There's no way we are getting close to £20m for Jorginho. I'd be surprised if we get close to breaking even on what we paid for him (£10m if I recall) at this point. I don't think we have the depth to allow him to leave even if he is looking even more washed these days.

I will be very upset if we end up with Rashford at the end of this window unless it's for a short term loan. I have no confidence he will be anything more than dead weight moving forward and these reclamation projects like Sterling are not helping the squad whatsoever.

I'd rather us bring in a youth prospect like Nypan this window with eyes on developing for the future. Even if that means letting him stay at his club for the rest of the year.

    If we don't get the Jorginho/Partey replacement right, we'll be screwed.

    The only guy that looks good enough is Zubimendi. Everyone else that I know of will be a downgrade.

      Qwiss also would he just stay on the bench like Rashford?

        daredevil I don't know if I agree with this. Squads evolve and I think our next evolution has to be to a midfield setup with Rice at the 6. Of course we will hear complaints about his progressive passing but whenever he's had a chance to show it off, he's been solid iMO. I also think you can adapt to that by moving to a structure that I am a fan of which is pushing Odegaard deeper as a buildup specialist and bringing in a more output focused CAM to play where Odegaard plays now. Merino is versatile enough to provide depth at both of those positions and hopefully MLS can also provide depth at the 6 next year (as well as LB). There are far more options out there for advanced midfield roles - can go from the top of the market with Wirtz and Musiala to other good signings like Reijnders, Eze, Gibbs-White, Sudakov, Moleiro) and I want Rice in a more defensive role with two midfielders ahead of him that are better technicians, playmakers and ideally, can provide some goals).

        With inverting outside backs like Timber/White and Calafiori/MLS, ball progression shouldn't be an issue and I think we struggle more with playmaking in the final third. I haven't seen Partey or Jorginho help much in that, nor has Rice in an advanced 8 role provided a ton of value there. A midfield like the following would be my (realistic) dream:
        ----- Rice (Merino/MLS) -----
        Reijnders (Nwaneri) -- Odegaard (Merino)

            samthegooner — great thoughts, but to clarify — are you suggesting that Odegaard should move to the left 8?

                MistaT I am not as stuck on left or right - it could be either as long as its the CM role focused more on buildup (currently our left 8). I view Odegaard as best deployed not as "our KDB" but moreso as "our Bernardo Silva". That isn't a slight against him but I think if we added a starting midfielder who does more of the things we would associate with a traditional 10 (while still working hard out of possession) and allow Odegaard to operate more as a traditional 8, it would play to his and Rice's strengths better and open up a lot more recruitment options for an attacking oriented midfielder. A pie in the sky midfield for me would be Wirtz - Rice - Odegaard but I want to be realistic.

                    samthegooner A pie in the sky midfield for me would be Wirtz - Rice - Odegaard but I want to be realistic.

                    I’d like a serving of this pie

                      So I agree with that, my preference is also to move Rice to 6 and get a ball playing 8. I wonder if Cunha could be that guy, or he's too attacking for the role.

                      Personally, a ball playing creative 8 should be our biggest priority, followed by left winger, followed by a CF. We don't create enough chances in open play and are too reliant on Odegaard and Saka. We need someone equally good (or better) on the left side.

                      If we don’t sign anyone we this Jan then we have effectively written off this season.

                        Claudius

                        I wrote off the league. Not signing anyone this window is writing off the CL, FA Cup and League cup. It not only wastes this season but means the last two seasons were wasted and all that momentum we’ve built as a club go to shit.

                          daredevil the midfield rebuild might be a problem too far for arteta, and could spell the end for him. that 65m/200k pw havertz splurge felt like a breaking point, because he was (mistakenly) bought to be a key fixture as a left 8 and also created a false sense of security that our forward line was sufficient. the combined shockwave of his incorrect recruitment + taking 1-2 windows too long to actually fix the forward line has now resulted too many new fires to put out, leaving us once again with competing priorities aka 'a day late and a buck short'. looking at artetas recruitment history, he will favour the perspirational/structural aspects of the team first and foremost.

                          had we scooped 1 piece of major silverware in the last few years, the time and resource required for the above rebuild would be acceptable.

                              Gazza M Havertz was a major contributor to our run last season and is our top scorer this season. In addition to all the pressing he does. There are at least half a dozen players you could complain about Roger getting to him.

                                  Claudius he's also a major contributor to why we didn't buy a proper midfielder in summer 23, nor a proper forward in summer 2024. and he costs us 65m and 200k pw. and he's been average for 50% of his time here. hence my comment about him being a breaking point signing.

                                      Claudius the problem is we overpaid for him in fee and wages and allowed his purple patch to let us pretend we had no issue with our forwards.

                                        Gazza M not to be a dick, but it's 275k per week