Transfer Rumours Summer Transfer window

Always thought it an odd one when the gaffer came in on his own, few months later we get a number two in. Now this new bloke coming in shows we know we're in with the big boys again and we need to get the foundations right. Perhaps this has been on the cards for a while. From what I've read, he has great European contacts.... the graft behind the scenes continues.

 

He must be missing Enzo.

 

So not the Norwich City approach? Can't stand them.

 

In 12 months he has bought loaned and sold him

 

Hope speakman is still involved, loved what him and KLD have done for the academy thr last few years. Maybe being at the top leagues now means more people needed to have full focus on specific areas instead of KS doing the lot. At least it shows KLD is in it for thr long term

 

How long till we are linked with players from Roma and Nice

 

Probably working under speakman

 

Are we sure that this guy is coming in above Speakman? More likely that Speakman is above him or at worst same level with different responsibilities.

Bringing him on above Speakman wouldn't be a good idea imo.

 

Think of your own work environment. You're leading a medium sized project, which you're so successful at over a 2 year period that it's suddenly a large multi-million pound project. As a result, the director appoints a new "senior" project lead who has "experience" handling multi-million pound projects and you now are still the project lead in title but with less responsibility, another layer of management above you and no opportunity or reward.

How many hours would you wait before sending your CV off to other firms? Or would you seriously go home feeling all warm and fuzzy because you have a "mentor"?

I'm not saying this is the reality by the way. This is the reason why I don't think this bloke is coming in above Speakman.

 

Just looking at the Roma squad to see who we could get.

Manu Kone and Matias Soule might be a bit ambitious but we can dream.

Lucas Gourna-Douath might fit the bill though. Fits the model and he's only on Roma at loan. There option to make him permanent is €15m but they supposedly don't want to pay that.

Alexis Saelemakers would be an ambitious move too. Seems to be available from Milan after his loan ends at Roma and is being linked with a number of clubs.

 

Happy to see the club strengthening the recruitment side of things.

I think Speakman might prefer to be working on the football side of things going from his coaching background. He must have put some crazy hours in over the last 4/5 years when running everything.

 

Simply to fill a gap that speakman has really. This guy is a real player on the international scene. Most of speakmans successes have came from UK based players and academies, sweeping up talent that have went astray.

We have a very mixed record on European transfers and frankly to be a success in the PL this needs to improve.

Will add another quality layer of football operation support. Must be a bit of a buzz kill of speakman though. You have to hope that the balance and smooth working remains in tact. Speakman has been the man for years, personally not sure he will like to be gazumped.

 

Not sure he's being gazumped.

He probably needs someone to share the workload.

 

He is going to go from being the only say in recruitment to a backseat across the continent. Be interesting to see how he reacts to it IMO.

 

I get that.

I wouldn't begrudge KS moving on if that's the case. He's worked wonders for us while being the main target for the fans when things have been difficult

 

Probably enjoy the odd day with his family for a change

 

What an appointment Ghisolfi is, this guy is so highly rated in scouting circles that getting him is potentially HUGE!!

I know some are concern about what this means for KS but I actually think it'll be a good thing.

From a club point of view
- no single point of failure at recruitment level
- improved knowledge of the European market
- someone experienced in recruiting at top flight level
- knows what it's like to be in a high pressured role at a big club where there's expectation
- fits our philosophy

For Speakman
- someone to share the workload with
- someone to learn from
-) someone to take the pressure off slightly

They'll have defined roles but it's very common across the continent (even in the UK now) to have 2 senior people in director of football type roles.

We should always be looking to improve as a club and this, on paper at least, massively improves us