Gilmour is a CM who can also play as a AM or DM so he doesn't really preclude us wanting Skipp back. We only have Sørensen who is converting from CM to DM and Sitti who may stay or go out on loan. All of the indications from the Pinkun and other sources are that we're still very interested in Skipp.
Not for the £10m discount on Aarons being muted here! https://fansided.com/2021/06/23/tottenham-oliver-skipp-land-max-aarons/ SW may be a wheeler-dealer, but he's no fool. Don't you just love fan blogs?
I think we paid about £1m last season as a loan fee https://www.spurs-web.com/spurs-new...city-are-paying-to-take-oliver-skipp-on-loan/
"Of course Mr Levy, more than happy to break our transfer record to pay a loan fee for a midfielder, thanks for asking!"
I very much doubt we would consider a CM of two 20 year old loanees as start in the PL. At least I hope not. Skipp or Gilmour alongside a more experienced and battle hardened (McClean?) older player. I am not sure where Sorensen fits in here. He shows great promise for the future but is he ready to take centre stage in the PL yet?
I think Skipp would be first choice for DM given that he was an ever-present last season and I for one would have faith in him holding his own in the PL, especially alongside McLean, Sørensen or Rupp. It would be strange to have two loan signings in midfield, especially as it would rule out us getting Brandon Williams on loan if Aarons leaves. Have to have faith that SW is on top of all of this and will find a way.
Update: "Chelsea midfielder Billy Gilmour is likely to complete a season-long loan move to Norwich City next week, sources have told The Athletic. Clubs across the Premier League have expressed an interest in loaning Gilmour. The Athletic also understands there is some nervousness at Norwich while the deal remains incomplete - but they are confident a deal will get done in the end." https://theathletic.com/news/billy-gilmour-chelsea-norwich-transfer/v1dmFuf950lT
Some interesting lines from Chelsea journalists about the Gilmour move. They say Tuchel wants Gilmour to move to Norwich because he wants Gilmour to learn to play in Farke's "double 6" (two man midfield in a 4-2-3-1). Would suggest at least that that element of the formation will remain the same moving forwards.
It's natural that both Farke and Tuchel would favour a 'double 6' midfield given their time together at Dortmund. The 6 traditionally is a DM acting as a 'single pivot' between the defence and the advanced midfielders ahead of him as in a 4-1-4-1 formation. The weakness of this is it tends to fail when facing a heavy press, making it difficult to move the ball up the pitch. It's also vulnerable to opposition overloads when defending. In Farkeball's 'double 6' the DM or number 6 (Skipp) is partnered by the number 8 (McLean) who becomes an acting number 6 as well. Both act as a team to move the ball forward to the attacking players and to negate opposition attacks after the ball is lost. This was a key factor in our defensive improvement, succeeding where previous versions like Leitner and Trybull had failed. This is also what Sørensen means when he says DF wants him to change to play as a 'number 6'. Gilmour would be coming to us to develop his skills as one half of the 'double 6'. As DH suggests, this will be at the heart of our tactics. What's harder to predict is whether the 'double 6' will be in front of a back 4 or a back 3, which would allow the WBs more freedom to get forward to support the attacking players.
Yes, I'm hoping that DF will follow Tuchel in this direction: "His style of high-pressing and attacking football has delighted Chelsea fans and given them hope for another top four finish, and the chance of successful Champions League and FA Cup runs. This style of pressing has been seen in a formation that has been rare for the Premier League, the 3-4-2-1, which allows for Chelsea to drop into a back five when necessary, but also flood the wings on the attack." DF understandably built the previous tactics around Buendia and Pukki, but with Emi gone and Rashica in now from Werder Bremen, who also play a 3-4-2-1, could this be the time for change?
https://www.pinkun.com/sport/norwich-city/newcastle-midfielder-longstaff-interesting-ncfc-8084006 New link, of whatever quality. Longstaff, Gilmour and Skipp could be a very young midfield. Are there limits on the number of loanees you can have in a side? [Limit of 2 Premier League loanees apparently, not sure if that's in the squad or starting XI] I'm pretty sure Longstaff fell out with Bruce and was frozen out towards the end of last season. With 12 months on his contract, this might be with one eye on a cheap permanent signing (if it's more than gutter journalism....)
On Gilmour, I hadn't realised that "Norwich have agreed a deal in principle with the 20-year-old, who starred against England at the Euros before having to isolate due to a positive coronavirus test." Only 2 PL loans are allowed, so Longstaff would only be considered if we've given up on Olly Skipp. I think there will be a denial from the club on this one as the article says "City remain interested in securing a return on Skipp". Edit: Jayden Bogle can also be crossed off the rumour list: https://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwi...ogle-sheffield-united-transfer-update-8084270
Apparently we're punching above our weight in signing Rashica: "Norwich for just £9.4 million and that could prove to be the bargain of the summer if he lives up to the high standards that he set with Bremen, as Pinder explained exclusively to Transfer Tavern that the winger should be playing for a top-half Premier League club:" “I thought you were looking at [Premier League teams who could have signed Rashica] teams just below challenging for European football so maybe someone like Everton, but I would certainly have said a club in the top six or eight.” Perhaps that's where he'll take us. https://www.footballtransfertavern....hica-should-be-playing-for-a-bigger-club-e84/
The much heralded signing of Flynn Clarke has now been completed: https://www.pinkun.com/sport/norwich-city/peterborough-talent-clarke-joins-ncfc-8039834
