Transfer Rumours Transfers 2026/27

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Bigal2

Well-Known Member
Jun 27, 2024
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Regardless of which division we're in next Season there will no doubt be a churn of the playing staff.

Keep or re-sign?

Kipre

Cajuste

Neill

Akpom

Azon

Others out of contract??

Discuss
 
I think we have an obligation to buy Cajuste and Azon maybe even the other 2
 
I think we have an obligation to buy Cajuste and Azon maybe even the other 2
Presumably we'd just loan them out or move them on if they weren't in KMc's plans.

I got the feeling there were one or two out there today who we'd seen the last of in a Town shirt.
 
I thought it was Akpon rather than Azon that we had an obligation to buy along with Cajuste. We need a central midfielder and 2 strikers as a starter
 
According to TWTD we are obliged to sign Kipre permanently but not Cajuste (as he didn't start enough games).
 
I was surprised Cajuste didn’t feature more this season to be honest I thought he would be a big player for us.
 
I see the Kipre deal has been finalised. Fairly cheap transfer and he had an impressive first half of the season. I’d expect him to be cover at centre back though as I’m not convinced he’s Premier League ready. Like Top Bunk, I also thought Cajuste would play a bigger part. I’m guessing he didn’t play as much to get us out of the permanent deal?

I wouldn’t keep Neil, Akpom, or Azon. I just don’t think they’re Premier League quality. I’d also let Button and Townsend leave.

Burns is a tough one. Sentimentally, I’d like to give him a one year deal and another chance in the top flight. However, coming off a couple of bad injuries this season and a particularly poor Premier League campaign last year - I think we’ve got to move on and bring in someone else. It looked like a farewell substitute yesterday and he’ll probably want regular minutes - possibly at a Welsh club in the Championship.

I’d find new homes for all the players we’ve loaned out this season. We’ve outgrown the calibre of those loaned out players, with the exception of the young lads (such as Slicker).

For incomings and transfer targets - as I mentioned on another thread - I’d follow the Leeds and Sunderland model. We need less of the Championship “All Stars” type signings and more focus on signing big, tall players who can compete with the physicality and tempo of Premier League football. And ideally we need to look to clubs abroad to find better value.

I hope we do a significantly better job in attracting a couple of seasoned, experienced Premier League players. Last season, Kalvin Phillips and Ben Godfrey were good signings on paper, but in reality for us they were a massive waste of money. I think talks online of Andy Robertson and John Stones are massively optimistic, but hopefully we can bring in that type of standard to add some wise heads to the squad that can still do a job on the pitch.
 
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In comparison to the previous promotion I don't see any individual that we've had on loan this season that screams "must buy". They've all made a positive contribution, but we won't have the same clamour for signing Azon as we did for Hutchinson. Indeed some (Akpom) can easily be improved on.

Having said that, if it's going to be more time and money to identify, negotiate for, buy, then teach new players the McKenna way. I'd stick with as many of them as possible.

General Transfer policy over the summer id hope is a little more targeted. But 1 player in each position in the spine is probably going to be necessary. And all sorted early id hope.
 
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I don’t think we will get deals done early tbh, we are going to be one of the least attractive destinations in the Prem so will have to bind our time.

I think main targets will be GK and CF
 
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I also think we need an established CM to partner Matusiwa who often looked dead on his feet towards the end of games.
Can’t argue with that, I think we will move on from Cajuste and look to upgrade.
 
As for general transfer plans and areas to target, I think we’ve got a lot more financial wriggle room this time around. I’d like to think we’d learn from the lessons of last season and get the recruitment right.

For goalkeeper, I’d like to bring in a new number one to challenge Walton. Rushworth, on loan at Coventry, has been strongly linked but I’m not overly convinced he’s a definite upgrade. Sell both Palmer and Muric.

In defence, I think the core of O’Shea, Greaves, and Davis are a good start. Furlong had an impressive season too, but I’d like us to bring in a new right back - someone with pace and physicality. Left back cover for Davis is a must. I know Kipre has been made permanent, but I’d also target another centre back with experience and pace. There may be games next season where a back five would be more pragmatic.

The midfield will benefit with strengthening. Matusiwa looks Premier League potential, but as others have said - we should invest in a new partner. Without Neil and Cajuste - both players I’d probably move from - it’d be good to bring in a couple of physical, controlling midfield type enforcers. I’d keep Taylor around in case he can build on his consistency in the second half of this season.

For the attacking midfield positions, I think the players we’ve got look a little lightweight. I wouldn’t sell Philogene or Jack Clarke - who had great seasons - but can they compete physically? Maybe another option down that flank is advisable. For the right wing, McAteer stepped up and Burns looked good back from injury. I’d probably let Burns go so he can get regular football. We’d also be hoping for a significant improvement from Egeli, who might fare better at a top flight level. A right winger is a requirement for us though. At number 10, I’m not convinced either Nunez or Mehmeti are Premier League ready. That area of the pitch needs investment.

Finally, at centre forward, we need better options. I wouldn’t keep either Azon or Akpom. I’d keep Hirst - who showed flashes of promise last season in the Premier League - but certainly not as a starter. I’d be reluctant to bring back Delap, as there’s no guarantee he’d bounce back from a difficult spell at Chelsea. Two strikers are a must for me - and again, I’d be targeting more physical players ideally from abroad.

And of course, we’re likely to have another summer of speculation for Kieran McKenna. I see Crystal Palace and Celtic are heavily linked. Hopefully the closing vacancies at Bournemouth, Brighton, and Manchester United help reduce the interest. I’d like to think McKenna will continue showing loyalty to us and will want to work in the new facilities at the end of this year - which he’s had a lot of input in. He’ll be one of the highest paid managers in the Premier League with a reported £8m release clause, maybe that’ll be enough to scare teams away.
 
30 year old Chuba Akpom now has a 3 year deal with us after the obligation in his loan deal was triggered. 7 million quid to be paid to Ajax.

Whoever made that deal didn't do a good job, why would you agree to a 3 year deal for someone that is 30?