Have I missed a post that Carlton Morris is apparently on the verge of a permanent move to Barnsley? He's not been in the MK Dons squad last couple of games. Pinkun think Norwich will get a fee for him.
The deal was announced a few days ago, I'd guess either the Spanish window is open (you can sell outside of your window), or they've requested he leave Watford earlier to complete quarantine, meaning he can join Villarreal training ASAP.
Thanks for responding, DH. I just checked, the La Liga "winter window will be from January 4, 2021 until February 1". I'll bet you're right about the quarantine. Good thinking!
Just to add to the festive humour, it seems that Everton are preparing a £20m bid for Aarons and that we are willing to listen. https://tbrfootball.com/report-everton-lead-max-aarons-race-ready-to-make-contact-with-norwich/
If we valued him (quite correctly, imho) at £30m last summer, why would we accept £20m now? https://the72.co.uk/211887/everton-and-manchester-united-to-battle-it-out-for-20m-norwich-star/
£20m plus add ons is not unimaginable. For someone like Aarons they could mount up with full England call ups and sell on etc. Personally I think he's our no. 1 asset just ahead of Buendia so I'd hope he'd go for more but it's not far off.
Given that we 'don't need to sell', I'd be very disappointed if we let Max go for £20m + add ons. We got £25m+ for Godfrey and £15m+ for Lewis, so we have money to spend. Given our present position and his part in getting us there, Max is worth far more to us than £20m+, considering what we'd gain from another year in the PL and even more if we survive.
Have we made any moves for possible replacements for Buendia and Aarons? Or do we have ready made players who can take their places to the same effect?
I think a rumour linking us to a Norwegian LB was all we've really seen. Farke said today he expects to do business in January, but obviously we won't throw money away. I think with McGovern out for 3-4 months, and out of contract in the summer, that might force a move. On recent form, McGovern might have earned a contract extension if we fail to achieve promotion. But I can't see Barden being sufficient backup for this season. We might as well bring someone in during this window, who could be backup next season whichever league we're in. As for other positions, a versatile defender would make sense as it is, we're thin on the ground across the back line really. And that's without losing Aarons. If Buendia leaves, I wouldn't be surprised to see us back in for Dennis Man, and we'd have a somewhat stronger negotiating position.
I'd forgotten about him. He ruptured an Achilles earlier in the season, and had surgery in late August. I think he would have been backup instead of Barden otherwise. Not sure what the return timeline is like, and it hasn't been discussed anywhere in the media, but he posted something on social media last week showing him back training on grass. So yes potentially back in the picture soon.
I still think that we need an improvement to our CBs, but whether that will wait until the end of the season if we are promoted
I hope we've learned from last season's loss of CBs through injury. Gibson was a good addition, especially being left footed, and Handley has been a revelation this season (he's our second highest rated player on WhoScored). Zimmerman has struggled to regain his previous best form, but he's still a decent player. For both those reasons I'd like to see us sign a quality CB to replace Klose both for now and for promotion if it happens. Another LB to replace Lewis should be a priority as well and of course if any players leave replacements will have to be signed.
City in the market for a new keeper. I'd be surpirsed is we weren't looking at someone like Ørjan Nyland. He's out of contract and has played in Germany. He's prone to the odd calamity, but experienced and if we're being realistic we're looking for some to provide cover to Krul until the end of the season. Could be a good option on a 6 month deal and reasses in the summer. Keeping hold of Aarons and Buendia would be the best business we could do in this window.
