We're being linked with Piero Hincapie again, as we were the summer we went for Micky instead. Supposedly another player with a release clause. Levy loves a release clause.
Levy loves release clauses, but they don't love him. Romero, van de Ven, Danso, Dragusin and Hincapie would be immense depth. You'd have to wonder what would happen to the rest of our centre-halves. Takai and Vuskovic would have to go out on loan, for a start. Squad numbers would be tight, too.
I expect Dragusin to leave in January. Hincapie can also fill in at LB which may well be part of the thinking here. It does seem a bit excessive but as I've pointed out re the LW spot and development of Mikey and Tel if we sign Eze and Savinho (or even one of them tbh), we don't seem at all averse to placing obstacles in the paths of young players trying to establish themselves.
There’s only 2 true left sided players there though, and Hincapie also plays LB for Leverkusen sometimes I believe, so game time unlikely to be an issue. Dragusin IIRC some distance from being fit again and Romero and VdV are somewhat notoriously injury prone as well so the depth makes sense. I really like the look of Vuskovic but another season on loan playing every week at a higher level than last time could do for him what it did for Saliba after he joined that lot. I imagine we’ll get a proper look at Takai after he’s fit and make a judgement call about whether we loan him in January or keep around. Likely depends on the player, and how the season is going injury-wise.
We are fine in in the PL...even if we sign Hincapie, Savinho and Eze. But we would have two or three tricky decisions for the CL squad which can only have 21 non club trained players and where U21 players use a slot unless they have been with us two seasons.
As per Sacha Tavolieri, there's a reason why interest in Bissouma from Juventus and Fenerbahce went nowhere: he wants to remain in the Premier League, as in one year he will qualify for a British passport No confirmation about whether he would already have one if he could turn up to the Post Office on time...
There’s some rumours that Vuskovic is taking 16 and Takai 25 as their numbers this season. If that’s true, it suggests not only that they’re not going anywhere on loan, but that Frank is going to play a back 3 a lot this season. Including the rumours about Hincapie, we have Romero, VdV, Danso, Dragusin, Hincapie, Vuskovic, Takai, and Ben Davies. That’s 5 senior CBs, two bolters, and Ben Davies as a backup. That’s a lot to fit into 2 spots if we major on playing a back 4. Knock on effects would be us looking at less wingers and more 10s and striker/inside forward hybrids (like Kudus). But with the flexibility of players like Eze who can play 10 or winger.
Romero will be sold next summer if he doesn’t sign a new deal. Dragusin is pants and probably will end back to Italy, Takai and Vuskovic probably aren’t ready, so to sign another CB wouldn’t be a bad idea. All that said, there are other priorities I’d rather the club sorted asap before that.
Adds further strength to my reasoning for loaning Gray/ Odobert etc out for the season. I’d say Tel too but I’d imagine there’s probably an agreement that he gets game time after leaving Bayern. Bergvall’s the only youngster from last season I’d have confidence in to start or come on in the Prem or CL right now though. The rest feel like they need a good season of starts at least before being genuine squad options.
this is another reason why I don’t see these rumored incomings happening tbh. It creates so much more work getting players out, with little time remaining
I don’t think Hincapie happens. He won’t leave a regular starting spot at Leverkusen for a more rotational one with us. But I think/ hope Eze will. Or a profile similar at least. I’m not sold on Savinho as a player but I think we need another tricky wide forward as Odobert and Tel just aren’t there yet and Johnson doesn’t fit the category, I said earlier in the window I’d have definitely taken Semenyo and last night reminded me just why. I’m actually starting to wonder if Johnson could be a surprise casualty of Frank though, sort of like how Hojbjerg was of Ange. It’s hard to see where he fits in and he didn’t play a minute in the super cup. I’d happily try him up front but I’m not sure Frank sees that, as for out wide Frank tends to go for more tricky inside forward types who can cause problems in 1v1s, he had that with Benrahma and Mbeumo, now has it with Kudus and potentially Savinho (plus Kulu when back fit).
if the hincapie rumours are true, we must be planning to play 3 at the back, and need the numbers. Early succession planning for Davies and/or Romero and/or Dragusin. Otherwise it makes little sense at the moment. There’s rumors he has a release clause, so maybe we’re taking advantage early of what seems like a good opportunity. Eze would be a dream. After spending the best part of £60m on Kudus, which certainly seems like a very good use of that sort of money (for a change) I just have reservations that we’ll end up with a cheap option. totally agree about Johnson. The goals mask what appear to be limits within his overall game, and I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest if he’s a casualty, as you say. It’s actually crazy when you think about just how many forwards we have. We’ve got quite a collection who either haven’t set the world alight, or are raw prospects, and a lot of money spent so far on them with little return. Will be interesting to see how it all pans out, especially if Savinho and Eze are signed. It’s a ridiculous number at that point, especially with other areas of the squad that are very short.
FWIW there are rumours that Leverkusen are shortly to sign Loic Bade from Seville, which might be them getting Hincapie’s replacement in before an exit.
If City are willing to let Ederson go, why wouldn’t Spurs go for him. For me, he’s miles ahead of Vicario and he’s 30 which for a keeper is peak age. Apparently his wages aren’t huge (search online) and Galatasary have bid just under £10million for him.
An interesting one that. If he goes for £10m then it's a bit of a steal. He does have his moments but I would take him....
