Summer transfer window 2023 - rumours, links and discussion.

[Boss Hogg]

If BPF is off then Muric needs competition which this provides. Hell of a lot for an inexperienced goalkeeper though. What did Bolton fans make of him ?

[Spiral]

At least if we get Trafford he doesn’t have to be named in the 25 man squad

I wonder if this has at all played into us being willing to pay such a high transfer fee? It looks a lot a first glance, but if it means we can get another Benson or Zaroury or Al-Dakhil for dirt cheap and are able to pack the 25 man squad list right to the very limit of the rules on home grown players, the difference of six or seven million from what might seem a more realistic prediction of what we'd spend on a GK this summer (I didn't expect us to pay more than £10m) just gets shifted around from a non home grown GK to a home grown u21 one, freeing up an outfield place in the squad for another foreign player, and we might have decided that it's worth the premium on Trafford to have the flexibility of another outfield option.

[IanMcL]

It’s looking like BPF is on his way out so that leaves us with 3 first team keepers like any other team.

Have you seen all the keeper links with alleged bids???

[Spiral]

Bolton fans really rate him, but League One to PL is an insane jump up.

[Father Jack]

Maybe Kompany has decided to put this years W88 windfall to good use on team upgrades. If Trafford is £12m on a 4 year contract then may be as little as £3-4m outgoing this year with staged payments

[CrosspoolClarets]

No doubts at all Muric starts.

Trafford is 20, doesn’t know the players, or the system (notwithstanding City pedigree), is currently in a tournament, then will probably have a week off.

The shirt is Muric’s to keep. Heck, we have had 3 England keepers vying for a spot at one time recently. No way Trafford goes straight in.

[Hedontplayforyou]

Another conspiracy could be that the fee has been exaggerated to the media in order to not raise suspicion that Man City are being more favourable to their old captain and hero

[nil_desperandum]

But you need to keep some back, otherwise in case of relegation without an instant return we are basically knackered, as other clubs who spend without quite a bit in reserve are quickly finding out.

Doesn't that rather depend on whether you have invested in saleable assets?
I can see us making huge profits on (e.g.) Benson, Zaroury, Al Dakhil and others.
(We even made money on Collins this week!)
Whether there would be the same profit on someone like Trafford is more doubtful, but I think he's worth the risk.

[Spiral]

Another conspiracy could be that the fee has been exaggerated to the media in order to not raise suspicion that Man City are being more favourable to their old captain and hero

City have dragged UEFA through the courts for years because they're a cold, calculated, ruthless business machine. No way are they doing anyone favours. Sentimentality doesn't come into it.

[Darnhill Claret]

We'll find out soon enough.

[arise_sir_charge]

Doesn't that rather depend on whether you have invested in saleable assets?
I can see us making huge profits on (e.g.) Benson, Zaroury, Al Dakhil and others.
(We even made money on Collins this week!)
Whether there would be the same profit on someone like Trafford is more doubtful, but I think he's worth the risk.

If you can find a keeper that can keep and also play you potentially have a £50m player in your hands.

I’m not saying this lad is it as I don’t know much about him but if we think he could be then it’s probably worth the investment now.

[Hedontplayforyou]

City have dragged UEFA through the courts for years because they're a cold, calculated, ruthless business machine. No way are they doing anyone favours. Sentimentality doesn't come into it.

Conspiracy

I have just read however that we still want THB.
Also noticed that O’Shea has taken the number 2 shirt. Commonly chosen by players in the right back role. Might not mean anything of course but , you never know.

[warksclaret]

Bolton fans really rate him, but League One to PL is an insane jump up.

Just like Pope at Charlton

[boatshed bill]

Conspiracy

I have just read however that we still want THB.

And why not, you can't get enough quality defenders

[warksclaret]

The plot thickens

[Anthonini]

No doubts at all Muric starts.

Trafford is 20, doesn’t know the players, or the system (notwithstanding City pedigree), is currently in a tournament, then will probably have a week off.

The shirt is Muric’s to keep. Heck, we have had 3 England keepers vying for a spot at one time recently. No way Trafford goes straight in.

Why would a goalkeeper need a week off? He looks great from what I've seen so far. Looks like a really good transfer, Verbruggen is washed away now. Well done Vinnie!

Not sure about the Coulibaly move though. Even if he is a promising young talent, I'd never pay over 3m for this lad at the moment. 15 just seems crazy to me. He's a strong tall player though with a really good and hard long ball. Can play the ball deep effortlessly, probably the main reason why Kompany is looking out for him. Either way I must shut up when it comes to central defenders. Vinnie always knows best.

[SirBob]

Just like Pope at Charlton

Nothing like Pope at Charlton. Unless I’m missing something

[Jakubs Tash]

We forget that moving up one position in the PL, can get you £2m per position. Where this keeper is meant to be exceptional are his reflexes, calmness and anticipation. He could easily secure us another 6-10 points in a season, plus one mistake in the PL can cost you 3 points. How many points did Heaton earn us when we finished 7th

Not many - he only played about 4 games that season.

[Spiral]

Just like Pope at Charlton

Worked out alright!!! Though Pope was definitely brought in as the no2 keeper behind Heaton. We don't have the guaranteed security of a Tom Heaton if Muric and Trafford are disasters in the PL. It's a very high risk high reward approach that we're taking, but there's probably not a manager on the entire planet at Burnley's level I'd trust more than Kompany at this moment.

[Eyesofblue2]

Might be wise not to play him in our first game, if City hit their straps his confidence could be shot for the rest of the season.

[Spiral]

City is just a tune-up game for the start of the season. We'll be luck to keep it below 3, even with peak Peter Schmeichel in the net. Maybe a thrashing will get any fear out of the system, as in "this is as hard as it gets, only way is up from here".

[Tricky Trevor]

Re: Coulibaly.
With the quoted fee being in Euros it’s not quite so scary.
Spread over the deal it’s manageable.

IMG_3545.jpeg (34.38 KiB) Viewed 2465 times

[Commy]

Does anyone else think we need some experience to go with the young ones we are signing? That was Southampton's problem last year. They signed some decent young players but they didn't have enough experience to help them along.

[dermotdermot]

Apparently we’re quite keen to have THB back. That adds up to quite a few centre halves.

[Vegas Claret]

Might be wise not to play him in our first game, if City hit their straps his confidence could be shot for the rest of the season.

I'm hoping City have half a team missing, KDB will deffo be out for starters. They only finished their season 3 weeks ago

[Vegas Claret]

Does anyone else think we need some experience to go with the young ones we are signing? That was Southampton's problem last year. They signed some decent young players but they didn't have enough experience to help them along.

Yes it's an issue BUT the caveat is we have Vincent Kompany and they had Nathan ******* Jones !!!!

[Clive 1960]

Does anyone feel it's a lot of money for untested GK when we should be trying to get a Tella deal over the line as this kid won't be stepping in for Muric or have i missed something not living in the UK.

[Colburn_Claret]

Does anyone feel it's a lot of money for untested GK when we should be trying to get a Tella deal over the line as this kid won't be stepping in for Muric or have i missed something not living in the UK.

Most people would agree, but then there is so much we don't know. We don't know if the figures quoted are accurate. We don't know how many years we are paying over. We don't know how much Saints are asking for Tella, or if they want/need the cash up front. We don't know what the club can expect to get in future sales, maybe they see more value in Trafford than Tella. Trafford has the potential to be a 60 million pound goalkeeper. As much as I love Nathan, I don't see him ever being a 60 million pound striker.
It's all guess work on our part, we just have to have faith that VK and the board, know what they are doing.

[Spiral]

Nothing to suggest signing Trafford means we won't be in for Tella. We're capable of spinning plates. But Trafford 100% will start the season as No1, I think it's more logical to assume he's stepping in to replace Muric. Think about it, £19m is an absurd fee for a backup keeper at any club, probably even for Man City. So you bring him in for £19m, (or £15m in fairness, the rest is add on's), you sit him on the bench and say wait for Muric to mess up. So you're sitting there for a few months and Muric hasn't done anything to lose the shirt. Now it appears you've spent 1st choice striker money on a backup keeper. To his credit Pace has always backed us in the transfer market, can't be denied, but we still have to spend responsibly like any other club, and 1st choice striker money on a backup keeper is off the table.

So what then? The other way is plays out is we give the shirt to Muric waiting for him to lose it, but this assumes we're expecting Muric to eventually mess up and crucially, we're not prepared to stick with him because we have a £19m GK sat waiting to get a game, so Muric makes a mistake and loses the shirt, but then if you're fully expecting Muric to be a shambles and lose the shirt, why go through the pain of suffering mistakes you expect in the first place? Why not commit to the lad you've spent a fortune on an let him grow from mistakes? We must assume Muric doesn't have VK's full confidence otherwise we wouldn't be shopping around in the 1st choice goalkeeper market. So with all that in mind I reckon it only makes sense that Trafford goes straight in the team. No way we spend 1st choice striker money on a GK without having in mind that he's our No1. He ain't backup, we're rolling the dice on him being the next Jordan Pickford, mistakes and all.

[Clive 1960]

Nothing to suggest signing Trafford means we won't be in for Tella. We're capable of spinning plates. But Trafford 100% will start the season as No1, I think it's more logical to assume he's stepping in to replace Muric. Think about it, £19m is an absurd fee for a backup keeper at any club, probably even for Man City. So you bring him in for £19m, (or £15m in fairness, the rest is add on's), you sit him on the bench and say wait for Muric to mess up. So you're sitting there for a few months and Muric hasn't done anything to lose the shirt. Now it appears you've spent 1st choice striker money on a backup keeper. To his credit Pace has always backed us in the transfer market, can't be denied, but we still have to spend responsibly like any other club, and 1st choice striker money on a backup keeper is off the table.

So what then? The other way is plays out is we give the shirt to Muric waiting for him to lose it, but this assumes we're expecting Muric to eventually mess up and crucially, we're not prepared to stick with him because we have a £19m GK sat waiting to get a game, so Muric makes a mistake and loses the shirt, but then if you're fully expecting Muric to be a shambles and lose the shirt, why go through the pain of suffering mistakes you expect in the first place? Why not commit to the lad you've spent a fortune on an let him grow from mistakes? We must assume Muric doesn't have VK's full confidence otherwise we wouldn't be shopping around in the 1st choice goalkeeper market. So with all that in mind I reckon it only makes sense that Trafford goes straight in the team. No way we spend 1st choice striker money on a GK without having in mind that he's our No1. He ain't backup, we're rolling the dice on him being the next Jordan Pickford, mistakes and all.

Don't think he will be no1 he as only played league one football with Bolton and yes he as potential but Muric as earned the right to start season as no 1 in my view.

[ClaretAL]

I keep seeing comparisons drawn of a big step up from league one to the premier league, which I do understand, however, I have only watched Trafford in the England U21 matches where he has faced premier league and la liga opponents, and he has done very well, and shows he is a great shot stopper, comes for a cross and can play with his feet, what is not to like?

[Vegas Claret]

Nothing to suggest signing Trafford means we won't be in for Tella. We're capable of spinning plates. But Trafford 100% will start the season as No1, I think it's more logical to assume he's stepping in to replace Muric. Think about it, £19m is an absurd fee for a backup keeper at any club, probably even for Man City. So you bring him in for £19m, (or £15m in fairness, the rest is add on's), you sit him on the bench and say wait for Muric to mess up. So you're sitting there for a few months and Muric hasn't done anything to lose the shirt. Now it appears you've spent 1st choice striker money on a backup keeper. To his credit Pace has always backed us in the transfer market, can't be denied, but we still have to spend responsibly like any other club, and 1st choice striker money on a backup keeper is off the table.

So what then? The other way is plays out is we give the shirt to Muric waiting for him to lose it, but this assumes we're expecting Muric to eventually mess up and crucially, we're not prepared to stick with him because we have a £19m GK sat waiting to get a game, so Muric makes a mistake and loses the shirt, but then if you're fully expecting Muric to be a shambles and lose the shirt, why go through the pain of suffering mistakes you expect in the first place? Why not commit to the lad you've spent a fortune on an let him grow from mistakes? We must assume Muric doesn't have VK's full confidence otherwise we wouldn't be shopping around in the 1st choice goalkeeper market. So with all that in mind I reckon it only makes sense that Trafford goes straight in the team. No way we spend 1st choice striker money on a GK without having in mind that he's our No1. He ain't backup, we're rolling the dice on him being the next Jordan Pickford, mistakes and all.

or we are selling Muric

[Clive 1960]

If BPF is off then Muric needs competition which this provides. Hell of a lot for an inexperienced goalkeeper though. What did Bolton fans make of him ?

My Bolton mate's said he did well for them and as potential but to take over from Muric i don't know.

[Colburn_Claret]

Nothing to suggest signing Trafford means we won't be in for Tella. We're capable of spinning plates. But Trafford 100% will start the season as No1, I think it's more logical to assume he's stepping in to replace Muric. Think about it, £19m is an absurd fee for a backup keeper at any club, probably even for Man City. So you bring him in for £19m, (or £15m in fairness, the rest is add on's), you sit him on the bench and say wait for Muric to mess up. So you're sitting there for a few months and Muric hasn't done anything to lose the shirt. Now it appears you've spent 1st choice striker money on a backup keeper. To his credit Pace has always backed us in the transfer market, can't be denied, but we still have to spend responsibly like any other club, and 1st choice striker money on a backup keeper is off the table.

So what then? The other way is plays out is we give the shirt to Muric waiting for him to lose it, but this assumes we're expecting Muric to eventually mess up and crucially, we're not prepared to stick with him because we have a £19m GK sat waiting to get a game, so Muric makes a mistake and loses the shirt, but then if you're fully expecting Muric to be a shambles and lose the shirt, why go through the pain of suffering mistakes you expect in the first place? Why not commit to the lad you've spent a fortune on an let him grow from mistakes? We must assume Muric doesn't have VK's full confidence otherwise we wouldn't be shopping around in the 1st choice goalkeeper market. So with all that in mind I reckon it only makes sense that Trafford goes straight in the team. No way we spend 1st choice striker money on a GK without having in mind that he's our No1. He ain't backup, we're rolling the dice on him being the next Jordan Pickford, mistakes and all.

It's his age, not his ability that concerns me. We all know that next season is going to be a lot tougher than last. There will be setbacks, that's a lot for young shoulders to carry.
I thought Messlier did really well for Leeds despite the numbers they conceded, but by the end of last season he was chucking them in.
I'm happy to play Muric whilst Trafford grows into the squad, and system. Mind if VK thinks he's better than Muric he must be a hell of a keeper, as I believe Muric has turned into a
really good keeper.

[AGENT_CLARET]

19m is madness, it's not a priority area we need to strengthen, we need attacking options in first.

We can't be spending this amount of money on a keeper with only having Jay Rod as the most experienced attacking player we have, Benson still not sure if he can play a full season, Zaroury not the player he was before the world cup and we've lost Tella, these are the area's we need to spend money in, I hope we have cash to strength the attack and midfield.

[claretandy]

19m is madness, it's not a priority area we need to strengthen, we need attacking options in first.

We can't be spending this amount of money on a keeper with only having Jay Rod as the most experienced attacking player we have, Benson still not sure if he can play a full season, Zaroury not the player he was before the world cup and we've lost Tella, these are the area's we need to spend money in, I hope we have cash to strength the attack and midfield.

Except that it's not 19m, it's 15, spread over a 5 year contract.

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

Strange amount of panic on this board over one summer signing. After last season I think I’ll trust Kompany to know what he’s doing.

[Conroysleftfoot]

Strange amount of panic on this board over one summer signing. After last season I think I’ll trust Kompany to know what he’s doing.

Absolutely

[Newcastleclaret93]

Except that it's not 19m, it's 15, spread over a 5 year contract.

That’s still 15m rising 19m.

Even if it’s spread out is still a lot of money.

[AGENT_CLARET]

Except that it's not 19m, it's 15, spread over a 5 year contract.

99% of all news feeds are running with a 19m story

If its 19m this will make him the 3rd most expensive keeper sale in premier league history between two UK clubs, the other two went for 30m

[RVclaret]

99% of all news feeds are running with a 19m story

If its 19m this will make him the 3rd most expensive keeper sale in premier league history between two UK clubs, the other two went for 30m

It’s 15 (14 according to Fab Romano) possibly rising to 19 depending on certain performance related clauses. People like running with the biggest numbers cause it sounds sexier.

As to your other point about attackers, in the past week we’ve learned of bids totalling between 25-30m on Vranckx, Flemming (4 bids) and Clarke (3 bids). That’s just the ones we are aware of too. I’m not sure of the correlation between spending 15m on Trafford and not spending elsewhere.

[claptrappers_union]

You have go consider the money we are going to make back on the likes of Benson, Vitinho, Beyer, Cullen and Muric over the next five years. We will be recouping some outlays.

Looks like we have signed Englands next goalkeeper though. Hopefully an investment. Could be worth £50m+ when the likes of Utd, City, Spurs and co need an established keeper.

[Swizzlestick]

We are not spending £15m+ on a keeper for him to be number 2.

[RVclaret]

Fab saying it’s a done deal at £14m + £5m add ons.

https://twitter.com/fabrizioromano/stat ... 27105?s=46

[RVclaret]

We are not spending £15m+ on a keeper for him to be number 2.

Agree on that.

[Longsider]

I bet City have a buy back deal where they get first refusal.

[Newcastleclaret93]

Fab saying it’s a done deal at £14m + £5m add ons.

https://twitter.com/fabrizioromano/stat ... 27105?s=46

I noticed he didn’t mention a buy back clause

[NewClaret]

I bet City have a buy back deal where they get first refusal.

The one I read about is where they have the right to match other teams bids. I’m fine with that. Doesn’t mean we’ll get ripped off in future, just means we won’t be able to force City to pay an additional premium in future.

[arise_sir_charge]

The high initial fee likely means there is no buy back amount included.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

What is Muric valued at these days?
Definitely more than we paid for him, but could it also be over £10 million?
If he’s worth £10-15 million in todays market then Trafford being 2nd choice doesn’t sound quite so odd