Really? serious question here m8, how do u know that was never ever going to be the case? Insider info? Or just your honest opinion?
I don't think two CBs of the calibre of Disasi and Lucumi is the route we'll take. I imagine it'll be one or the other. I wouldn't be against one of them and then a cheaper, younger CB coming in but that would mean needing to get Seelt, Alese and Hjelde out playing games. We have so many players we need to get out the door, both loans and permanents. I'm starting to fear that we may not be able to do it. Blondy, Huggins, Pembele, Seelt, Hjelde, Alese, Anderson, Matete, Rusyn, Browne, Aleksic, Ba, Hemir, Abdullahi, Poveda. Then if another winger comes in i'd want to see Roberts going. Plus, Cirkin and Neil are they going to sign new deals? If not then we really need to be maximising their value this summer. I haven't even mentioned u21s either. That's a lot of business to get done in under a week.
Just the way we operate. It was never going to be a case of signing from the championship, especially 4 or 5
I think Neil’s gone. There may be a delay on Cirkin because of injury but wouldn’t surprise me if he leaves. Getting slightly twitchy about Rigg. Same. As long as they’re good enough and have a history of being resilient.
According to Il Resto del Carlino, Bologna are wary of a legal battle over FIFA’s Article 17 clause. Lucumí did not inform his club within the required 15-day window after the final game of last season, which would have been necessary to trigger unilateral termination. That potential “can of worms” is one both sides seem keen to avoid. Instead, the pressure is mounting on Bologna to agree a deal. La Gazzetta dello Sport confirm that Sunderland’s €30m bid remains on the table and that Bologna are already intensifying contacts with Union Berlin defender Diogo Leite as a ready-made replacement. That move could unlock Lucumí’s exit within days. For Sunderland, this represents a statement signing. Having consolidated their Premier League status, the Black Cats are signalling ambition to strengthen their defensive core. Could this be the turning point in their summer window? The Rossoblù remain reluctant sellers. Lucumí has been central to their defensive structure since arriving from Genk in 2022. But with the player keen to move, Bologna are under pressure to avoid unrest in the dressing room. Their pursuit of Union Berlin’s Diogo Leite suggests contingency planning is well underway. Once a replacement is secured, Bologna may have little choice but to sanction the deal with Sunderland before the transfer window slams shut.
It's a fine balancing act. You make excellent points but it's also imperative that we assemble a very strong defence.
Thanks for posting mate.....excellent article,which will not have been lost on KLD and KS,who,I'm certain,will have a very similar project occupying their minds.
No still lost m8. I said what I expected on promotion, and as we’d never been in the premier league I told you what I expected, as we’d never ever operated in that environment before, I also expected them to give a core number from the promotion team a go, hence that’s what my opinion of our operating strategy. So you’re saying with hindsight it’s not how we do business?
Btw, Tom White mentioned on the RR podcast that even if we didn't manage to shift them, they don't train with the squad, they likely aren't registered, and their wages barely dent the structure
It's more to do with maximising value though. Even if most of them leave for £1m or less this summer, that would give us so much headroom with PSR that it would theoretically allow us to sign a £40m player on a 4 year deal. I've named 18 players there that could/should be moved on, whether Tom White says it or not they are definitely taking a large portion of our wages to barely play. Only Seelt and Roberts out of that 18 have played a PL minute in the opening 2 games.
So you thought they weren’t good enough at the point of promotion? And you thought we’d spend £150m on replacing them? Well done m8, you’re clearly more tuned in than I am, anyway got to tee off in 10 so have a good one.
I knew the squad needed serious investment if we were to have any chance of survival. The club agreed, thankfully
I don't think it's a problem really if we fail to shift some of those players, not in financial terms anyway. Would be amazed if Alese or Hjelde go anywhere seeing as they are still injured. Hemir has apparently already got a loan back to Portugal. Don't think Cirkin, Neil, or Roberts will be going anywhere. Huggins will have plenty suitors for a loan to the Championship. Ditto Browne. Imagine Poveda will have teams willing to take a punt too. Anderson seems to have zero desire to move on, I assume that's money related. Would be good to shift Ba, Pembele, Rusyn and Matete, but not going to break the bank if we don't.
Not so sure it is that cut and dried mate. Arsenal under pressure to win the league and they can find ways to give academy players meaningful time. Dowman was probably the best player on the pitch mind. Look at the goal the young lad at Liverpool scored age 16 yesterday - huge pressure moment and Liverpool trust the lad. The signal it sends through the whole academy is enormous. We have our own super talent in Rigg imo. If he is not ready to play premier league football I will eat my hat. Like Arteta said about Dowman, Mowbray said about Rigg - you have to look beyond the age and see the player. It takes bravery from coaches to play such young lads, but I would wager in Riggs case he will shine and leave some of the lads purchase this summer in his wake. Academy football is producing players ready for elite football at younger ages these days. No point accelerating their development when they are so talented, to then stall it a the finishing line for them.