Summer Transfers

[DiVaio]

I know that no one in the last pages has mentioned GKs, so this seems a little bit off topic. But I wanted to say that, as a Wolfsburg supporter, Koen Casteels is a VERY GOOD option. Never watched Maignan tbh, but he needs to be really good to be better that Koen. I am not exaggerating. Very solid stopper. Not been very aware of his footwork, but he certainly makes CRUCIAL saves. Just felt that with the rumors going in the last weeks, people were overlooking him because the other guy is french and somehow looks a good deal. Wolfsburg is currently 3rd and that is only explained by a solid defence (TOTALLY enhanced by Casteels saves) and Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Leverkusen and Borussia Monchengladbach's pathetic season.

Also, as a Fiorentina supporter (yup, love to follow a team from every league) I used to be very excited about Milenkovic. He was very good wherever que was played (CB and RB) but in the recent times his form has dipped alongside the whole teams' form. He seems to feel like getting the fuck out of the club (wouldn't blame him, Fiorentina is a complete disaster and is not fighting relegation only because there are even worst teams there). Maybe his mind is elsewhere and therefore his regression, but he was once a very good prospect that even contributed with goals. Not the most exciting signing if it hypothetically goes through. Tbh don't have a single clue about how it would pan out.

What's your thoughts about Lacroix, Mbabu and Baku?

 

[Gbspurs]

One of our long-term striker targets Milik has a release clause of €12m at Marseille. I’d imagine we’ll be interested again this summer at that price.

We'd be mad not to go for that surely?

 

[Emi]

What's your thoughts about Lacroix, Mbabu and Baku?

For some stupid reason, here in South America Bundesliga is not broadcasted in almost any country as far as I am concerned. I can only watch it legally with an app that only works for mobile phones or in a Chilean Youtube channel. For that uncomfortable reason I haven't been able to watch every game.

That said, out of the three the only one that has caught my eye is Lacroix. It is still too soon to rush on him, though. The guy hasn't completed one full season in a relatively top league. Yet he seems very promising. I suck at analysing defenders, but the guy is very fast and strong. Very athletic and good in the air. Also doesn't make you feel worried when he has the ball (opposed to american John Brooks). Wolfsburg's defense is instantly improved when he plays. I think another season (hopefully with CL thanks to Wolfsburg's current position in the table) and he will be someone to consider. It is important to notice that, if I am not mistaken, Maxence never played in the Ligue 1. He jumped from the Ligue 2 (Sochaux) to the Bundesliga. Credit given there.

About the other too, none of both seem to be very interesting, at least imo. Wolfsburg in general is not a team that is succeeding because of the quality of its squad. Actually, there is a reduced amount of players that are really important and hold the structure of the team, and the rest are just very disciplined and do their jobs. As I said before, the reason why we are 3rd is because of a strong defense and the awful season of some teams that should be above us. Those key players that build the teams "backbone" are Casteels (GK), Lacroix (CB), Arnold (CM) - someone who I rate highly and can't believe he's never been reported as being under any good team's radar - and our fellow friend Weghorst (FW).

Mbabu and Baku seem to be the same kind of player. Fast but not skillful players to be put on the wing, who are disciplined, can defend and take a cross. Not the best defenders, but work their socks off, not the fastest but can compete physically and not the best crossers, but constantly try to add something from their side. Can't help to believe they are helped by a system that manager Glasner built to take more of what the team can actually give. Both are versatile and understand each other very well . Both can play as RB and WB (though Mbabu is more of a RB). It is not weird to see them switching positions with each other every now and then. Baku is probably the most talented out of the two.

Sorry for not being very good at analysing players, but to be honest, despite a very good run of games, watching Wolfsburg is not very appealing. We have been taking good results and will hopefully challenge for CL football but every time I watch a game I can't help but think that a good window is needed for the squad to be, at least, competitive at an international level.

Will surely try to take a deeper look on all of them though, bacause if a Spurs fan heard about them it might mean something

 

[Chirpystheman]

First outs: Dier, Winks, Sissoko, Dele and miscellaneous others (Gazzaniga, Rose, CCV, Foyth)

Ins: Varane, Sabitzer, Dybala.

Second outs (dependent on above signings): Bale or Lucas, Vinícius, Sánchez if a good offer comes in.

Net spend (i.e. need for "investment"): Close to zero.

Increase in wage bill: Large, but we have significant headroom here (I think we were down to about 40% wages to turnover at one point!).

Increase in average squad quality: Massive.

Surely wage bill down. Bale is on a massive chunk as it is, same with Dele. The 4 you listed and bale are on close to 800k a week. No way the 3 coming in would be on that much. As for selling son its not something I would want to consider same as Liverpool fans didn't want to consider selling Coutinho. However if you said to me we could swap dybala sabitzer and andersen for son you'd have to consider it. I suppose it depends on our other outgoings.

 

[YB123]

Ali Gold gave an interesting video tonight.

It appears that Andersen and Sabitzer are the targets. Expects Lloris to stay. Expects Bale to stay another year.

Could be quieter than needed....

 

[delawarespur]

Ali Gold gave an interesting video tonight.

It appears that Andersen and Sabitzer are the targets. Expects Lloris to stay. Expects Bale to stay another year.

Could be quieter than needed....

Buying those 2 and then replacing any others that might go like aurier, lamela (contract); vini (loan) would actually be a pretty good window.

 

[rossdapep]

Ali Gold gave an interesting video tonight.

It appears that Andersen and Sabitzer are the targets. Expects Lloris to stay. Expects Bale to stay another year.

Could be quieter than needed....

I'm not sure it is.

The priority this summer is to get those players holding us back out of the club, a CB, CM and a potentially an attacker to replace Bale if he doesn't stay on.

Skipp, Sessegnon, Tanganga and Rodon (possibly others such as Cirkin) should all be allowed to step up and be given plenty of game time.

I imagine we will make more signings if we do sell players such as Aurier and Lamela/Lucas.

But trimming the squad isn't a bad thing, in fact it's my main hope this window.

 

[delawarespur]

I'm not sure it is.

The priority this summer is to get those players holding us back out of the club, a CB, CM and a potentially an attacker to replace Bale if he doesn't stay on.

Skipp, Sessegnon, Tanganga and Rodon (possibly others such as Cirkin) should all be allowed to step up and be given plenty of game time.

I imagine we will make more signings if we do sell players such as Aurier and Lamela/Lucas.

But trimming the squad isn't a bad thing, in fact it's my main hope this window.

If we’re in a situation like this year where rodon can’t fit in a European squad, you know the squad is bloated. It also could be a factor in the number of unhappy players as a larger squad means more players not playing at once. Selling those that aren’t crucial and can raise cash should definitely be a priority.

 

[Chirpystheman]

The squad is bloated and the knock on effect can be detrimental. If you have players hanging around causing issues behind the scenes which has been insinuated then it can cause major issues. When you have the club captain giving a 7min interview calling players out and then the manager saying agents etc are causing issues then clearing out these players can only be good for the long term future of the club. People forget the clear out that Poch had when he got rid of some of the more influential players in the squad that had been around a long time. That led to us kicking on in a big way. A top CB and a CM would make the world of difference to the team. We would only be a top RB away from a first XI that could compete. I suppose the length of our shopping list totally depends on top 4 football or not

 

[rossdapep]

I wonder if we get creative with someone like Andersen. Pay for a loan with an obligation to buy in 2022 when money is flooding in again?!

 

[yankspurs]

Ali Gold gave an interesting video tonight.

It appears that Andersen and Sabitzer are the targets. Expects Lloris to stay. Expects Bale to stay another year.

Could be quieter than needed....

Bringing Bale back is stupid. It has not worked. We wasted millions on him this season. We should not do it again. He doesnt fit into Jose’s plans. He wouldnt fit into Nagelsmann’s. Let him go to MLS & use whatever money we’d waste on his preposterous wages toward paying down our preposterous debt. That would be much better business.

 

[BuckeyeSpurs11]

I wonder if we get creative with someone like Andersen. Pay for a loan with an obligation to buy in 2022 when money is flooding in again?!

the frustrating piece is he moved to Lyon for €30m when we could have signed him and were rumored to be in for him. Instead, we’ll have to pay a higher fee just 2 years later. Another example of a player we were following, didn’t act decisively and paid much more or missed out on later.

 

[Davo99]

the frustrating piece is he moved to Lyon for €30m when we could have signed him and were rumored to be in for him. Instead, we’ll have to pay a higher fee just 2 years later. Another example of a player we were following, didn’t act decisively and paid much more or missed out on later.

I doubt we’d be paying anymore than €30m for him now to be honest.

 

[BuckeyeSpurs11]

I doubt we’d be paying anymore than €30m for him now to be honest.

2 years into 5 year contract with a team whose chairman rivals Levy in reputation for being a tough negotiator = they will want a profit

 

[Davo99]

2 years into 5 year contract with a team whose chairman rivals Levy in reputation for being a tough negotiator = they will want a profit

Then we won’t be getting him, surely? I don’t see us paying over €30m for him after COVID.

 

[Pochemon94]

Ali Gold gave an interesting video tonight.

It appears that Andersen and Sabitzer are the targets. Expects Lloris to stay. Expects Bale to stay another year.

Could be quieter than needed....

when you say quieter than needed do you mean that we aren't going to go out and get what we need?

 

[shoggy33]

My dream (but not wildly unrealistic) scenario:

Out: Dier, Doherty, Dele, Winks, Bale, Vinicius (although i would happily keep him for another year)

In: Anderson, Arrons/Lamptey, Sabitzer, Ings + Skipp and Sessengon to come back

Consider selling: Davies, Aurier, Sanchez, Lloris, Sissoko, Lamela if offers come in and replacements can be found.

Ideally not with Mourinho in charge

 

[doctor stefan Freud]

Bringing Bale back is stupid. It has not worked. We wasted millions on him this season. We should not do it again. He doesnt fit into Jose’s plans. He wouldnt fit into Nagelsmann’s. Let him go to MLS & use whatever money we’d waste on his preposterous wages toward paying down our preposterous debt. That would be much better business.

Agree with this, Hank. He’s not been worth the 200k a week we’re shelling out for him. I’d rather us go for a younger, hungrier WF, one looking to kick on and would be capable of playing more than 90 minutes a week if needed

 

[mr ashley]

2 years into 5 year contract with a team whose chairman rivals Levy in reputation for being a tough negotiator = they will want a profit

All true but he spent the 2nd year of that contract out on loan. That’s only happening because he’s available or not wanted at his club.
factor in the tv rights financial collapse and Ligue 1 clubs are much less likely to be able to maintain high asking prices.
So Andersen is probably going to be available at a good price.
The biggest question would be if we could jump ahead of Fulham in the queue. It’s definitely got an alderweireld feel to it.

It also doesn’t need to have a negative view on it. He has exceeded expectations at Fulham.
He was in all likelihood on our list of options and we chose Rodon. Imagine if we’d passed on Rodon and he’d taken the to the pl with ease at Fulham. We’d be full of criticism for not picking up the talent from the championship.
it’s not so straightforward.

 

[worcestersauce]

Then we won’t be getting him, surely? I don’t see us paying over €30m for him after COVID.

Possibly not but if we're not willing to pay over €30m for a player I can't see us buying anybody. We've got to up the anti this year.