Transfer Rumours transfer thread fact and fiction

I believe having no fit keepers is one of the exceptions to signing a player outside the window.

The cons of having 2 keepers is that you can never give them a day off. They either play or are on the bench for every game. In the past Hugo has been left at home for some Europe/League Cup away games.

 

Yeah, you can sign an emergency keeper if that were to happen. Barcelona were even allowed to do it for a striker when they signed Braithwaite from Leganes.

In terms of days off though, that applies to just about everyone in the squad. Kane and Son will rarely ever be left out of a squad. Being in the CL next season too means that rotation is less likely for European games, in the EL or ECL we could make multiple changes, not a chance we can make 5+ changes to our XI in the CL, we'd almost certainly get murdered. So Hugo will likely play in every league and European game if fit, with Forster to deputise in the domestics. When it comes to the domestics, we could then leave Hugo out, with someone like Gunter or another academy keeper being on the bench.

 

what’s your limit? Mine is £120k.

 

Lower Bruce!

 

I reckon he’d probably take that.

If it were down to me I’d go up to £200k but don’t think he’d demand that much. £200k a week on a one year deal is just over a £10m outlay, for some genuine quality off the bench it’s pretty much peanuts to clubs nowadays.

 

The real question is how much there is to the rumours of him retiring after the World Cup

If that were the case, £150-180k p/w for a six month contract doesn't seem too much to offer

 

I wouldn't get out of bed for less....

 

Gabriel Jesus keeps getting linked

As far as I can see, there are only two advantages to this
i.) QArsenal Twitter might actually implode
ii.) The thought of Levy lowballing The Sheikh Mansour Team followed by Conte bitching at them in press conferences for not accepting our perfectly reasonable offer is, frankly, delicious to think about

 

Cardiff City are stepping up their efforts to pull off the improbable signing of Wales captain Gareth Bale.

Bluebirds chairman Mehmet Dalman has flown into the United Kingdom to lead negotiations.

 

I'm going to bet that his pilot actually knows how to fly a plane, rather than having spent 10 minutes on some PlayStation game

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61711579

This is an intriguing development and not at all surprising. I wonder if we could step in and at least ruffle some feathers.

Looked absolutely superb whenever I saw him play - and at 23 is easily one of the most promising young keepers out there.

Would cost an absolute fortune as he is on a long term contract but Allison isn't going anywhere and is only 29, which is pittance for a GK. So Kelleher itching for a move could be the long-term replacement for Hugo we've spent over a year looking for.

Watching the Pool forum implode would be an added bonus.

 

Good shout, although I would still say Gavin Bazunu would be a better bet. Wants out from Citeh, is 3 years younger and more likely to happily take a year to transition to No 1 (assuming Hugo will be calling it a day then).

 

Gonna be a huge decision when deciding who to go for to replace Lloris. Been one of, if not the best keeper the club has had.

Feels like we massively lucked out with Hugo too, it’s not often you can sign a keeper that was already considered elite and keep them for 10+ years. Realistically I’d say we’d need to brace ourselves that his replacement likely won’t be as good but it doesn’t mean they can’t be good enough.

As for who we go for though I don’t really have a standout contender or even a type. Do we look for another long term number one or someone who’s maybe already in their prime and can be here for about 4-5 years?

Kelleher’s looked good but only played a handful of games. Pool will probably want £30m+ to sell and that feels far too big a risk at the moment.

Bazunu similar, never played a top flight game but looked great for Ireland and on loan at Pompey.

Unai Simon is a year older than Kelleher with bags more experience. Ousted de Gea as Spain number one.

Pope is someone I like but I don’t think we’ll get him. He’s 30 now and will surely leave Burnley this summer to aid his WC hopes. Won’t join here to play backup and so his next move will probably be his last.

Bit of a shame Leipzig signed Vandevoordt for 2024, he looks a great prospect and a deal like that could’ve been great for us.

Unless I’ve missed it, Onana hasn’t officially joined Inter so is still available on a free. Paratici loves a freebie…

I think Fulham have agreed a deal for Strakosha who was once linked with us, not sure if it’s official yet but if not he’d be a decent freebie to pick up too.

Thankfully we’ve still got some time to decide though. Hugo’s here til 2024 and after the season just gone he doesn’t seem to be slowing up.

 

Tottenham have no plans to sign Wales captain Gareth Bale for a third time as the 32-year-old winger contemplates where he will prepare for the this year's World Cup. (Telegraph)

 

I can still remember being a bit unsure about Lloris, as we signed him virtually unchallenged.
Didn't make much sense to me at the time, so I assumed there was something wrong with him.
Not sure what it was, unless his distribution really put people off. Weird.

 

< FACT >

 

Dharmesh Sheth saying we’re in talks with Inter for Bastoni and that Conte and Paratici want majority of business done before pre-season.

Matt Law reckons Fat Frank wants Winks.

 

Shades of Everton, Mike Walker and Vinny Samways...


...God bless Everton!

 

Look at this strike!!!!

 

Well I have said in the past he needs to move to London if he really wants to hold the Tories to account...