Transfer Rumours Summer 2025 Transfer Thread…

From what I can see, the average in the Championship is around 12k a week and the City’s average last season was around 16k

 

Signed anyone yet

 

I would have thought that it's not unreasonable to think that
You might agree or disagree of course

 

I think at 24 if you aren't in the first team at your club, you want to be moving on. He's spent a lot of time on the periphery and he's only made 22 appearances across two seasons, we can't keep players that we know aren't going to be solid choices week in week out.

I think Macca did okay there but he isn't a left back anymore than Alex Bruce was a defensive midfielder; we need a specialist in that position who will be a mainstay in seasons to come (one that actually wants to be here). At the moment, we either get loans in (Vinagre, Giles season before last) or we play players there out of position (Christie, Macca, Drameh, Coyle etc).

 

I’m presuming posters were suggesting that Macca could fill in at left back rather than be first choice.

 

Haven’t ever really seen what everyone else has in Jacob. 15 professional starts at 24 is impressively low, granted he’s had his issues with injuries when younger. Hope he goes out and plays but can see him being found out playing consistently.

McLoughlin is an ok choice as a second choice left back but his forward output there is none existent and had a serious clanger in him.

 

Problem with that is - you need more than one player for each position ideally.

You can’t argue with the defensive record Selles managed with Macca at left back - but I do wonder if Jacob had been allowed to play would we have been more effective going forward?

I agree with you that Jacob needs regular football but if we sign a LB and he gets injured early I’m going to be very frustrated if the cover is yet another stop gap out of position full back when it’s been years since we had this position sorted.

So do you bring in two players who realistically could be first choice and play the one in form (a la Coyle and Emmanuel?). That sounds expensive - I’d rather keep Jacob if he is willing to stay.

Improving the squad usually means pushing your first choice down the pecking order. As we’ve been so rubbish at LB for so long we can’t and that’s a problem.

 

Looking at available free transfer left backs, I really hope we're in for Harry Toffolo. George Cox is also a free agent as he didn't want to stay at Swindon Town (don't blame him), we had him on trial two Summers ago and he looked pretty handy as is Kenneth Paal who just left QPR.

Masuaku (who used to be at West Ham) is available on a free having left Besiktas, or Serge Reguillon or Junior Firpo or if we wanted to go all out.

 

Macca is a **** left back. Were one niggle away on each side from being absolutely ****e and toothless down the flanks again.

If we’re relying on Coyle and Macca providing some width we might as well **** the season off now, offload all the big earners and save some money for when we’re actually going to have a proper go at it.

 

I'd either bring in a very good, permanent LB as first choice and then have a younger loan from a bigger club ready and waiting to step in, or have a more experienced loanee with a free transfer option as back up who wouldn't break the bank.

 

He’s not an ok 2nd choice. He’s an emergency option for the odd game here and there. A 2nd choice will still be playing a lot of minutes in that position over the season. If Giles leaves we need 2 left backs, no 2 ways about it.

 

Yeah, I get that, but players should be filling in for like one game in an emergency, not for half a season. Playing Kamara as an emergency striker for a game probably wouldn't hurt, but having to do that across a few months would be a serious issue and that's the problem we've had.

If you find yourself in a situation where a player has to play out of their natural position, it's either because you've had a freak illness/injury hit or because you're suffering from very poor squad planning.

Like I couldn't tell you who the youth team left back is at the moment. Probably Sean McLoughlin.

 

I don’t have a problem with a loan for a full back role to be fair - I’d favour loaning in a first teamer than a back up though.

Purely because the chances of getting someone decent are higher if you offer them first team - rather than acknowledge they might not be. Experienced free transfer to step in in case it goes south would be a good option - I’m not sure who might be available though.

 

It really worries me that some would be content with Coyle and Macca as our first choice full backs next season.

 

As I said, Paal, Toffolo or Cox would be decent as cover. The first two have a lot of experience in the Championship too and are still a decent age.

 

Harry Toffolo would be a very good signing. You would be surprised if we weren't asking questions of his agent. Wages etc.

 

Yes apologies missed your prior post

An experienced back up to a decent loan will give us at least a bit of security for a year or two.

 

Toffolo would be great.

 

No one of any significance and I suspect it will be like most seasons, last minute panic buys

 

Can't see him wanting to drop a division