Seems like the last couple of windows we have had very ambitious links like the Gift Orban - I mean we havent got any like
Agree there mate we have been ambitious for a while, just feels a whole new level this time around. Obviously being in the prem is impacting that but it’s beyond what I thought we’d be doing.
Xhaka would be a great signing. And I don't believe it means Neil will go. In fact, I think a quality signing like Xhaka would be great for Neil, as he could be his understudy. Neil is young and plenty of room to grow, Xhaka massive experience with a good 2 years still in him. The parallel I would draw is Gerard and Henderson. Let's see if it happens, but it would be extremely significant and amazing signing
Just looking at who we have signed and the positions we are still looking to recruit, strikes me not many of our core 11 will be playing... Watson, Jobe gone....whispers about Mundle, Cirkin, Neil, Ballard and Patterson. Then factor in us spending shed loads of of cash on Le Fee, Diarra, Adingra, Sadiki, Reinildo and Talbi... i'm scratching my head wondering from our squad of last season..who will start... Hume, Rigg, Mayenda, Isador probably ....then others who may or may not get regular match time..O'Nein, Roberts, Huggins
btw Sadiki has took Matete's number, so he will likely be gone. That should mean the others who didn't go will have their squad numbers opened up. Hemir 9, Poveda 36, Ba 17, Pembele 6
From the Athletic below. Nothing new. Sunderland hold an interest in signing Granit Xhaka from Bayer Leverkusen. The 32-year-old former Arsenal midfielder has played a key role for Leverkusen across his two seasons at the Bundesliga side, making 99 appearances and helping the club to the first Bundesliga title and DFB-Pokal in 2023-24. Xhaka’s Leverkusen contract runs through to 2028 and he is also the subject of interest from Saudi Arabia. The Switzerland captain previously spent seven years at Arsenal, where he made 297 appearances and won the FA Cup in 2016-17 and 2019-20 Newly-promoted Sunderland have been active in the transfer market this summer and have already signed six players, including making midfielder Enzo Le Fee’s loan move permanent. The newly-promoted club have also signed central midfielder Habib Diarra, wingers Simon Adringra and Chemsdine Talbi, full-back Reinildo and the versatile Noah Sadiki. Diarra and Sadiki will give Sunderland depth in central midfield positions but they are also keen to add Xhaka following the sale of Jobe Bellingham to Borussia Dortmund earlier this summer. Xhaka would become the latest high profile exit from Leverkusen this summer, after Florian Wirtz joined Liverpool in a club record €136.3million (£116m) transfer, while Jeremie Frimpong also departed for Anfield after the Premier League champions activated his €35million (£29.6m;$39.3m) release clause. Erik ten Hag was appointed Leverkusen’s new head coach earlier this summer, succeeding Xabi Alonso following the Spaniard’s move to Real Madrid.
Mind that’s a pretty big journalist still https://x.com/sebsb?s=21&t=g9W9pAuLpRHQlzC_KYbVfA German correspondent for the athletic
Id still like an outlet (in addition to Sacha) refer to more than just “interest”. Feels a bit like they’re all piggy backing at the moment rather than reporting anything new