave with not a bad word said about him by me having proved a lot of doubters wrong.
Shelvey - Apparently an option for a number of clubs, West Ham looking at £20m offer according to the times but we will see, can see him moving on though if he can't get back in the team ahead of Hayden and Longstaff between now and the end of the season.
Diame - Contract up this year and although there is an option for a year extension, he seems to be saying he want's 2 years or he's leaving - again can't really blame him, this is his last contract being 31 currently and he'll get a good signing on fee if he leaves on a free wherever he goes - I'd imagine China or Middle East for one big final payday.
Ki - probably started the season as peoples third choice CM but for me now he's fifth choice, somewhere in-between Shelvey's creativeness and Diame's industry but Longstaff and Hayden both ahead of him now. Probably the most likely to stay of the 4 seniors but not sure I'd want him being a automatic number 1 pick in the CM position.
Longstaff - probably the most likely to stay but equally probably our most sale-able asset and we all know what Mikey thinks about selling players that have come through the youth system. Would expect him to sign a new 6 year contract shortly.
So we may need 1-3 midfielders in the summer - plus a striker/Rondon in, a winger and a LB to replace the current loans. Be interesting to see if Diame takes the extension or if Shelvey makes a move for first team football, one may depend on the other in that case. Hayden certainly off though. Add to that the players that NEED replacing - Joselu, Manquillo, Atsu etc. think it could be another agonizingly long summer window.
Hayden - will be off as everyone knows, the lad has been very open and honest about wanting to move closer to family and as long as he grafts for the rest of the year, he'll leave with not a bad word said about him by me having proved a lot of doubters wrong.
Shelvey - Apparently an option for a number of clubs, West Ham looking at £20m offer according to the times but we will see, can see him moving on though if he can't get back in the team ahead of Hayden and Longstaff between now and the end of the season.
Diame - Contract up this year and although there is an option for a year extension, he seems to be saying he want's 2 years or he's leaving - again can't really blame him, this is his last contract being 31 currently and he'll get a good signing on fee if he leaves on a free wherever he goes - I'd imagine China or Middle East for one big final payday.
Ki - probably started the season as peoples third choice CM but for me now he's fifth choice, somewhere in-between Shelvey's creativeness and Diame's industry but Longstaff and Hayden both ahead of him now. Probably the most likely to stay of the 4 seniors but not sure I'd want him being a automatic number 1 pick in the CM position.
Longstaff - probably the most likely to stay but equally probably our most sale-able asset and we all know what Mikey thinks about selling players that have come through the youth system. Would expect him to sign a new 6 year contract shortly.
So we may need 1-3 midfielders in the summer - plus a striker/Rondon in, a winger and a LB to replace the current loans. Be interesting to see if Diame takes the extension or if Shelvey makes a move for first team football, one may depend on the other in that case. Hayden certainly off though. Add to that the players that NEED replacing - Joselu, Manquillo, Atsu etc. think it could be another agonizingly long summer window.
Yep that in built toughness combined with techniques which match up to any in the world is a good combo. Plus they also get great tactical coaching there. If you look at the coaches who have come out of South America to try their hand in Europe etc, they tend to be very astute. Hence the likes of Poch, Simeone, Martino etc all end up at top clubs.