Transfer Rumours Summer Transfer window

[Scout73]

I have previously said the same on the thread. As it standa Neil and the club need to sort their **** out quickly. I also have said Xhaka would improve us and be a cracking replacement if Neil went.

However, if Neil signs a new contract I wouldnt swap him for Xhaka. I would still sign Xhaka if everything fell into place (although I still think this is a convenient media story mostly).

Why would I keep Neil? 9/10 years younger. More than capable of playing mid level premier league football imo. Will relish having better players finding better space for his passing range. He is an academy lad and our captain. I have said loads of times on here how academy players in our first team makes the club better and stronger. That is even more the case now we are in the premier league.

Now like I said I would take Xhaka. But here is an interesting question. How many 33 year olds performed regularly in the premier league last season? I am racking my brains to think of many? Most of those I can think of were below par. Casameiro, Gundogan, Lallana, Morsy. Few bit part players maybe like Jorghino? Maybe there are some I am missing. But has me wondering anyway.

All fair

Still not sure on Neil's potential, I thought he was bang average for quite a bit of last season bar a 2 month period where he was the best CM in the league

I honestly think the point about how many 33 yrs are playing consistently in the PL is totally irrelevant

It's like saying we shouldn't have built a tean of young players as teams don't get promoted with a team of youngsters

As i said I want neil to stay and I want xhaka, I think he would take so much pressure off neil and neil would learn so much from him

 

[Scout73]

How many 33 year olds are playing well in bottom half of the premier League mate ?

Totally irrelevant tho, as I've responded to felltop, how many teams get promoted with a team as young as ours - none

So it doesn't matter how old he is, it's about what he can bring to our team

He brings energy, fight, positional awareness, tempo, composure and experience - that's all valuable for us

 

[Prehab26]

Are we getting above our station a little here? He played 49 games for the 2nd best team in Germany last season?

If you simply view it like that, yes. We are.

However, it's in the detail ain't it. They dominant nearly every game, different league, different pace and different responsibilities.

We do need experience, absolutely. Just prefer someone who is likely to have their best years again of them, not retirement.

Aim for the 28 year old market IMO. More I think about it, I don't want a 33 year old on a 3 year deal here as literally the top earner at the club.

 

[FellTop]

One thing about this is certain ...

... we've no idea how Neil will cope in the PL, we know Xhaka will.

It may be that the club want them both in the squad but if I had to choose today I'd go for Xhaka.

I dont think we can be certain about anything to be honest mate. It is all about predictions and reaearch at the moment. Only Adringa has league experience but can he do it in our system? Could Xhaka deal with being in a team out of possession at his age? No certainties in any of this. Partly why it is such a beuatiful bloody game and so much fun to talk about.

If I was to say one thing I am most confident about it would be ONien still finding a way to play in our side and getting under the skin of elite forwards.

 

[Prehab26]

Totally irrelevant tho, as I've responded to felltop, how many teams get promoted with a team as young as ours - none

So it doesn't matter how old he is, it's about what he can bring to our team

He brings energy, fight, positional awareness, tempo, composure and experience - that's all valuable for us

Will be have that energy and mobility in the premier for the next year or 2? Doubful IMO.

 

[Scout73]

If you simply view it like that, yes. We are.

However, it's in the detail ain't it. They dominant nearly every game, different league, different pace and different responsibilities.

We do need experience, absolutely. Just prefer someone who is likely to have their best years again of them, not retirement.

Aim for the 28 year old market IMO. More I think about it, I don't want a 33 year old on a 3 year deal here as literally the top earner at the club.

A 28 year old with xhakas talent and experience would cost a ridiculous amount of money though that's the issue

 

[Saf]

Be madness to drop a level after finally getting us over the line, don’t see any other prem teaming taking a punt on him though

Sadly, I feel the same. He’s got no pace, power or size. You need at least a couple of them attributes regardless of what position you play in the premier league. He also gets caught in possession, in dangerous areas, too much. He got away with it in the Championship, it could cost us a lot in the premier league.

 

[Hudson92]

If you simply view it like that, yes. We are.

However, it's in the detail ain't it. They dominant nearly every game, different league, different pace and different responsibilities.

We do need experience, absolutely. Just prefer someone who is likely to have their best years again of them, not retirement.

Aim for the 28 year old market IMO. More I think about it, I don't want a 33 year old on a 3 year deal here as literally the top earner at the club.

Fully get the argument and that he’s a short term signing, think we can carry one like this, I was on board with hendo when we added the legs of Diarra and Sadiki, feel xhaka is a step above hendo currently, would be over the moon with him, all about opinions though mate, if we can find similar quality 5 years younger then that would be the deal to make, agree on that

 

[Scout73]

Will be have that energy and mobility in the premier for the next year or 2? Doubful IMO.

For next year he would, he is ridiculously fit and still covers ground quickly. The year after, who knows but hopefully by then we are still in the PL and will have even more money to go after that CM in the peak of his career

Out of interest is there a player you have in mind that we could sign that would have thr experience and quality that xhaka would bring?

 

[Hudson92]

Sadly, I feel the same. He’s got no pace, power or size. You need at least a couple of them attributes regardless of what position you play in the premier league. He also gets caught in possession, in dangerous areas, too much. He got away with it in the Championship, it could cost us a lot in the premier league.

Id back Neil to improve mind on his day he’s very good, whether he develops quickly enough to be a mainstay and keep us up with another question, would love to keep him here though, love having a core of local lads in the team

 

[Scout73]

Fully get the argument and that he’s a short term signing, think we can carry one like this, I was on board with hendo when we added the legs of Diarra and Sadiki, feel xhaka is a step above hendo currently, would be over the moon with him, all about opinions though mate, if we can find similar quality 5 years younger then that would be the deal to make, agree on that

Spot on xhaka would be a short term signing only, it gives players like sadiki time to learn from him and adapt to the English game then they take over

Having a few experience players like this in a relegation battle is vital, hes a quality quality footballer

That's enough from me on the subject as I honwstly can't see it happening

 

[Scootsie]

If you simply view it like that, yes. We are.

However, it's in the detail ain't it. They dominant nearly every game, different league, different pace and different responsibilities.

We do need experience, absolutely. Just prefer someone who is likely to have their best years again of them, not retirement.

Aim for the 28 year old market IMO. More I think about it, I don't want a 33 year old on a 3 year deal here as literally the top earner at the club.

I guess it depends what condition Xhaka is in these days.

It’ll be a long, hard season for us, and for him if he’s winding down. Admittedly haven’t seen much of him recently but he’s played his best football there by all accounts?

Different league and teams though as you say. It’s a hard one that could go either way but worth the risk for me.

 

[MadMackem77]

Will be have that energy and mobility in the premier for the next year or 2? Doubful IMO.

Yes he absolutely will. He’s still playing at the top levels and showing 0 signs of slowing down

he’s just played nearly ever game in an incredibly intense Xabi Alonso system.

leverkusen have him tied down til 2028.

there’s 0 to suggest that won’t continue

 

[Smug in Boots]

I dont think we can be certain about anything to be honest mate. It is all about predictions and reaearch at the moment. Only Adringa has league experience but can he do it in our system? Could Xhaka deal with being in a team out of possession at his age? No certainties in any of this. Partly why it is such a beuatiful bloody game and so much fun to talk about.

If I was to say one thing I am most confident about it would be ONien still finding a way to play in our side and getting under the skin of elite forwards.

I have to say it worried me when Neil had to come off early at Wembley.

It was the biggest game of his career and he said, in his own words, ‘his calves had gone’ …

… the Premier League eats players up and I’m not sure he can boss it tbh.

 

[MadMackem77]

Also not sure it’s fair to use the different league argument when he’s played in the prem but also the pace of the bundesliga is ridiculous

 

[Prehab26]

For next year he would, he is ridiculously fit and still covers ground quickly. The year after, who knows but hopefully by then we are still in the PL and will have even more money to go after that CM in the peak of his career

Out of interest is there a player you have in mind that we could sign that would have thr experience and quality that xhaka would bring?

How much would John McGinn run you ?

 

[Hudson92]

Spot on xhaka would be a short term signing only, it gives players like sadiki time to learn from him and adapt to the English game then they take over

Having a few experience players like this in a relegation battle is vital, hes a quality quality footballer

That's enough from me on the subject as I honwstly can't see it happening

Yeah been sceptical on the link from the off, seems too good to be true and probably is, pleased we’re trying to get those level of lads in though

 

[Scout73]

How much would John McGinn run you ?

I wouldn't want mcginn, not been playing CM for years now - plays wider or as an AM

I love Mcginn as well, he's a legend up here but he wouldn't be a player that would suit us imo

I yhink xhakas ability on the ball and ability to organise would be class with the likes of Diarra, Enzo, Neil, Rigg and Sadiki around him

 

[Nads]

If we sign Xhaka and it’s out of the mould, but keeps us up, then it supports the model.

If we have £30 million dead money on him, but the value of the e young lads rockets and we bag another bundle of PL money as a result, it’s smart business.

The club will absolutely see the value in this.

 

[Pure River Slut]

I have previously said the same on the thread. As it standa Neil and the club need to sort their **** out quickly. I also have said Xhaka would improve us and be a cracking replacement if Neil went.

However, if Neil signs a new contract I wouldnt swap him for Xhaka. I would still sign Xhaka if everything fell into place (although I still think this is a convenient media story mostly).

Why would I keep Neil? 9/10 years younger. More than capable of playing mid level premier league football imo. Will relish having better players finding better space for his passing range. He is an academy lad and our captain. I have said loads of times on here how academy players in our first team makes the club better and stronger. That is even more the case now we are in the premier league.

Now like I said I would take Xhaka. But here is an interesting question. How many 33 year olds performed regularly in the premier league last season? I am racking my brains to think of many? Most of those I can think of were below par. Casameiro, Gundogan, Lallana, Morsy. Few bit part players maybe like Jorghino? Maybe there are some I am missing. But has me wondering anyway.

Personally my position;
1. I hope Neil accepts a contract at the right price - the price you pay a player who is stepping up not established and could go either way. Or we don’t bother and chip in Neil’s income to the Xhaka deal. Remember Neil has refused a contract others have accepted (while we chant one of our own) while performing badly for 2/3 of a championship season and top drawer for 1/3. It’s his choice but not showing enthusiasm to sign pisses me off a bit.

We sign a 6 of the ilk of Diarra anyway. An emerging star of the future who can smash it for us for 5 years or who’s price can double and maintain our growth and the best performer wins the place. it may not be Neil at this point in Neil’s journey.