Winter transfer window

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Is that Ali Al-Hamadi?

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/oth...nd-providing-hope-for-his-country/ar-AA1lyCkg

"What is Al-Hamadi like as a player?

Standing at 1.87m (6ft 2in), Al-Hamadi is more of your sort of classic number 9, in the sense that he prefers to play on the last line of defence and pounce on the ball in behind, or to pick up the ball just in front of the opposition back line before driving at them with his pace and power.

He possesses several finishes in his arsenal, can finish with both his right and left foot and is good at deciding whether to shoot with power or place the ball beyond the keeper.

The 21-year-old’s physical presence allows him to go toe-to-toe with opposition defenders, using his frame to shield the ball before laying off a pass to a teammate. This presence allows him to be a focal point of attack if his side wants to be direct and his awareness allows him to play affective one-twos with teammates.

Al-Hamadi enjoys driving with the ball when presented with the opportunity, dragging the opposition away from their natural position before opening up gaps for teammates.
Being so young, he has much he can improve on, no less his aerial presence in attacking scenarios or his overall decision-making.

He has been directly involved in almost half of Wimbledon’s goals this season and they are a much better team with him on the pitch."
That’s him mate didn’t want to butcher the spelling!
 
Kristjaan Speakman's plan for Jack Clarke's future at Sunderland

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https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/s...peakmans-plan-jack-clarkes-future-sunderland/

By Scott Wilson

KRISTJAAN SPEAKMAN has strongly denied that Sunderland are a ‘selling club’, and insists Jack Clarke will only leave if his departure is in the best long-term interests of the Black Cats.

“I don’t know who first used the words ‘the model’,” said Sunderland’s sporting director, who was sitting alongside Michael Beale yesterday as the new head coach conducted his first press conference at the Academy of Light. “I think it might have been me and if it was, I should probably check myself because that has come back every (time).

“It’s just about having a really well-organised organisation at your football club. The selling the players part is a by-product of doing well, and that should be on the choice of the club in collaboration with the player at a given moment.

“The football club has turned down numerous bids on numerous players over the last couple of years, and we have sold one player (Ross Stewart). I feel it is a slight misrepresentation around the direction of travel and what the objective of the club is because, if we were a selling club, we would have made loads of sales - and we haven’t.”

Clarke’s future has been the subject of especially intense speculation in the last few weeks, with Burnley considering a new approach when the window reopens and Brentford also being heavily linked with a potential move for the 23-year-old winger.

Speakman admits every situation will be judged on its individual merits, but is adamant there is no desire to weaken a squad that has realistic hopes of winning promotion this season.

“When players do really, really, well and they attract the attention of the Premier League outfits then naturally that is going to be a difficult moment,” he said. “But our ownership has been rock-solid around that, and I don't think we will be looking to trade players when we have that opportunity to get promoted.”

And if and when the Sunderland hierarchy do decide to move a player on, it will be with the intention of reinvesting funds in order to make the overall squad stronger.

“That’s always been our strategy from the start,” continued Speakman. “That by-product from doing well does allow you to trade and one of the most efficient methods of getting to the top of our league, with more spending power to invest in whatever you want to invest in - facilities, people, players - is to trade players. But it won't ever be against our number one objective, which is to get promoted and grow the club.”

….. Beale accepts that one of his key priorities will be to try to get at least one of the club’s existing centre-forwards up and running in front of goal, but Speakman and the rest of Sunderland’s recruitment team have also been discussing the option of bringing in another striker next month.

“We certainly want to convert some of our dominance into more goals,” said Speakman. “If you look at the team that Michael took at Rangers, you are talking about a high-possession team that had to break down teams that played a low block, so there are a lot of similarities in terms of some of the more recent teams Michael's teams have played against.

“From a coaching standpoint he can come and sprinkle some more ideas about how we can be more effective there. From a transfer window perspective, the club has always invested either in the short, but certainly in the medium and long-term, around trying to improve the quality.

“We’ll continue to approach that, and we have been on with that piece of work since the (summer) transfer window closed and that will run alongside everything we have done in recent weeks.”
 
@Scout73 You know anything about Tim Iroegbunam from Villa.
Seen a few links lately

Taken from Aston Villa News....

Iroegbunam will likely leave in January, whether that’s a loan or a permanent with a buy-back we’ll have to see. There will be no shortage of interest in the midfielder after his bright season at QPR.

Iroegbunam was involved in the matchday squad in the 3-1 win over Luton Town on 29th October and featured for the under-21s in the Football League trophy against Crawley Town in a 3-2 defeat (7 November) making a major impression.

As per SofaScore, the young English talent was sensational off the ball, winning a whopping 16 duels in his 90 minutes of action, recording 73 touches, successfully completed 75% of his passes, recorded two key passes, successfully completed four dribbles and won eight fouls in an eventful and dominant display.
 
Taken from Aston Villa News....

Iroegbunam will likely leave in January, whether that’s a loan or a permanent with a buy-back we’ll have to see. There will be no shortage of interest in the midfielder after his bright season at QPR.

Iroegbunam was involved in the matchday squad in the 3-1 win over Luton Town on 29th October and featured for the under-21s in the Football League trophy against Crawley Town in a 3-2 defeat (7 November) making a major impression.

As per SofaScore, the young English talent was sensational off the ball, winning a whopping 16 duels in his 90 minutes of action, recording 73 touches, successfully completed 75% of his passes, recorded two key passes, successfully completed four dribbles and won eight fouls in an eventful and dominant display.
Sounds like what we need and worked under Beale before…. I’m in
 
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Taken from Aston Villa News....

Iroegbunam will likely leave in January, whether that’s a loan or a permanent with a buy-back we’ll have to see. There will be no shortage of interest in the midfielder after his bright season at QPR.

Iroegbunam was involved in the matchday squad in the 3-1 win over Luton Town on 29th October and featured for the under-21s in the Football League trophy against Crawley Town in a 3-2 defeat (7 November) making a major impression.

As per SofaScore, the young English talent was sensational off the ball, winning a whopping 16 duels in his 90 minutes of action, recording 73 touches, successfully completed 75% of his passes, recorded two key passes, successfully completed four dribbles and won eight fouls in an eventful and dominant display.

What the Falk done a preview with a QPR before our game this year. Said this lad was class but as soon as Beale left he downed tools as he only went there for him.
Wouldn't be surprised if we were in for him and if we were, we'd probably get him.