lorddulaarsenal Tomiyasu disappear via osmosis?

Had honestly forgotten about him

lorddulaarsenal so has the club probably.

Apologies in advance for the length of this post. I hope the club approaches the window with buckets of options for each need so we can quickly pivot as needed and get our business done early. Right now, I would have those buckets as the following (prioritized):

CF: Isak / Sesko / Ekitike

• I don't think Isak is realistic. We should be spending very little time pursuing him unless they don't make Champs League and he makes noise internally that he wants to leave. Sesko has always been my choice due to his ceiling as a clinical ball striker with size, speed and surprising technique. However, Ekitike is rapidly moving up my list - he looks a little like Isak at Sociedad with his combination of size, dribbling, playmaking and finishing.

Winger: Barcola / Semenyo / Gittens / Williams

• If Barcola is available, we should be all over it- he's a game changer. Semenyo is already PL proven and also looks like he could still level up in our system - two-footed, works hard, very physical while also being skilled technically, good ball striker. Gittens would be more of a roll of the dice but I think his ceiling is up there with Barcola. I haven't seen any links with him though. We know about Williams at this point and he would still need to lower his wage demands but the talent is still there.

Midfielder: Zubimendi

• The Madrid links are worrying since I don't know if we have another option here that would tick the boxes Zubi does in terms of being essentially a more physically talented Jorginho - the perfect partner for Rice. He's not really a Partey replacement but will platform Rice even better and I personally think MLS will be the eventual Partey replacement if we want one.

Backup GK: Garcia

• This one looks inevitable. I hope we don't let it take funds away from our bigger targets though since I think we could get away with bringing Hein back as the #2 while our younger keepers continue to develop.

Auxiliary Attacker (dependent on Trossard leaving): Cunha / Mbeumo

• If we move away from Trossard this summer (and then Jesus the following summer most likely), we should probably bring in another versatile attacker that can play in multiple positions across the front line. This wouldn't be a huge priority for me but moreso a one out, one in scenario. I'd also be interested in seeing if there are some younger prospects to target here like a Nusa.

Left Back (if we sell Zinchenko, Tierney and potentially Kiwior/Tomiyasu): Hato / Ishe Samuels-Smith

• Personally, I think we should move a few of our defenders this summer. Clearly, Tierney will be leaving and it looks like Zinchenko as well. I would be okay with moving Kiwior if we could get a decent fee and regrettably, Tomiyasu, since he just cannot stay healthy despite being a rock when he is. We have decent RB depth with Timber and White, with both of them also being able to provide cover at RCB. We also have Calafiori and MLS at LB, with Cala able to provide cover at LCB. I think MLS should eventually move to CM so we need to make plans to enable that long term. I'd go for Hato, who could also cover a bit at LCB. Samuels-Smith, a Chelsea youth prospect, also looks incredible and we might be able to steal him for a relatively small fee. These should be back end of the window moves though- we need to prioritize our first three signings first and foremost.

I want to see Sesko, Barcola, Zubimendi, Garcia happen. There are too many years left on Isak's contract for Newcastle to sell IMO.

CPM I think if Newcastle gets Champs League, we should immediately do everything we can to wrap up Sesko and Zubimendi and then we can try to tempt PSG with a big bid, taking some of the surplus funds we would've earmarked for Isak (and instead used less for Sesko). If they turn it down then you can pivot quickly to Semenyo. That's a very good consolation prize and ideally leaves some funds leftover for market opportunities later in the window.

We'll be getting Garcia for 25m

Big Willie Unfortunately I think you're right on the cost but on the positive side, my buddy who watches a lot of La Liga said he is very good. He said he thinks he's too good to be a #2 but it sounds like he's okay with coming in and competing.

Please

samthegooner Apologies in advance for the length of this post

Not at all mate, laid it out nicely. Zubimendi and Šeško is the kind of summer we should be having.

I'm now in favour of us "upgrading" Havertz over Martinelli as I think it's easier to find a centre forward with distinctive, better qualities than Havertz, and because Havertz is a natural wild card / utility sort of player.

I was going through a bunch of stats tables. The great thing about forwards is they’re easy to compare. There’s dozens of numbers that easily correlate to what you see on the field - unlike defenders and goalies. Honest truth, there isn’t a massive list of forwards that are a) better than Martinelli / Havertz and b) likely to be available.
So my mind is pivoting towards getting depth more than improving on them. Unless of course, Isak ever becomes available. You take him at pretty much any price.

Also puts a sharp focus on Wirtz / Musiala. They’re both likely available. I would target them over a forward if they can be interested in the project

Claudius So my mind is pivoting towards getting depth more than improving on them.

We want alternative attributes rather than depth of the same, especially lethal finishing or "ball striking" if you want to call it that. Just look at the difference Trossard has been able to make due to the quality of his finishing.

Claudius yeah let’s get a magic man to be the creative talisman

Claudius I like this idea in theory but if only the PL does it are we giving a big advantage to Real, Bayern, Barca, etc?

BREAKING: Someone wanting someone!

One to watch. 19 goals in Serie A. Far ahead of everyone. 25 years old

Seems to sit neatly in the Lacazette tier