In other news, looks like we have a tricksy LW on the training pitch in the event of Bryan Gil's annual January loan
Sports BILGE are linking us with Eintracht Frankfurt's Egyptian LW Omar Marmoush, which definitely doesn't sound like his agent sounding out an improved contract after he's got 7 goals and 3 assists in 15 Bundesliga matches this season Just saying, he's also picked up five bookings on those 15 games, and given he's a passenger when Eintracht don't have the ball I just can't see him being on any spreadsheets
The Bergvall talk has resurfaced. Despite Romano saying he’d picked Barca, various other journos are saying he’s undecided. He’d visisted our training ground a few days ago and has just left the Barca facilities without giving them a definitive answer. Apparently we’ve offered him a spot in the squad straight away, where as Barca are offering a development route from the B team/ academy.
There’s probably more sense in actually letting him stay there until June. I doubt he’d get much game time here with one game a week and players like Maddison, Bentancur, Sarr, Bissouma guaranteed to start ahead. To be honest, I’d much rather see us invest time in Devine from next season, we’ve got a potential HG superstar on our hands with him.
The thing with Bergvall is he could be a Swiss army knife in our team as he can potentially play in either of the transitionary midfield roles, which could definitely make him an asset for the remainder of the season on the assumption that Sarr or Bissouma might start to look leggy getting into the last half dozen games due to playing a ton of football for us plus the AFCON grind This would also likely mean he wouldn't be in Alfie Devine's way going into next season either, as he's more likely to play in the Maddison role That also does mean there would be some interesting midfield combinations for next season if we work on the assumption that we'll be aiming to keep the core of Maddison, Bentancur and Sarr and supplement it with Bergvall, Devine, Bissouma and Skipp - which would also mean that Hojbjerg and Lo Celso would be generating money to invest in other areas of the team, not their replacements
I think all of that is more of just a hopeful theory though at the moment more so than a realistic expectation. With primarily one game a week for the next 15 or 16 remaining fixtures, it's almost certain that a 17 year old wouldn't play that much. Hojbjerg and Skipp would still likely start games before he did, at best he'd probably be picking up the crumbs similar to what Donley's currently doing and I think we're wasting Donley by doing that because 5-6 minutes every 2 or 3 weeks won't really help develop a player. Phillips and Devine (and Parrott) are likely going to come back as far better players and further in progression than what Donley (and now Scarlett, plus Dorrington pre-injury) will be by remaining on the fringes here. I'd happily take being wrong on it should he choose us over Barca but I just think he's likely going to have 6 or even 7 (if Lo Celso can stay fit) midfielders vying for game time over him if he arrived this window.
Another way to look at it is that dripfeeding him into the team for the remainder of the season is arguably the smartest way to use him anyway, considering the Allsvenskan season ran April-November and Djurgardens have only just started their pre-season in the last couple of weeks, so if he arrives now he's going to be lacking match fitness anyway so we have some time to work him up to that level while giving him minutes here and there to get him up to speed with PL football in much the same way as if we sign someone from a South American club in the summer (as evidenced with our handling of Sandro and Veliz)
I just don't even think he'll get those here and there minutes though. I suppose it's wishful thinking based on how this season's gone but if all our midfielders do indeed remain fit for the remainder of the campaign, we can expect a starting trio of Maddison, Bentancur and Sarr in most games, there'll then be Bissouma, Hojbjerg, Skipp and Lo Celso all vying for sub appearances or a occasional start (especially Bissouma), I think it's a strong possibility Bergvall wouldn't even make our bench at the moment, unless a big call by Ange was made and one of Lo Celso (when fit), Skipp or Hojbjerg get dropped from the squad. I'd rather let him clock up a few more months in Sweden then arrive in the summer where he'll be match fit, go on pre-season to try and impress and then assess what's then best heading into the new season, whether it's sticking around with the first team or heading out on loan. What European competition we might be in could be a factor in that decision; if we're in Europa or Conference there's every chance he'd get a decent amount of minutes, if we get Champions League then I think a loan would be better for him. Probably be sod's law we don't even sign him anyway, lol.
Ornstein says Sevilla's made a bid to sign Veliz on loan, no buy option. Tough one, will he play enough here for the remainder of the season to justify not going out on loan and potentially playing in most games (even if not a starter) with Sevilla? He's played just 42 minutes in the Premier League so far and we only have Prem games remaining too. I'd lean towards accepting it but the thing is, I know what'll happen, we'll accept the offer and then Richarlison gets a two month injury a week later.
I'd be happy for him to get some significant minutes, if he's fit enough to play out there. Sevilla are ****ing dreadful this season, though. We've got a few players scoring in the academy, so the risk could be mitigated there. Not the same as scoring for the first team, of course, but Veliz isn't a guarantee in that regard, either.
Quiet day on here me thinks. Deadline day for us hasn’t had any surprises in a long time. I do miss those days. Endlessly reading articles from nonsense sources, “ITK” twitter accounts etc… now it’s just Fabrizio Romano. Boring!
There’s actually been talk on Twitter about how Romano’s ruining transfers and I think they’re right. The days of signing someone seemingly out of the blue are long gone, you get 15 tweets and then a “here we go!” to the point where the official announcement feels a week late
Dan KP says Veliz is travelling to Sevilla, think it’ll be good for him. There’s an Argentinian there he might get along with…
I find it interesting how 1 bloke has managed to dominate the transfer market in terms of accurate information. He’s become like the “Amazon” of online purchases. How does someone come out of nowhere and gain the relevant contacts ?
I reckon he was initially a drug dealer before becoming a journo. Built up all his high end contacts that enjoy the marching powder and then one day, BAM, he’s a journalist messaging for info, knows he could expose people in high places with blackmail and so now we have a guy with the best contacts in the game. I think it’s a solid theory.
Swedish reports saying Kulu is trying to help convince Bergvall to join. Dan KP also says we’re in no rush for a decision as the move would go through in the summer. Initial reports did say we wanted to do the deal in Jan but I do think this would be better, lets him get another few months of first team football under his belt.
If he wasn't coming back from an injury I'd be hesitant But because he is, getting some solid minutes definitely sounds like a sound choice - plus he can pick up some ****ehousery tips from Erik Lamela while he's there
