On the same front, Sebastian Bornauw has now handed in a transfer request: https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2021/07/07/west-ham-ellyes-skhiri/
Josh King signs a 2 year deal with Watford, so that's another rumour ended. I make that 7 forwards on their books now, so interesting to see how they handle game time.
Back to the transfer situation, while we await new arrivals, here's an in depth independent look at what Billy Gilmour will bring next season. The free subscription gives you 3 free articles a month: https://totalfootballanalysis.com/p...rt-tactical-analysis-tactics?lp_txn_id=167188 In a nutshell: "What is most distinctive about his game is his dribbling. He carries the ball with such a buoyant aura – there is no fear even when there are multiple players on his location. He uses his opponent’s momentum against them and in favour of him. A quick swivel and drive into another direction to keep possession and quite frequently to break opponent pressure and bypass it." His passing is another attribute: "Gilmour can hurt teams with his passing from deeper positions. He has shown promising fundamentals when it comes to his vision, and an ability to pick out a line-breaking pass. His time on the pitch so far has not yet accompanied these passes with regularity, but he has demonstrated the ability to do so, now it will be Farke and the Norwich coaching team’s job to encourage this from him more frequently. This penetrative passing could mesh quite nicely with new summer signing Milot Rashica, a player most known for his goalscoring, pace, and clever movement into dangerous areas in the Bundesliga." That combination could make all the difference.
What seem to be the main points in the Pinkun's 'Window Watch': Norwich not any further on from the position they were 2/3 weeks ago with Ajer, seems the ball is in Celtics court with the offer of 10 million plus add ons. Billing is interested to move on and Bournemouth seem potentially resigned to losing him, but no movement on that yet. Norwich potentially in for another Striker and Wide AM as well as central midfielder and CB that we already know they about. They acknowledge that it’s a different line from the one they had been giving out over the last month or so. Might depend on Hugill moving on. Omobamidele appears to be impressing those at the club with the shape he’s returned in, looks like there is a hint he could be viewed as a useful back up for this season.
"What Gilmour does not have, is the mobility to cover the defensive third laterally and protect the backline to a sufficient level on his own. Norwich will look to be more compact than their last endeavour in the topflight, so Gilmour will be accompanied by another midfielder, but this will almost certainly be a player with defensive nous – essentially unlocking Gilmour’s world-class talent on the ball." Assuming DF persists in pushing both FBs forward in possession, this Gilmour analysis would appear to make a shift to a back 3 more likely?
Brentford have reportedly had a bid of £15m turned down for Ajer, £12m + £3m in add ons with Celtic now wanting £20m. The longer this goes on the less sense this transfer makes, Celtic are trying to start a bidding war. I believe he was Webber’s first choice but I think he will be moving on to other players now
Agree with that completely Suffolk. According to the Norwegian source: "Celtic is demanding £20m to let Ajer go this window. Negotiations with Brentford + other clubs now collapsed and Ajer looks likely to stay at Celtic for last year of contract". If that's true, then let's move on. My preference would be Bornauw, but Wolfsburg are also interested in him. Here's Paddy's latest take on transfers: https://www.pinkun.com/sport/norwic...ier-league-transfer-business-assessed-8135150
Possibly, but there are different options available. Ignoring possible incoming players, a Gilmour/McLean partnership would leave us weaker defensively in midfield. Sørensen is our only true DM and could replace either, or we could play with a midfield 3 with all of them, with Rupp the other possibility. If DF sticks to a midfield 2, then 3 at the back could become more likely, with our current CBs or even Sørensen as an acting CB, having played there before. Either choice would mean one less attacking player, though that could be lessened if defenders or midfield players are allowed to move forward when we have the ball and/or we counterattack more using the pace of Rashica and Pukki.
I hope good young players are looking at this and comparing Celtic's approach to Ajer with our approach to Buendia, Godfrey, etc. I know where I would go if I was 18 and full of potential. (Dream on!)
Norwich fans also clocked a private jet flying Nice-Norwich yesterday... 28 year old midfielder with 150+ Ligue 1 appearances and more than 20 goals. Fairly ever present for Nice last season, playing CM predominantly in a 3-4-3, but also appearing as an attacking midfielder in a 3-4-2-1. Bethnal notes that he's well liked at Nice because of his attitude, but isn't sure he'd be a step up on McLean.
'Nice' to have a solid rumour to get Monday off and running. After all the well blogged rumours we've had, trust SW to come up with a player out of the blue (well, bleu anyway). Bethnal is a reliable source as well and if the private jet has been clocked then there's only a sighting in ASDA to come.
And there's also the expensive car parked at a jaunty angle outside. Here's Bethnal's detailed comments: "He's very much a player like Kenny McLean, rather than Stiepermann or Vrancic. A box-to-box midfielder, who while maybe not the most technically gifted, will run all day and make challenges and progress the ball up the pitch with carries, rather than passes. An archetypical No.8. He's also over 6ft tall (although maybe not the strongest). If this is true (and I suspect it is) then he will probably be coming in ahead of Billing and OGC Nice were rumoured to be looking to sell him on for €5m - which would certainly free up some budget. He appears to be a bit of a cult figure in Nice - while some love him, some hate him. His addition could be further evidence of Norwich going to a more 4-3-3 next season with more combative midfielders who run with the ball, rather than trying to pass it up the pitch." For the more stats minded, there's this: Looking at his SmarterScout stats, compared to other CM's in Ligue 1, he has: Defending Quantity 92, Recovery 78, Disrupting Opposition Attacks 85, Link Up 70, Shooting 73 Which could suggest him being a number 8 playing as a number 6 in a 'double 6 pivot' like McLean does now or even as that role in a 3 man midfield.
€5m is around £4.25m at the moment which would be a very reasonable price and considerably less than the £10m being asked for Billing and I'd guess more reasonable wages as well. A solid if not hugely exciting signing if it happens and it could leave room in the budget for signing another striker/AM as well as a quality CB. Pierre Lees-Melou - Insane Tackles & Assists | Nice | 2021 - YouTube
