Transfer Rumours transfer thread fact and fiction

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Of course it's not just about United finishing above us. Thing is, do we get top four if they do finish above us this season though? Surely not. Mourinho said it, not only do we have to win, but we are relying on other teams losing. One of those teams is Man U. Don't think that this wasn't part of the thinking when he snatched Willian from under our noses for Chelsea. They definitely didn't want to see us strengthen.

Anyhow, I agree with your priorities for the most part. Thing is though, Eriksen has been a part of the gaffe tape holding that squad failure together, if you like. With him gone, it will become more obvious how much we need his qualities, especially if all of the other issues aren't addressed. He's not just been an attacking midfielder. He is also the set piece taker, which N'dombele was becoming in his absence, and the best passer and maker of goal scoring opportunities. The stats don't lie. None of our current AM players come close to doing what he does well enough to be the playmaker of a top four team. He's the closest that we've had to a match winner when other players are not cutting it. Even with his dip in form, he has still been needed.

Gedson, for me, is young cover for Sissoko, not N'dombele. If Sissoko was fit, I don't think any of us fans would be asking for another utility CM.
Priorities for me are…

1. New Striker. Obviously.
2. A strong DM is necessary as top, TOP, TOP, priority to replace Wanyama (Dier just doesn't seem up to it of late, but Mourinho likes him.)
3. Then a RB to replace Trippier.
4. REPLACE ERIKSEN. We need a playmaker. Still.
5. Maybe a CB if Vertongen goes. (Tanganga is proving worthy either way, but I know we are still on the lookout for a CB as Foyth doesn't seem suited.)

Why we would even consider getting rid of Eriksen without a firm replacement when seeking top four is a mystery to me. Especially when everybody is strengthening. We could well be left outside if the CL wondering where it went wrong if we don't replace like with like at least, or better.

 

Quote from our latest signing...

"All young players want to work with Jose Mourinho because he's one of the best - all of us as players want to stay near the best, so it's fantastic to work with him," added Fernandes.
(BBC Football)

 

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I agree we need a ST and RB more urgently (although Tanganga looks promising) but if Eriksen leaves then he needs to be replaced.

 

Surely GLC replacing Eriksen was part of the plan? Presumably structuring the deal as we did only happened because we realised that we weren’t going to get the fee we wanted for Eriksen and other players we wanted to sell so wouldn’t have the cash to buy outright. I know not everyone agrees GLC is the answer but I think he’s got the makings of a good player and that with a more effective midfield behind the attacking unit than we’ve had since the decline of Dembele and all our DMs, we can replicate the attacking verve we had when Eriksen was at his best

 

Eriksen Watch
Alfredo Pedulla suggests that Inter are coming back with a second offer of around £13m

If the fee's up front, I'd say we should cash in and move on, because that free kick last night alone probably took £3m off any asking price...

Right Back Watch
Football BSider report that we've been keeping in regular contact with Max Aarons' representatives over the possibility of a move. To be blunt this is likely a mistake (and, given the source, also made up...) as we have little to no negotiating position and so the options are a buy-and-loan-back that doesn't help us, or KWP goes their way in part of the deal and that could affect our CG quota

...also, since I'm on the subject of right backs, this is probably what's going to scupper any chance of signing Nathan Ferguson from West Brom this month: they know full well they can sit back and wait for the tribunal to set the fee

DM Watch
The Daily Wail has taken five minutes out of their usual schedule of dogwhistling about Meghan Markle or convincing us how we'll all be better off poor and starving outside the EU than being not-poor and not-starving as part of the EU to post some vague guff about us being offered Emre Can, albeit failing to suggest whether this would be as a loan or a permanent deal

Obviously this does require us moving on a non-HG player in order to make this happen, and to be blunt that probably means Big Vic's time at the club is done even if Eriksen departs, but having a more rounded DM is certainly important...although I sincerely hope it's a loan, as he's on around £120k a week at Juve

 

Almost 2 years to the day...

Fun times. Happy days. Sob.

 

Sign Emre Can, Aarons and Ze Luis (or if not another back up striker) and sell Aurier, Wanyama and Eriksen and that would be a pretty decent window.

Still work to be done in the summer but the squad would be more settled and then the summer wouldn’t need to be 4-5 in more like 2-3

 

Gotta give my boy @Suckmyklopp the credit for this but had to post it here, seemed like a certain set of fans got a bit excited at one stage

 

Found this. Interesting.

 

Exodus Watch
The Mirror report that KWP has said he wants to leave, with Southampton interested in signing him permanently

Can't wait to see the Reddit crowd try and pretend that didn't happen...

 

Except Mourinho has his shopping list for the summer which includes 4 'mega' buys. Quality players who will take us up a level or two from where we are now. ( which of course would be made easier if/when Joe sells the club for 2bill to the Americans ).

 

He's being kept out of his preferred position in the team by Taarabt?





Oh god!

 

We have players being kept out of their preferred position by Aurier and Rose. Let that sink in.

 

Last season Benfica played either a 4231 or a 4141, with Gedson playing in his preferred position in the midfield two

This season they've been playing 442, yet play him on the right wing and Taarabt in the midfield two, which is baffling twice

 

Eriksen Watch
New Barca coach Quique Setien has reportedly blocked Arturo Vidal's planned departure for Inter

Meanwhile, in Daniel Levy's office...

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...especially as the offer has already crept up to £12.8m

 

Also, Eric Dier's keeping my old mum out of central midfield. She's got dementia...but I reckon she's more mobile.

 

Apparently Jose wants Joao Cancelo from Man City