It’s another move that should hopefully help in the long run. One good season and you could get an international call up and a big move to a club like Chelsea or dortmund Sure it’s only one season. But Brighton are now getting Fati for one season from Barca and that is getting envious and admiring reactions. Even though that is just one season. I know it is different levels but they are at a different level right now anyway
This is all true, if you are in the PL. No top team is going to be buying Shea Charles off us next season even if he looks incredible as it will have been in the Championship. For our model to really work we need to be in the Prem. Then how effective it can be in the Prem is another story
The thing about a THB loan is that unless he signs a new city contract before it happens (and this might be the delay) then he will have a relatively small contract at City (says 7.5k pw online) So it won’t be the wage budget that restricts us from potentially bringing in wood as well but the squad spaces Unless we : - are also getting rid of Bednarek - are considering a back 5. A wing back system would suit manning more. But I’m not sure some of our players such as Alcaraz or even Adam Armstrong would fit Wiki says: “Tactically, he prefers the 3–4–2–1, 3–5–2 or 4–1–2–1–2” I don’t know if this is true and don’t think we’ve played any of those systems. 3-4-2-1 (assuming the 2 are wide players) would leave out Alcaraz. I would expect the 3-5-2 would leave out all the wingers with Alcaraz ahead of two of Downes/Smallbone/Charles and Adam Armstrong up with a strike partner. I can only assume that Swansea have asked for too much and we are moving away and will potentially go back next year when he had one year left on his contract and potentially Swansea have grown up a bit. I just don’t see how we go ahead with Bednarek, Stephens, THB, Holgate and Wood. Unless the Holgate loan was done when we didn’t think THB was an option and we cancel that early in January? If THB goes ahead it will be very interesting what happens
Of course. I assumed that went without saying as both players showcased in the premier league. I am clearly not one of those people who thinks that SR just wants to try and make money off of us and don’t care whether or not we get promoted. Not the least because that is a nonsense position that doesn’t add up financially at all So yes of course the point is that we look to get promoted again and then point to Tino, Lavia and ABK when it comes to our recruitment opportunities. Perhaps we’d manage to get someone like Ramos or Gakpo to bite earlier on rather than stall and make a different (and in both cases ultimately correct) choice. Even going up as potential relegation fodder might not be a hinderance if players can still get moves to elite and/or UCL clubs regardless.
His contract is up at the end of this season so he is either signing an extension or City have the option to extend by year. No way would they let him leave on loan and then a free at the end of the season.
Maybe we are just buying THB. If we were seemingly willing to go to £10m for Wood and £12-15m for Charles then maybe a similar figure would get THB?
Perhaps a higher sell on will get them to reduce their price. Seemed to be the case with Doyle’s potential move from City to Wolves A signing would free up a loan slot if needed as well.
If he’s not signing a new contract then some kind of buy back will be city’s best option and you’d think £15m would get the job done.
I did think that I’d read a month or so back that City were looking to sell him rather than loan him out. The buy back, sell on seems to work for both clubs and we already have ‘the relationship’ with City. Their youth players must see us as the perfect stepping stone at this point and even better now that we have a possession focused way of playing too which suits the City production line and helps them slot straight in here. Get it done Saints!
Agreed but all the reporting is saying “loan” I wonder whether we still want Wood / both or whether that deal is now dead. We will find out very soon What I would be interested in (but i suppose we will never truly find out) is whether we messed up buy not just paying the compensation Swansea wanted for Martin and whether not doing so made deals for Piroe and seemingly Wood unviable. Or whether they still would have been salty about losing their manager regardless. Of course there were never any concrete links to Piroe and Martin compared him to Armstrong rather than Adams (maybe could have seen Armstrong moved on despite / before his great start)
