Need something more definite than a deleted tweet. Thread closed. Anyway, you didn’t put an exclamation mark!
The Athletic article for those interested: Southampton have held talks with Benfica over a £25million ($30.1m) deal for striker Goncalo Ramos, The Athletic understands. It is thought a meeting took place regarding Ramos in Denmark last week, ahead of Benfica’s 3-1 Champions League third qualifying round second leg victory against Midtjylland — the club Southampton co-owner Rasmus Ankersen used to be chairman. Should Ramos sign for Southampton, it would be a record-breaking deal, surpassing the £20million ($24.1m) the south coast side paid Liverpool for Danny Ings in 2019. Ramos is viewed as a player with huge potential. At 21, he has made 63 appearances for Benfica, scoring 18 goals. The forward has also netted 14 times in 18 matches for the Portugal Under-21s. This season, Ramos has been in fine form for Benfica, scoring five goals and registering three assists in five games. He scored on Wednesday night as Benfica — where Rui Costa is club president — beat Dynamo Kyiv 2-0 in their Champions League play-off first leg. Ramos’ potential arrival would continue Southampton’s youthful recruitment drive so far this summer. Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side have brought in 20-year-old Gavin Bazunu, 19-year-old Sekou Mara, 18-year-old Romeo Lavia and 20-year-old Armel Bella-Kotchap, alongside 25-year-olds Joe Aribo and Mateusz Lis. Southampton are next in action on Saturday when they travel to Leicester City in the Premier League.
6ft, looks like he has a decent header on him and nice range of finishes here. Doesn’t look like a player who could lead the line on his own, so we’ll need Che or at least someone physical up alongside him
Might still be a little early for this thread as I expect no move gets finalised until after the qualifiers are completed next week. So I expect this thread will fill up with puns and potential chants in that time!
That's quite a get if we do get him. Also, another from the FM 2021 wonderkids list, naturally...though he'd be the first one that I actually signed.
Depends how we intend to play. With Lavia, Ramos, Aribo and Mara, we'd be building one hell of a counterattacking group. Ramos/Mara also have the pace and strength to press from the front, and both are willing and capable passers...dare I dream about us finally weaponizing the press to generate quick scoring chances?
The one thing that really stands out this summer is that you can see the recruitment under the new ownership is targeting players with increased athletic traits. Mara, Aribo, Lavia, Bella-Kotchap are all impressive athletes. I mean, even Bazunu is more athletic than the vast majority of goalkeepers. Ramos would fit into this too, as an intense pressing striker and a real work horse in terms of his pressure numbers. Now add in the profiles of the likes of KWP, Tino, Salisu and strong runners (if not fast) like Stu and JWP. Fair play, at very least Sport Republic are giving Ralph a set of players that will - on paper - give him a far better chance at optimising our game to press, force errors and attack quickly on the transition from turnovers. A bit harder when you're trying to do it with some of the players in previous years.
You have to wonder how this will be factored into contract renewals as well. For example I cannot see Elyounoussi fitting with this group. Unless they feel they still need some different options
From reading on twitter it seems like there are Wolves fans who believe they are entitled to any Portuguese player who moves to the premier league. It will be interesting to see how right they are
Yeah, it's pretty clear that we're targeting a specific mindset and type of player. Not only are they all impressive athletes, they all have aggressive playstyles; Aribo and Mara are direct runners that move the ball quickly, ABK is known for stepping out of the defensive line to make interceptions (and apparently to go on 40 yard runs that end in shot attempts), Lavia is a wrecking ball who doesn't seem to be aware that backward passes are legal, etc. The fun thing is that, if Ralph's tenure does end, it strongly suggests that we'll target a replacement who wants to play in a similar fashion without the ball, but plausibly a more swashbuckling style with it.
A combination of appointing a whole new coaching staff that will almost certainly remain and a very similar profile of player suggests you are likely right on any future Ralph replacement whenever that is. Who that may be I have no idea. I don’t know how many teams play this kind of way and who the managers / head coaches are I assume it would be German / Austrian as it is very much not a Spanish style of play. Or someone managing in this country already. But that speculation is not really for now
Sure, but it definitely suggests that they were sincere in their talk about developing a playing style that is not only integrated across age levels between the senior/Academy sides, but which will determine the manager more than the manager will determine the playing style.
Don't know anything about him. Highlight reel has some goals in it, some of them were good. Expensive which makes me nervous. Portugese which makes me wonder if he's a Wolves sleeper agent. Striker which makes me think there's a place for him but we better not sell Adams to pay for it!
He's been a really well-regarded prospect for a while (just as an indication of how long he's been on the radar: he was on the FM wonderkid list every year for four years running). Started last year slowly but hIt his stride midyear, at 20. Has been completely dominant in his first few games of the year this season. It's a big outlay but Ramos has a very good pedigree for a player his age.
Having read The Gold Mine Effect by Rasmus, this approach is very Rasmusie (if that makes any sense).