If the rumors are correct and we aren't necessarily going to go in for a Rice-level signing in terms of a ceiling raiser and a high fee, and instead bring in 3-5 floor raisers to push the first team and also provide quality depth that actually plays, I'd like to see us go for the following:

  • One of Nico Williams / Pedro Neto / Michael Olise - genuine top quality winger competition on both flanks to compete for first team spots and provide quality depth/rotation throughout the season.
  • Morgan Gibbs-White - Forest likely is going to need to sell and he's been their best player the last two seasons. Perfect blend of versatility, pace, power and technique to play at either 8 or even provide some depth on the wing in a pinch. I envision him as a more midfield oriented Kudus.
  • Youssouf Fofana - market opportunity this summer since Monaco is looking to sell him and could be a perfect replacement for Partey to provide depth at the 6 and also 8 when we need to batten down the hatches. I think he's very underrated personally.
  • Desire Doue - absolute top talent with so much potential on the wings or as an attacking midfielder. He looks to be moving this summer and now would be the time to get in on him before he's out of reach. I think he could already get some spot minutes on the wing this year and completely replace Nelson and then we can see if he develops into a first team player next year.
  • Jorrell Hato - similar to Doue in age and profile. Bring him in this year for some depth on the left side and then let him develop into a potential world class player.

I'd be willing to alter this if we were able to get in someone like Guimaraes but if our strategy is to bring in a few floor raisers, I think we could do way worse. I'd also be very interested in getting Sesko in this summer if we still have the cash.

Clrnc he’s fantastic. A clever player - a bit like Bruno Fernandes in the attacking sense

    Love Neto's game. I do think it could be an issue that he's more of a goalscoring threat from the RW, since LW would be his primary position here. But his ball control is out of this world.

    QuincyAbeyie if we bring in a £70m, £300k a week left winger he's going to play nearly all the time. I'm not again nst it if that player is way better than Martinelli. Rashford is not though.

      Clrnc he’s too good. Our midfield would go up to an elite level instantly. We’d probably face some competition from City, but I think he’d prefer to come here. Arteta knows how to appeal /sell the vision to the players he wants. His role would be crystal clear, and he’d have an opportunity to showcase himself on the biggest stage consistently with us, and be a part of the resistance that toppled the pep empire.

      The second most impactful signing we can make this summer. No 1 will be whoever my winger/striker upgrade/backup is.

        Sesko release clause
        Bruno most probs release clause
        Nico Williams or Olise, both release clause City
        Archie Gray, buy and loan to Brighton. The Ben White route for him.
        Hato

        Part fund by selling Nketiah, Partey, Zinchenko and Nelson

        Similar to what was said last summer, we wanted him but just didn't have wiggle room in our finances to allow it.

        Meatwad your issue last summer wasn’t about not spending wisely 😒
        It was about not being in champions league. One champs league season basically earned us what 3 or 4 Europa seasons can produce.

        • goon replied to this.

            Meatwad good that there are actual consequences for not spending wisely.

            * Consequences for not pulling the trigger on Smith-Rowe

                Seems like the Sesko noise is really picking up and I can't complain. Love his ball striking ability on both feet - it's something we are sorely missing outside of Trossard. Altering my list from the other day to include him:

                • Sesko (65m RC?)
                • Nico Williams (45m RC?)
                • Gibbs-White (50m max)
                • Doue (40m max - Saliba style investment)
                • Hato (30-35m max)

                Ideally I'd also like to see us go for Gibbs-White AND Fofana but if we bring in Sesko, we likely will have to just bring in one midfielder and I'd prefer MGW but not sure if we are that interested.

                —————————————————Raya
                White (Tomi/Timber)—-Saliba (White/Tomi)——Gabriel (Kiwior/Hato)—-Timber (Tomi/Hato)
                —————————Rice (Jorginho)
                ——————Odegaard (Vieira/Doue) —— Gibbs-White (ESR/Nwaneri)
                Saka (Williams/Jesus/Doue)———-Havertz (Sesko/Jesus)——— Williams (Martinelli/Trossard/Doue)

                Not saying that Williams would walk into the starting lineup - I think it would be a great competition for time between him, Martinelli, Jesus and Trossard, which is what we want. My only concern would be with midfield depth as it relies on ESR and Vieira kicking on this year. Alternatively we could shift them and bring in another midfielder like Fofana. If somehow we could get enough funding to bring in Bruno instead of Gibbs-White, that would be even more ideal. Zinchenko, Partey, Nketiah, Nelson are all moved on this summer in this scenario.

                I think Wharton is great too. Would love us to pick him up as a Jorginho replacement next season if he continues to progress at Palace.

                lorddulaarsenal

                  If we really pass up on this guy in order to get some center forward who is just going to sit on the bench, then I'm going to become The Joker. I really don't think conventional wisdom has fully caught up to just how good Michael Olise is.

                    Simons is a similar case.

                    Infact sod it. Go and get Simons and Osimhen.

                    Those two and we’d win the league

                    Are you lot all forgetting we need at least one goalkeeper as well this summer? Rambo will be off. I guess we can use his fee to buy a replacement. Or maybe two keepers if Hein is a heinie and doesn't signie.

                    DiabyKungFu We were strongly linked to him before he joined Palace. Sounds like Chelsea all over that one, haven't seen us linked at all.