Rice, Mac Allister and someone who can cover for Zinchenko would be a terrific summer.

I've changed my mind on Rice. He's a very good player, and has the type of mentality we need.

Am I the only one completely unmoved by Macallister?

He just doesn't seem like the right fit.

He's great, I really like him. Good technically, intelligent, rounded, lots of movement. He's basically a better fit and version of Xhaka if we still want that type of player in the 8 role.

    I like him but for 8 he's probably not the best option. Good player but better ones out there

    He’s one of those players who isn’t all that flashy but just knows how to hurt teams and impact games

    Anyone up for Ceballos again?

      goon I think moving from Xhaka to Macallister would be a lateral move. We need a slightly different profile for that role, someone who is much better than both on the ball and in the final third.

      For me, ball carrying ability and technique to play in tight spaces are the two absolute must haves for that role. We are already seeing how teams park two banks of five in front of their box against us now.

      Long-term Macallister is not the answer for me.

        His technical ability has always been clear. He’s one of the cleanest pre-Arteta players we had on the team. So he fits with this lot. The issue with him is same as ESR. You need to stay fit and play.

        Reiss looks physically ahead of ESR. Hopefully he’s the guy who can spell Saka in Europa League.

        lorddulaarsenal No he is too slow for the league imo. Doing well for R.Madrid so wish him well, always liked the guy but I think Spain is best for him.

        We need our next No.8 to be physically imposing but be good in tight spaces. Going forward is where Xhaka has fallen off recently and it has shown. Someone who could be a real goal threat would massively help. Now teams can double up out wide knowing we don't have much threat in the middle, get someone who can make an impact there would make it much harder to defend against us.

          I feel like the main thing we need from out left 8 next season more than anything else is for his last name to rhyme with Smellingham.

            DiabyKungFu team would be unstoppable. I would like his sprinting lower on defense as well

              lorddulaarsenal true that, had an excellent game again today for Brighton but really rather Mitoma and Caicedo if we are to get from them.

                DiabyKungFu I'm guessing you've watched him a lot more than me, would he work well in a more possession based system or is his skill set more geared up for a team like Liverpool?

                Liverpool seem to have done a lot of groundwork for that deal, the players in particular I think have been working hard to convince him. Looks like R.Madrid are going a bit cold on this deal so definitely an opening but Utd & Liverpool will both try hard for him. Supposedly the €150m price putting R.Madrid off.

                    JazzG
                    The kid plays for Dortmund. They have the ball plenty. He’s got great feet, wonderful passing. And he’s great on the counter. Sharp decision making. This is an unusual physical profile. Probably a player you could play in multiple positions like Ben White. If there is a 25% chance we can get him, we should work it

                        He will be the best CM in no time to be honest.

                        I don't see him becoming better than Pedri, but he'll probably be among the best.

                        I don't really get the hype with Bellingham I must say. Very good player and I'd love him here, but he's talked about and priced at in generational terms which I don't see. . Pedri looks a couple of levels above to me and it's immediately obvious.

                          SMS + a younger CM like caicedo or zubimendi would be great

                            We need two younger guys, no older than 25. SMS is too old, doesn't really solve the Xhaka/Partey succession planning issue.

                            goon From watching Bellingham for England this the impression I got as well. I think for Liverpool he would be sensational but we need someone with better passing and better in tight spaces. I could be wrong though and selling the guy short.

                            Claudius They're more of a counter attack team aren't they?

                            Gazza M Personally would sign two young CMs, we have experience in Partey, Xhaka & Jorginho there. We need players that will be there for the next 5-7 years. I personally really like our policy of buying under 25 and only go above for more stop gap solutions.