Arthur Vermeeren

[Led Revolver]

We have a very balanced squad right now. We’ve brought in a veteran attacker who can compete right away, and a younger CB who is also ready to compete.

Supplementing those players with Sarr or Udogie types is exactly how you keep the roster progressing

Yeah that is true. 25% of a window on prospects might be a good way to cut your cloths perhaps. As I say, hindsight is a beautiful thing and there’s no right or wrong answer really.

 

[Frozen_Waffles]

Maybe if he signs a long contract, we can kick the fee further enough down the road that it doesn’t hinge too much on our budget for senior players who can make an impact right now.

Hindsight’s a wonderful thing - they could both turn out to be £100m players in a couple of seasons, it just concerns me if we put all our eggs in the prospects basket. A balanced transfer window always strikes me as the best way to go about things.

It does seem a lot, but we are picking the best youngsters in Europe now, if Musa and Vemeeeren were 10m, then they would have been hoovered up by now.

It's a risk, because being good at 18, really doesn't mean you're good at 25. Go an look back at the Guardian website, the youngsters to watch article they put out every year and with most of them over the years, you are asking yourself who.

The difference here is we are picking players that are playing in the mens game now.

Also the wages will be relatively low, which will mean the overall financial package will be lower.

For me I'd much rather continue to spend 10-15m on players like Sarr or Udogie or Clarke or Veliz. Then see who make it. If Gil had cost 10m, we'd have different opinions.

I suppose the argument Is that we have such good youngsters that if we do bring more in, they have to be special.

 

[Snarfalicious]

Watching the game and this guy looks good. Great movement and energy, so far. Added bonus of getting to watch Toby and Janssen again, too.

 

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

The thing is buying these young players is much less of a risk, even if we spend £25m on them.

Unless they have a terrible attitude etc, then even if they flop we would probably be able to get a decent fee back even if we make a loss. The big difference is they’d also be on modest wages which means a much larger range of teams would be able to buy them from us too.

The upside is obvious, potential world class talents who we’d never be able to buy if we waited a few years to purchase them.

 

[Teegart]

I have a feeling our higher ups see these deals as a very smart and cost effective way to bypass the HG tax.

Getting top youth from the contingent in, at not over the top prices, who by the time they count against squad quota will be HG, is a lot more cost effective than completely overpaying on full developed HG players.

I think the signing would be a smart one, even if we have to loan him back. It let’s us focus on improving the first team in the summer knowing we have, hopefully 2 with Nusa, big talents ready in the pipeline. Talents who can try to stake a claim pre season, or worst case get a top loan for next year also if required, a loan we have total control over also.

 

[Coolpudge]

I’m not so sure whether it’s a wise move to spend £50m on Nusa AND this lad. At 18, he’s likely one for way down the line, much like Devine was when we brought him.

Maybe if he signs a long contract, we can kick the fee further enough down the road that it doesn’t hinge too much on our budget for senior players who can make an impact right now.

Hindsight’s a wonderful thing - they could both turn out to be £100m players in a couple of seasons, it just concerns me if we put all our eggs in the prospects basket. A balanced transfer window always strikes me as the best way to go about things.

I see your concerns. If you look at this window the other player we were linked with at the start was Gallagher who Chelsea want £50 million for. I would guess it’s all comes out of the same transfer budget and they don’t have a separate one for younger prospects. So Lange, Munn and Ange have to decide would they rather spend £50 million on Gallagher who can help the team now or plan for the future and sign Nusa and Vermeeran.

I am also aware I’ve made it incredibly simplistic and that it probably doesn’t work that way. Not to mention you’ve also got to consider things like wages etc

 

[only1waddle]

It does seem a lot, but we are picking the best youngsters in Europe now, if Musa and Vemeeeren were 10m, then they would have been hoovered up by now.

It's a risk, because being good at 18, really doesn't mean you're good at 25. Go an look back at the Guardian website, the youngsters to watch article they put out every year and with most of them over the years, you are asking yourself who.

The difference here is we are picking players that are playing in the mens game now.

Also the wages will be relatively low, which will mean the overall financial package will be lower.

For me I'd much rather continue to spend 10-15m on players like Sarr or Udogie or Clarke or Veliz. Then see who make it. If Gil had cost 10m, we'd have different opinions.

I suppose the argument Is that we have such good youngsters that if we do bring more in, they have to be special.

And I think these purchases are from a relative position of strength within the squad, whereas with Clarke the squad needed major surgery not potential, our direction of travel is much better.

 

[GetSpurredOn]

That’s the reality of it. Vermeeren and Nusa together may be a similar financial package to getting Gallagher in. But could end up being worth double if their development is managed well.
I’d rather go that path right now. Develop and build a solid foundation of talent rather than buy up a couple of quick fixes. I’m still hopeful we could get both Vermeeren and Nusa, and still push for one more like Bardghji.

 

[Johnny J]

In general, I would much rather pay less for, and take a chance on, highly rather youngsters from abroad than overpriced HG talent. Sure, we need a combination, but there is so much better value abroad. Excited if we get this dude and Nusa in.

 

[Nanky_1988]

Did we get it clarified that it was Vermeeren who was the other youth player mentioned by ITK’s? I’m assuming we’re just speculating that it’s him atm?

 

[Ghost Hardware]

I’m not so sure whether it’s a wise move to spend £50m on Nusa AND this lad. At 18, he’s likely one for way down the line, much like Devine was when we brought him.

Maybe if he signs a long contract, we can kick the fee further enough down the road that it doesn’t hinge too much on our budget for senior players who can make an impact right now.

Hindsight’s a wonderful thing - they could both turn out to be £100m players in a couple of seasons, it just concerns me if we put all our eggs in the prospects basket. A balanced transfer window always strikes me as the best way to go about things.

I get what you’re saying but I think context is key. When everyone is available I think it would actually be difficult to improve on our starting 11 without spending vast amounts. Certainly larger amounts then we spend and certainly more then £50 mil. Beyond that we are actually in a pretty good position depth wise. I know it might not seem like that currently but injuries coupled with the international cups makes it seem worse than it is.

Now that doesn’t mean we don’t still need additions but I think one needs to take in to consideration what is missing. Personally i don’t see the need to spend 50 mil on Gallagher. Considering our current options a young player like Vermeeren would make the most sense to me. He is further along in his development then Devine and would certainly be able to have game time for us if he joined in summer.

Now if we hypothetically sold someone like Richy then yes an 18 year old prospect would not be the move to make. We would need someone more developed. Disregarding PEH, when we have a midfield selection of Madderson, Kulu, Sarr, Bentancur, Biss, Skipp and Gio then a young addition like Vermeeren makes a lot of sense to me. Especially if we can also add Devine next season depending on how he does on loan.

Now I get there is a question around Gio due to fitness issues but if he does go then is a time to reassess Devine and Donley. Beyond that I think one could make an argument for bringing in a RW and having Kulu be more prominent in the AM role over another higher profile CM.

Now I agree in general there are question marks in the squad. Gio is one that has already been mentioned, Solomon, Sess, Skipp, even Richy. But, probably with Sess and possibly Gil aside, all the rest need the remainder of the season to be assessed imo. Even Gil I think you could make an argument for him staying until summer. With that in mind I think now is exactly the time to be spending on younger players as we don’t have any glaring holes and numerous positions need further assessment.

Essentially I think it’s about spending the money we do have in the most sensible way and looking at our squad Nusa + Vermeeren makes the most long term sense from a squad building perspective for me. Ultimately we want to build a team that will be challenging for the next 10 years not just for this season.

 

[robotsonic]

In general, I would much rather pay less for, and take a chance on, highly rather youngsters from abroad than overpriced HG talent. Sure, we need a combination, but there is so much better value abroad. Excited if we get this dude and Nusa in.

Not sure that we really need a combination to be honest if we're signing up guys at 18 that will be HG once they're 21. Though it's obviously nice to have academy lads make it.

 

[Japhet]

We have signed Dragusin and Werner who are right now options. A proper strategy has to have different facets. Clearly we have invested well in potential over the last few years. Udogie and Sarr showing the importance of getting it right.

Personally I’m happier signing the likes of this lad and Nusa who have the potential to be great additions than someone like Lloyd Kelly at this point. He isn’t going to play, will block the progression of others and will be deadwood in no time.

Nusa, Rowe and Vermeeren could be a way off ready for the EPL right now. They might even need loans to get them up to speed with English football.

Kelly makes sense to me because he's HG, EPL experienced, covers 2 positions and probably really cheap (or free). We'll need to look carefully at our HG quota if we make Europe next year. All depends whether he ticks enough boxes now for Ange since we've brought Dragusin in, but Davies will be moving on soon I'd imagine and Kelly would fill that gap quite nicely.

 

[Col_M]

Did we get it clarified that it was Vermeeren who was the other youth player mentioned by ITK’s? I’m assuming we’re just speculating that it’s him atm?

I thought it was Rowe but can’t keep up.

 

[HildoSpur]

I thought it was Rowe but can’t keep up.

Rowe is most likely our backup if the Nusa deal falls through.

 

[ToDarrenIsToDo]

Werner, Dragusin, Nusa and Vermeeren with Iling-Junior in the summer and we'd be 90% complete as a squad, bar 1 or 2 not making the grade.

 

[Russ1201]

Werner, Dragusin, Nusa and Vermeeren with Iling-Junior in the summer and we'd be 90% complete as a squad, bar 1 or 2 not making the grade.

Then just a striker and we are cooking.

 

[GetSpurredOn]

Werner, Dragusin, Nusa and Vermeeren with Iling-Junior in the summer and we'd be 90% complete as a squad, bar 1 or 2 not making the grade.

Not sure we’d need Illing-Junior if we have Nusa. Now Werner, Dragusin, Nusa and Vermeeren with summer moves for Bardghji, Calafiori and a new no2 keeper.

Then just a striker and we are cooking.

I’m waiting to see if Richarlison, Werner and Son can do the business for us first.

 

[Trix]

Did we get it clarified that it was Vermeeren who was the other youth player mentioned by ITK’s? I’m assuming we’re just speculating that it’s him atm?

That's the crux of it.

 

[DenverSpur]

Yeah but how many times have we not done it then said why didn’t we sign them when we had the chance?

From the Championship alone over the last few years we scouted Bowen, Eze and Olise for a long time but didn’t pull the trigger on any of them! We have to have faith in the scouting/data bods and be decisive if they think they’re worth a punt.