Much as I'd rather the players were our own, I'm with you on the loans. I'd rather we spent larger sums on players who will make an immediate impact in key positions like CAM, LW and a striker, then found loans or freebies to help cover LB, or CB if deemed necessary. DM is a funny one as whilst it definitely needs strengthening, it probably needs serious money to do so, so perhaps it could be left to next summer
CH needs both a long and short term view on this. Loans will allow him to bring in quality players for the long-term, and then replace the loans with permanent signings next year, possibly with the same players if they do well. It makes sense to me.
Anyone seen the bbc gossip column today? It links to a Star article saying that Hull are set to move for Gent striker Ilombe Mboyo after failing to agree a fee for Burnley's Charlie Austin. Belgium striker Mboyo, 26, almost joined Norwich in January and would cost £6m. First I'd heard of it!! EDIT: Actually, now I read about him, I do remember us being briefly linked - he's the guy who is a convicted rapist who if I recall correctly, McNally strongly denied us having been interested in at all.
I did see that this morning Rob and wondered about it, but now you mention the rapist bit it comes back to me. Not our sort of player, methinks (I'd rather have the 'Joey Barton of the Dutch league' (Toivenon!)).
I just saw we were rivalling Everton for him. They nearly closed a deal for him in Jan but I think there was a fitness concern so they wanted a cut price if my memory serves me correct.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...me-shores-hopes-reunion-Norwichs-Bennett.html Please, let it be true.
I'd only be happy with that if we had a replacement lined up, such as Redmond. Redmond I believe can play on either wing, and if we had Snodgrass and Pilks as first choice still, we'd have Redmond to cover either, Surman if we wanted something a little different, Wessi as an emergency LW, and Toivonen should he sign. That'd just about be enough cover. Surprised to read Bennett has only a year to run, and even more surprised to see Lambert interested, although I suspect it's just paper talk, seeing as Howson, Martin and I believe the other Bennett have all previously been linked to Villa. I realise the OP is a little out of date now, I'll update it tomorrow.
I believe he had a couple of knee injuries hence why they wanted the cut down price. I think he is Everton bound myself.
Depends on wether Martinez wants Moyes' man, you'd imagine he has his own plans. Even so I doubt we'd sign him
Next Twitter rumour is....... Jelle Vossen! I know nothing about him apart from he is a striker from Genk
The Football League ‏@FBL72 9m Lee Clark has put a £3million price tag on Birmingham winger Nathan Redmond.
I'd also be sorry to see Benno go. It's important to have other options and his ability to play wide and get crosses in is just that, especially when City are chasing games and bring another striker on. I'd be happy to see either Fer or Vossen come in. The Dutch and Belgian leagues are where we should be looking, IMO.
i, too, will be sorry to see him go should this happen. he is the only truly fast player in our squad, so unless at least three fast players are recruited, this would seem a negative step.
True, his pace is also important as are his defensive abilities when tracking back. Hope this is just speculative journalism. Going back to Vossen, he has a better scoring record in the Belgian league than Benteke had and at 24 is a good age as well. Transfermarkt.co has him rated at 7m euros (£6.2m) and I'd rather spend that on him than Hooper. It's only Twitter, but I hope it happens.
People keep talking about Guidetti, but his career has been derailed by a severe viral illness. He was said to be back in training in January, but as far as I know he only made one appearance last season, for Man City's development side. He is constantly being linked with each and every PL club, one of the latest (in addition to Saints) being Sunderland. A fit Guidetti would be hot property, but until he is known to be fully recovered and back in full training it is just hot air! Incidentally, Guidetti's absence is probably one of the main reasons why Toivonen has been featuring as a striker rather than a midfielder for the Swedish national side. Apart from Zlatan Ibrahimović they are short of front players.