Summer transfer window 2023 - rumours, links and discussion.

[taio]

Wouldn't want Townsend. If it happens to be true he's training with us hopefully we are just helping him to regain his fitness and nothing more.

[Rileybobs]

Where has this rumour even appeared from?

[RVclaret]

Wouldn't want Townsend. If it happens to be true he's training with us hopefully we are just helping him to regain his fitness and nothing more.

Agree there.

Where has this rumour even appeared from?

Been doing the rounds locally that he’s been training with us.

A few accounts on twitterclarets suggesting it’s true.

[Boxy]

Bringing in the likes of townsend and redmond as depth allows us to spend more on likes of tresor

[TheFamilyCat]

Where has this rumour even appeared from?

He's been seen riding a tandem with Maatsen.

[JimmyRobbo]

Wouldn't mind either as bottom of the squad types.

Townsend definitely has talent despite his age, injury record and "issues" elsewhere.

I wasn't impressed with what little I've seen of Palmer, fwiw. I'd hope we could get better as one of our 2 PL loans.

Still excited by most of the links and the recruitment we've done in last 12 months so I'm happy to go with whatever VK & AP concoct.

[Sapperclaret73]

Seen a lot of comments on twitter about the deal with dortmund being very dodgy and hints of money laundering. Can anyone enlighten me please?

[Boxy]

Fans were also saying the same about trafford. Saying we are overpaying to help clubs with their FFP. It's total ********

[whiffa]

Seen a lot of comments on twitter about the deal with dortmund being very dodgy and hints of money laundering. Can anyone enlighten me please?

Yeah I'll enlighten you, Twitter is full of ****. Stop reading it.

[StayingDown4Ever]

I'd take a fully fit and committed Townsend, not sure that exists though, spends too much time on TalkSport

Present but took no part in the friendly on Saturday

[Ampth7]

Money laundering? Sorry, I can’t see how that’s a thing tbh

[FCBurnley]

So Coulibaly deal is reported as agreed on BBC. Loan with option to buy at 15 million as is Trafford purchase
I’ve now lost count of how many CB and GK’s we have. This is getting stranger and stranger by the signing. I am not complaining but I just don’t understand the logic

[Carwin261]

We actually give them around £5 mill ,they put it through the books that they’ve received £20mill,as Del Boy would say “ Lovely Jubbly ,Everyone’s a winner “

[Spiral]

So Coulibaly deal is reported as agreed on BBC. Loan with option to buy at 15 million as is Trafford purchase
I’ve now lost count of how many CB and GK’s we have. This is getting stranger and stranger by the signing. I am not complaining but I just don’t understand the logic

I'm giving it a 90% chance that at some point this season we copy Pep and line up with four centre backs. A back three plus a big lad next to Cullen.

[Boxy]

I really think the change in tactics will happen

[Selby Claret]

So Coulibaly deal is reported as agreed on BBC. Loan with option to buy at 15 million as is Trafford purchase
I’ve now lost count of how many CB and GK’s we have. This is getting stranger and stranger by the signing. I am not complaining but I just don’t understand the logic

Norris gone - replaced by LV
Trafford incoming - suggests BPF or Muric off
Beyer = Beyer no change
O Shea = THB
Coulibaly incoming - suggests McNally out maybe?

Not too much of a stretch?

[Spiral]

I really think the change in tactics will happen

You lose out on width from the fullbacks but it gives you more defensive cover. That system looks impenetrable when done right. We won't be having as much of the ball this season as last so maybe we put the extra fullback on the bonfire, trade an overload for being tougher to score against. We can't out-possession our way to clean sheets this season, need something different.

[Hedontplayforyou]

I can’t tel if you’re being serious or not….

Peackock Farrell is leaving.

This gives us Trafford , Muric and Vigaroux as the 3 first team keepers.

Franchi will either go out on loan or be sold.
Casper may go out on loan or feature in the youths.

We have :
Beyer
Ekdal
Al-Dakhil
Coulibaly
O’Shea
McNally
Thomas

McNally is seemingly on his way back to the championship either permanently or on loan.

Thomas likewise.

That leaves us with 5 , one or which (O’Shea) could well operate from right back. He has also taken the number 2 shirt which is often occupied by the right back of a squad.

This and having 5 gives us the option to revert to a back 3/5 for certain games if VK chooses to do so.

Or of course the Pep system.

[Pickles]

So Coulibaly deal is reported as agreed on BBC. Loan with option to buy at 15 million as is Trafford purchase
I’ve now lost count of how many CB and GK’s we have. This is getting stranger and stranger by the signing. I am not complaining but I just don’t understand the logic

Al-Dakhil, Ekdal, Beyer, O'Shea, Coulibaly.

I don't think McNally, Thomas and Egan-Riley will feature. And neither will Taylor at centre half.

So that's five centre halves, one of which at least we know can play elsewhere - O'Shea at right back.

It doesn't seem overloaded in my opinion. Especially if we play three at the back.

[AGENT_CLARET]

So Coulibaly deal is reported as agreed on BBC. Loan with option to buy at 15 million as is Trafford purchase
I’ve now lost count of how many CB and GK’s we have. This is getting stranger and stranger by the signing. I am not complaining but I just don’t understand the logic

Loads of people said the same last season when we appeared to sign winger after winger but it all worked in the end

[StayingDown4Ever]

Al-Dakhil, Ekdal, Beyer, O'Shea, Coulibaly.

I don't think McNally, Thomas and Egan-Riley will feature. And neither will Taylor at centre half.

So that's five centre halves, one of which at least we know can play elsewhere - O'Shea at right back.

It doesn't seem overloaded in my opinion. Especially if we play three at the back.

I know it doesn’t mean anything as it was a friendly but we played with 4 across the back against Burton. Taylor was left back.

[Spiral]

If we do go three CBs as a tactic and not out of necessity, I'd honestly be thinking about keeping McNally (or upgrading him), because you're likely to have at least one of your centre backs unavailable probably like 50% of the time, so if you've got Beckenbeyer, Al-Dakhil, Ekdal, O'Shea and Coulibaly as your five main ones to choose from, say one goes down for a few weeks injured, that leaves you four to pick from, and if one of them is going to play a CDM/CB hybrid role to give more height next to Cullen, that means you go out with four CB's (playing a back 3) and your bench is bereft of other CB options in the event of an injury sub or a red card. If you've got six CBs in the squad that you trust, you give yourself more options.

[roperclaret]

So Coulibaly deal is reported as agreed on BBC. Loan with option to buy at 15 million as is Trafford purchase
I’ve now lost count of how many CB and GK’s we have. This is getting stranger and stranger by the signing. I am not complaining but I just don’t understand the logic

A 19 year old French centre back that came through the PSG academy, turned down a contract because he said he wouldn’t get game time due to PSG always buying world class defenders. Six foot 3 and comfortable on the ball. This is moneyball. We’ll sell him to Chelsea for about £70 mill in a coup of years

[Newcastleclaret93]

Harwood Bellis

“I think he’s (Trafford) the best keeper I have ever seen”

Certainly high praise from someone that has played/trained with a lot of keepers

[Woodleyclaret]

Hopefully THB will be signed up to play with James at Burnley this season

[Firthy]

Hopefully THB will be signed up to play with James at Burnley this season

He could play in a back six in front of him

[Anthonini]

he's a very good player

Let's hope Guardiola keeps benching him.

[KlyBfc]

I’ve no idea whatsoever about the type of player Coulibaly is, but could he be an option at left back? Similar to how city have evolved this year with Ake and Akanji as their left backs.

I’d love THB back fantastic prospect and all ready a blooming good centre half

[jojomk1]

Any chance we might actually sign a striker

[colne-claret]

Seen some tentative rumours on twitter about Cole Palmer coming on loan. If so, that is likely to mean we won’t be seeing THB back this summer. Only allowed one loan per club and can’t see us stumping up the cash required for him after signing O’Shea, Beyer and Coulibaly.

[Claret Toni]

Harwood Bellis

“I think he’s (Trafford) the best keeper I have ever seen”

Certainly high praise from someone that has played/trained with a lot of keepers

If memory serves me right, I think THB has seen Muric play a bit - but I guess he's also seen Edersen as well.

Perhaps it's just hyperbole

[Bullabill]

This is moneyball. We’ll sell him to Chelsea for about £70 mill in a coup of years

That would be a coup.

[Bullabill]

Mandatory means compulsory.

So, it's a compulsory option?

[Boxy]

So, it's a compulsory option?

Yes but they tend to be clauses to hit to make it compulsory. Teams protect themselves too. It might be as simple as 1 game or 50% of games we might never know

[Darnhill Claret]

Compulsory and option don't sit well together, it's either or. Compulsory or an option. So in this case will be like Obafemi, agreement in place to buy at the end of the loan spell. Forget relegation, it isn't happening.

[Darnhill Claret]

No doubt a financial technicality.

[Pearcey]

Maybe the option to buy is if we aren’t relegated. VK did say early on that players we were trying to sign we’re concerned about us going down.

[martin_p]

It’ll be an option that triggers if we stay up, simple as that.

[taio]

Compulsory and option don't sit well together, it's either or. Compulsory or an option. So in this case will be like Obafemi, agreement in place to buy at the end of the loan spell. Forget relegation, it isn't happening.

Hopefully we'd retain the option to not buy if we go down. I wouldn't want the Board to forget the possibility of relegation in their planning.

[agreenwood]

Financial jiggery pokery. We’ve basically bought him, but whatever instalments we’ve negotiated don’t start still 2024. Probably paid a few extra mill for the privilege.

[andyh]

Hopefully we'd retain the option to not buy if we go down. I wouldn't want the Board to forget the possibility of relegation in their planning.

Having experienced it once I’m fairly sure we have a plan. However that may be to continue to sell out assets and reinvest. It worked a treat last time.

[ClaretTony]

Maybe the option to buy is if we aren’t relegated. VK did say early on that players we were trying to sign we’re concerned about us going down.

I only know what I've seen in the press but they are reporting an obligation which would mean we have to sign him at the end of the loan no matter what our situation is. So I think we've committed to the transfer, just that we are making the financial arrangements to suit us.

[NewClaret]

It’ll be an option that triggers if we stay up, simple as that.

That’s what I would expect.

McKennie’s move to Leeds was reported as an obligation to buy but turned out to be contingent on them staying up - they didn’t and he went back.

[CrosspoolClarets]

I have read the French lad as being a “near-obligation” which to me means if we stay up, just like Obafemi was if we go up.

I suspect any financial jiggery-pokery mentioned up this page is as simple as extras, in Trafford’s case, or the fee itself, in this case, being an contingent asset, where the selling club are richer but only if something happens out of their control, such as appearances at Burnley or us staying up.

That may, may, help their FFP, depending on the rules, but it isn’t something that need concern us and it isn’t really worth debating.

[boatshed bill]

I only know what I've seen in the press but they are reporting an obligation which would mean we have to sign him at the end of the loan no matter what our situation is. So I think we've committed to the transfer, just that we are making the financial arrangements to suit us.

If we were to get relegated the player may not want to stay. What happens then? I suppose we'd have a similar situation to Weggie.

[RVclaret]

Confirmation Townsend is training with us

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66153224

[nil_desperandum]

Norris gone - replaced by LV
Trafford incoming - suggests BPF or Muric off
Beyer = Beyer no change
O Shea = THB
Coulibaly incoming - suggests McNally out maybe?

Not too much of a stretch?

I'm pretty sure that VK has identified that we need to be much physically stronger in defence and midfield.
I think VK sees O'Shea as an upgrade on Connor Roberts, and I expect him to start wearing the No. 2 shirt against City
THB could still come on loan.

[CoolClaret]

I'm pretty sure that VK has identified that we need to be much physically stronger in defence and midfield.
I think VK sees O'Shea as an upgrade on Connor Roberts, and I expect him to start wearing the No. 2 shirt against City
THB could still come on loan.

Not sure how you come to that conclusion when he’s played centre half his entire professional career

[ervi34]

Not Burnley related but Fulham are targeting Gustavo Hamer. I think he would fit us perfectly and we could use McNally to negotiate..

[randomclaret2]

Not sure how you come to that conclusion when he’s played centre half his entire professional career

O'Shea has primarily played at Centre Back but has played at right back for WBA , as well as filling in at Left Back and in midfield at times.