Only about another 6 weeks before the transfer window is upon us so there maybe a few ins and outs Dembele one of the likely exits But would the fans like to see coming in My preferences are Tarkowski from Brentford who is versatile at c/half or right full back A goalkeeper someone like Vorm .who is I believe languishing in the reserves, and an attacking full back , a loanee maybe, a Premiership fringe player ? but this being with the proviso that we have a technically adept manager in charge. by this time.
The 'emergency' loan window closes on Thursday. Guess in the absence of a new appointment we can forget that. The priority, I still believe is a central defensive midfielder. So far as an attacking fullback is concerned rosc, why look further than James Husband (who returns to 'Boro on 14th December unfortunately).
For me we really are not missing to much, if we signed Husband, a striker in Dembele goes ( Antonio on loan) and then one other to give us some balance a good ball winner in the Lee Cattermole mould!!
Yikes! Our discipline record is bad enough Cookie. I'd rather go for someone with a brain who has the other kind of discipline; holding the line. A Kevin McDonald - the way he ran the game for Wolves at the Cottage was a master class.
Ah Ha! Apparently we're considering Sam Johnstone, Man United's third choice keeper, on loan. The 22yr old had a spell with Preston NE last season and United are again keen on him getting some game time.
Say what you like about Peter Grant but you have to admit he’s a ‘straight talker’. Speaking to the exclusive local paper he had this to say about Moussa Dembele: “Moussa played a few games for me in the U21s, and I knew all about him when I was at other clubs too, so I already knew his strengths and weaknesses. He is very strong and powerful, has a great work ethic and is a very pleasant boy. He's still got a hell of a long way to go, but he wants to work and take it on board. He's a talented boy, but he has to keep his focus and keep doing his job on the pitch. So many lads like him follow the bright lights of the Premier League, going to a big club and not getting a game, and then within five or six months they're back in this division out on loan. There will always be speculation, but he's nowhere near the finished article. At this level he has to score more, he missed too many chances. He scored at MK Dons last week, but I was more concerned about the four or five chances he missed. He could have had a hat-trick, but that's what he's getting better at.” Not sure how that’s going sit with the young man or his Agent(s) but guess the message is intended to say, ‘stay here, you’ll get games and develop even more’. On a slightly different tack. Should we get a transfer embargo under FFP (as is being strongly reported) does it work both ways and Dembele wouldn’t be able to leave in January?
A note on Moussa Dembele’s agents. He recently joined up with Mamadi Fofana (Seko Fofana’s brother). Fofana’s company, Mansa Sports Management, was set up a little over a year ago, has yet to file accounts and the only other employ appears to be a third brother. As I understand things, his main job is to look after Moussa’s day-to-day affairs. However, Moussa’s original agent, Mino Raiola still has an interest and will be involved in any transfer negotiations. I’m sure everyone remembers Raiola from the Jol days – he was Jol’s agent as well and there were a number of posts about him on here at the time. Suffice to say, a fair whack of the people who Jol brought into the Club (including of course young Moussa Dembele) were under Raiola’s wing. Not sure whether Raiola is a good or a bad thing in this case. On the negative side he’s more likely to push for a transfer rather than signing a new contract (percentages and all that). On the positive side, if it happens in January, Raiola will want the best money deal – should Moussa go abroad we’ll probably only get back the £300k we paid Paris Saint-Germain for him; whereas a transfer here would bring in much more under the Premier League rules. Equally if they wait till the summer to cash in on a “big” signing-on fee, at least we get Moussa for the rest of the season.
"Stu" says he's keen on getting James Husband back at the Club when the window opens on January 1st. But only on loan. Had hopes that third time lucky might have been more permanent. please log in to view this image He also said his 'caretaker' role won't stop him from looking for new players, "That’s why I’ve been brought to the club, to have one eye on what’s available. Suspensions and injury might be a factor – that and a lot of games as to why need players. You have contacts and speaking to players is part of the job. Husband is one of them on that list. He did OK for us and we might need to look at other positions as well.” Source: http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/...ddlesbrough-full-back-james-husband-10638101?
Only 10 hours to go before the window officially opens. Doubt if we'll need separate threads for the INs and the OUTs this time around and the current rumours are all about two possible departures. Loads of renewed speculation about Everton, Man Utd and especially Spurs coming in for Dembele. Also however, that Middlesbrough - who were sniffing around him in the summer - want McCormack and that Bournemouth are also interested. Might to be too late in Dembele's case but hopefully Slavi joining us will be enough to nullify any move from McCormack.
Open doors and the stories begin. The Mirror say that Derby have an offer of £12.3m on the table for Ross. If true the only good thing about that is it sets a bench mark for anybody else interested. And according to Sky Sport Italia and others, Juventus have been watching Moussa and if they lose Simone Zaza to West Ham they'll make a bid. If true it won't make a jot of difference to Daniel Levy - he'll still wait till the last minute to bargain down.
And Slavi's response to the speculation? ‘I am not thinking about selling my key players like McCormack or Dembele,’ said Jokanovic. ‘This is not in my plans.’
I think if we get £12m for Dembele and McCormack we should sell. Then bring in some unknown Serbian giant of a forward for £20 a week.
French papers are saying that both AS Roma and Stuggart have made Dembele "pre-contract" offers. http://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2016/as-roma-offer-moussa-dembele-a-pre-contract/
Meanwhile the Mirror say we are interested in - please log in to view this image To be honest I'd have said yes to him rather than Parker when there was a potential choice. Not to both however - possibly our worst pairing in midfield for many a day - and to bring him back, at 33 and little game time? Have my doubts.
what does a pre-contract actually mean. Does it mean he goes for free at the end of the season without all the pfaffing about?
As I understand it, once a player has only six months left on his contract, he is free to talk to other clubs and to sign for another club in anticipation of being a free agent. Once he signs a pre-contract, it's binding on all sides, but only comes into effect when the existing contract finishes. Nothing we can do to stop it if that's what he decides to do. No fee or compensation payable either, despite him being under 23, if it isn't another English club.
All is saved Craving - Pardew wants him at Palace. For the £6m we are reputed to be prepared to accept. And you never know Dwight Gayle, who we nearly got on loan in the summer, could be part of the deal.
