25 May 2019 16:52:23
So a list of players that I think we will sell or at least try to sell this summer and their hopeful outcomes.
Cibicki - made a decent impact back in Sweden and will have some interest out there (500K - 1M)
Ideguichi - despite injuries there seems to be a bit of a market for a full Japan international (500K - 1M)
Saiz - wants out back to Spain we want 6M probably get 3M
Calek Ekuban - 2M in his loan contract, trab seem keen to take up on it.
Tyler Denton - Well, well down the pecking order at LB and failed to make a big impression. Past the age where you'd expect him to develop much further. Mid-table L1 (100K - 250K)
Haidi Sacko - failed in the Spanish loan, but like Ekuban seems to have made a reasonable impression in Turkey (250K -500K)
On top of this, some expensive contracts we will likely try to send on loan, move for free, or in the most desperate circumstances try mutual termination: Laurens de Bock, Vurnon Anita, Eunan O'Kane. It'll hurt but its necessary.
Furthermore, loan wages/ fees we likely paid this yr didn't have a great impact (Baker, Blackman, Harrison)
This should raise around 9m in direct transfer fees + a lot more in wage manoeuvrability. It shows financially just by removing deadwood (and I think my quotes are reasonably optimistic but accurate for the market) , shows we can raise enough to sign one or two players even a neutral net spend.
I'd get the three most talented youngsters that would be likely to react positively to new deals tied down ASAP: Edmondson, Wilks, Bogusz. 4 yr deals ideal. Tired of losing good players because of contract vulnerability, and at least one of these will break out this year. Clarke and Shackleton both have 2 yrs but likely won't sign new deals this summer.
Even if we pay the above 3 good money (10K or bullish negotiating 15K) still leaves a lot of wages left.
A neutral net with 9m to spend without Radz investing is a good start, even without selling a first teamer. If we sold the most flexible ie. Davis (4m quoted) we could fund some signings.
25 May 2019 18:39:51
Good post.
25 May 2019 20:31:02
Blimey Ealing. That was a lot of research/ composing
A really good, thought provoking read
You didn't mention Grot?
He's 6ft 4, built like a boxer, and runs like a sprinter. I would like to think he can be given a year of proper U23 coaching and make the most of his natural attributes
And I would love to think we could get Clarke and Shackleton to sign for longer.
25 May 2019 20:41:39
Saiz might be the one to earn us a bit more. Not quite sure why but Valencia seem interested in him and will have champions league football to prepare for and some cash to splash.
25 May 2019 22:05:41
Good post mate. Not too sure about the Wilks part though.
25 May 2019 22:35:50
Axe, agree with you about Grot, looks like there is some potential there.
25 May 2019 23:03:31
Very true, the post was long enough without mentioning Grot! Stevens, Mccalmont, Odour, Struijk, Halme, some of who have a legit chance to make an impression in pre-season.
I just checked Wilks contract and given he has 3 yrs left, I think he's not as important to tie down right now, at least compared to Edmondson, Bogusz, and hopefully Clarke/ Shackleton if we can convince them.
Reason I added him was I think he got around 14 goals 8 assists. I personally rate that better than if he'd done that for our U23s, though he could use exposure to Bielsa style certainly.
25 May 2019 23:14:28
Better off with Groot.
25 May 2019 23:21:26
Spanish
I felt dead chuffed there. You agreeing with me. Cheers mucka, your U23 insight has been brilliant this season and has given me a huge amount of optimism for the future knowing there are even better players to come in a white shirt
Looking at your reports on Edmondson, it sounds like he could use a loan to a league club to test his next progression. That's why I feel Grot could take up the hole left by Edmondson.
25 May 2019 23:51:48
Don’t forget Diaz
The lad can play.
26 May 2019 09:40:57
Axe always thought that expectations were a bit high of Grot straight away, but seemed to have a lot of the attributes of a good prospect.
26 May 2019 10:06:28
Axe, with you too on Grot. Think Bielsa could turn him into a real gem.
26 May 2019 16:45:45
Wilks has 16 goals and 12 assists.