Summer transfer window 2023 - rumours, links and discussion.

[Rileybobs]

How can you say with confidence that Trafford is better than Muric?

Or that Amdouni > JBG when they play different roles?

Muric arguably one of our most important players last season in a side that finished 1st, Trafford albeit one good under 21 outing played in League One?

I didn’t say with confidence that Trafford is better than Muric. I caveated my post by saying I’d only seen him once. But going off the transfer fee paid you would assume those in the know believe that Trafford is better than Muric. I also don’t agree that this wasn’t a position that needed upgrading, and clearly VK had the same thoughts.

I have never seen Amdouni play but a number of people on here were suggesting that he would be likely to play in the advanced midfield role hence the comparison with JBG.

[RicardoMontalban]

Obviously, but one could make a case that we’re being a bit reluctant to pay a couple of million more for known quantities, but happy to shirk out hefty fees on relative unknowns?

Again, this comes down to VK’s comments… to spend what we have so far and ‘be weaker’ to me is concerning.

Just voicing an opinion based on the data that I’ve seen

Unknown quantities to us as fans, but far less so to Kompany et al.

But there’s an implication in what you’ve said that it all hinges on these three players, as if no one else has left or that money did not need to be spent on the players it has. Who do we not sign so we can sign one of the holy trinity? Amdouni? He may well turn out to be better than Tella. Trafford? He seems one of the most exciting signings we’ve made in years. There’s on LB where we’ve lost and not replaced through the transfer market.

Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to see any of those three back in Claret, but I really don’t think it’s quite so straightforward as don’t make the signings we have but make those ones and hey presto, job’s a good one.

[CoolClaret]

The point is on Coulibaly that it was a loan deal and the deal broke down because we couldn't agree on the commitment to buy so it's odd that you keep referring to it.

I think it's pretty obvious we havent been able to sign THB Tella and Maatsen for £35m - £40m combined

It was a commitment to buy for another hefty fee - that was the point… could we have for example, loaned THB with option to buy for the same/similar fee?

I believe we get Maatsen & Tella (Tella especially) in for their purported valuations by their respective clubs with change spare for what we have paid for Trafford, Amdouni, O’Shea & Keleosho.

I could be wrong of course - the only reason why I raised the point is that VK himself said that we aren’t yet where we were last season… to me that is concerning given the amount that we’ve spent - especially when a few are quite high risk.

If VK came out last night and said yeah we’re looking really strong and really happy with the additions then it’s a slightly different matter.

Again, I just feel that we’re trying to be a little bit too clever - hope I’m wrong.

God forbid me raising a point of discussion on a football message board eh

[Newcastleclaret93]

For anyone interested Joris Crolbois has done an excellent breakdown on our new striker.

Really worth a read on Twitter. Not sure how to upload a link

[ksrclaret]

God forbid me raising a point of discussion on a football message board eh

And people are discussing it with you.

[BurnleyFC]

Trafford>Muric
Redmond>Tella
Amdouni>JBG
Weghorst>Foster

Trafford better than Muric is highly debatable, but not for me.

Redmond better than Tella, again, not for me.

Amdouni better than JBG? Different positions.

Weghorst better than Foster, would agree with that but there’s a more than fair chance that Weghorst won’t be here after the summer.

[Rileybobs]

I should add, if Amdouni will play as a striker then this still probably stands;

Weghorst>Barnes
Amdouni>Foster

[gawthorpe_view]

For anyone interested Joris Crolbois has done an excellent breakdown on our new striker.

Really worth a read on Twitter. Not sure how to upload a link

Link, hopefully!

https://twitter.com/JorisCrolbois/statu ... IYtgA&s=19

[Newcastleclaret93]

Link, hopefully!

https://twitter.com/JorisCrolbois/statu ... IYtgA&s=19

Yep that’s the one

It’s a really interesting read

[CoolClaret]

Unknown quantities to us as fans, but far less so to Kompany et al.

But there’s an implication in what you’ve said that it all hinges on these three players, as if no one else has left or that money did not need to be spent on the players it has. Who do we not sign so we can sign one of the holy trinity? Amdouni? He may well turn out to be better than Tella. Trafford? He seems one of the most exciting signings we’ve made in years. There’s on LB where we’ve lost and not replaced through the transfer market.

Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to see any of those three back in Claret, but I really don’t think it’s quite so straightforward as don’t make the signings we have but make those ones and hey presto, job’s a good one.

I don’t think it’s as straightforward as that either - at all.

Nor do I think that them three players are a ‘holy trinity’ - but we have seen them be very, very effective in our system and we know that they can perform at a very high level for us.

Again, it’s in reference to Kompany’s comments.

Amdouni is still an unknown quantity - anyone that has played only 30 games or so in a pretty weak league coming into the PL is an unknown quantity despite however many scouting reports etc done on him.

That’s not to say that he might not be exciting and a future star - but i also recall that poster from Basel on here saying everywhere he’s gone it’s taken him a while to settle in before he starts contributing.

This of course may not be the case at Burnley but still - with only 38 games in the PL and still having a pretty thin squad with 3ish weeks (?) to go or so there is some cause for concern.

I just feel that more known quantities right now, that know the system and each other would have us sitting in a better spot and we all know how crucial it is to get points on the board early in the PL.

Fortunately I guess for us is that the Luton game got rearranged which gives us a little bit more time to get players in and firing on all cylinders.

[warksclaret]

For those on here saying a new GK is not a priority, and Trafford was not necessary, I could not disagree more. I saw a lot of Muric last year and went to about 15 PL games. The level and standard of goal keeping in the PL is absolutely exceptional, with most teams having two international standard keepers. I know Muric had a better second half of the season but it was playing in a team with often 65% plus of possession and against the likes of Cardiff, Reading , Wigan etc

Within a few weeks of being in the PL he would be a hunted man not only by the opposition but now the very high profile British media and SKY in particular. His confidence would be shot. Dont want anyone jumping down my throat-just my opinion

[taio]

It was a commitment to buy for another hefty fee - that was the point… could we have for example, loaned THB with option to buy for the same/similar fee?

I believe we get Maatsen & Tella (Tella especially) in for their purported valuations by their respective clubs with change spare for what we have paid for Trafford, Amdouni, O’Shea & Keleosho.

I could be wrong of course - the only reason why I raised the point is that VK himself said that we aren’t yet where we were last season… to me that is concerning given the amount that we’ve spent - especially when a few are quite high risk.

If VK came out last night and said yeah we’re looking really strong and really happy with the additions then it’s a slightly different matter.

Again, I just feel that we’re trying to be a little bit too clever - hope I’m wrong.

God forbid me raising a point of discussion on a football message board eh

No I don't believe THB on loan again is an option. We haven't really been seriously linked with signing him, especially on loan, and there's a reason for that.

You originally suggested we could get THB, Maatsen and Tella for the players you have referred to, and now you're just saying Maatsen and Tella. Which scenario is it?

Nothing wrong at all with you raising a point on a football message board. And equally nothing wrong with people responding to your point.

[CoolClaret]

For those on here saying a new GK is not a priority, and Trafford was not necessary, I could not disagree more. I saw a lot of Muric last year and went to about 15 PL games. The level and standard of goal keeping in the PL is absolutely exceptional, with most teams having two international standard keepers. I know Muric had a better second half of the season but it was playing in a team with often 65% plus of possession and against the likes of Cardiff, Reading , Wigan etc

Within a few weeks of being in the PL he would be a hunted man not only by the opposition but now the very high profile British media and SKY in particular. His confidence would be shot. Dont want anyone jumping down my throat-just my opinion

With respect, Muric seemed very stoic and unflappable - and got us out of the sh** more than a few times.

A lot of that dominance though and possession does come down to, even though it might not seem like it, the positioning and ability of the goalkeeper playing.

The angles/positions they take up both in and out of possession - you only have to look at some of the games in which Bailey played (and he did quite well) how different that we looked in our buildup, we looked a lot more disjointed and less fluid going forward from the back - at least in my opinion.

[CoolClaret]

No I don't believe THB on loan again is an option. We haven't really been seriously linked with signing him, especially on loan, and there's a reason for that.

You originally suggested we could get THB, Maatsen and Tella for the players you have referred to, and now you're just saying Maatsen and Tella. Which scenario is it?

Nothing wrong at all with you raising a point on a football message board. And equally nothing wrong with people responding to your point.

What reason is that, then?

It’s both. With the rumoured fees going around and what we’re likely to also outlay for perhaps one or two more yes, I think we would have Maatsen, Tella & THB.

I emphasised Maatsen & Tella because we have less cover in those areas.

On the discussion - of course… I feel like sometimes replies are more on the attack to ‘win’ rather than actually reply to the body of the message… case in point tout ‘which is it then?’

That’s kind of skirting around the actual points I’ve raised.

I don’t work in the club I don’t know the finer details - but what I do know is we still look a bit thin and have spent a lot of money on players with little experience but high potential.

That’s risky for a club of ours - I’m really hoping it pays off

[RVclaret]

That's if these players were bought to replace the others and I don't think that's strictly true. If a deal can be done with Southampton then we'd have Redmond and Tella, absolutely, because they play different roles, have different attributes. I don't imagine Redmond playing the false nine, for example, as Tella has. Weghorst and Foster are too different to compare and the same goes for Amdouni and Gudmundsson who I'm not convinced play in even the same position.

Redmond was actually playing up top in a 2 during the final year or so with Saints. Not sure it’s accurate to say Tella has played false 9 with us. I actually view Redmond and Tella as very similar players, can play anywhere across the front, small, diminutive dribblers with explosive pace. Just that Redmond has done it consistently at PL level for years.

[taio]

What reason is that, then?

It’s both. With the rumoured fees going around and what we’re likely to also outlay for perhaps one or two more yes, I think we would have Maatsen, Tella & THB.

I emphasised Maatsen & Tella because we have less cover in those areas.

The reason - because we haven't signed him and he will more than likely end up at a bigger club

We aren't able to sign THB, Tella and Maatsen for £35m - £40m, which is what you originally suggested.

[Pickles]

Redmond was actually playing up top in a 2 during the final year or so with Saints. Not sure it’s accurate to say Tella has played false 9 with us. I actually view Redmond and Tella as very similar players, can play anywhere across the front, small, diminutive dribblers with explosive pace. Just that Redmond has done it consistently at PL level for years.

True, true. Tella definitely played through the middle for us sometimes last season though and was our most forward player on average no?

Suppose my point being, probably badly made, is I don't think it's Redmond or Tella. If a deal can be done for Tella, he comes. As does Maatsen. I'm pretty convinced of that but obviously it's all opinion.

[RVclaret]

True, true. Tella definitely played through the middle for us sometimes last season though and was our most forward player on average no?

Suppose my point being, probably badly made, is I don't think it's Redmond or Tella. If a deal can be done for Tella, he comes. As does Maatsen. I'm pretty convinced of that but obviously it's all opinion.

Yeah thought you were meaning false 9 in the tactical sense (more Firmino for Liverpool and Jay Rod for us where they drop very deep).

You might be right re. Tella, though if Townsend signs as well that’s 4 wingers already.

[Blyclaret]

My opinion is if we signed THB … Tella and the boy from Chelsea we would struggle in premier league. We needed more players and some with experience. Hence the Redmond signing.

[KRBFC]

The risk of relegation is a very significant point and the reason why we can't spend 'whatever we want' which would be reckless

Of course that’s the obvious risk, I think Pace and co are willing to take financial risks.

[CoolClaret]

Yeah thought you were meaning false 9 in the tactical sense (more Firmino for Liverpool and Jay Rod for us where they drop very deep).

You might be right re. Tella, though if Townsend signs as well that’s 4 wingers already.

Redmond played a lot in the two behind the strikers in Hassenhüttls narrow 4-2-2-2 system as well.

I think Tella has Redmond for pace and acceleration. Dribbling no doubt Redmond is a tidier player but Tella was so good for us at stretching the field last season on the shoulder of the last man.

We massively missed him when he was injured towards the end of the season - the goals properly dried up

I think Redmond is a brilliant addition btw*

[CoolClaret]

The reason - because we haven't signed him and he will more than likely end up at a bigger club

We aren't able to sign THB, Tella and Maatsen for £35m - £40m, which is what you originally suggested.

I think that we could have them for around that and maybe a little bit more - which, going off what we’re prepared to spend in the market as a whole would be doable and imo would have us sitting in a stronger position right now than we currently are - and evidently VK thinks similar.

[taio]

I think that we could have them for around that and maybe a little bit more - which, going off what we’re prepared to spend in the market as a whole would be doable and imo would have us sitting in a stronger position right now than we currently are - and evidently VK thinks similar.

I agree that those three would strengthen us. But I don't think we'd get all three for £35m - £40m. VK clearly thinks different with the signings Trafford, Amdouni, O'Shea et al.

[AfloatinClaret]

...perhaps need another striker - especially if Rodriguez or Weghorst leave which wouldn't surprise me.

I'd far rather see Jay-Rod getting into a taxi than Wout, but that won't happen; Jay secured himself a two year deal last summer and while I don't know at what salary, I'm confident that it'll be for far more than anyone else will offer him.

This week the forum is full of posts demanding that we offload (some suggesting at any price) Wout Weghorst while others abuse him both here and in Genk because he's apparently not good enough for the EPL and perhaps more abhorently, Wout deserted Burnley to spend a season with Besiktas/Manchester United in furtherance his own ambitions/career.

I've not seen any similar posts about Jay-Rod? Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike the fellow, but it does seem that the 'he's one of us' brigade see him as something of a sacred-cow: This being the same Jay Rodriguez that left the club to further his own career/ambitions with Southampton and when later was offered an opportunity to return, chose WBA instead, only returning to the fold when neither WBA or anybody else, were interested in him anymore.

Do they they forgive that because 'he's one of us' or because they genuinely think Jay-Rod's still up to setting the EPL alight, or even just contributing much of anything - and more than Weghost could - to our cause? Either way... they're deluded.

[Firthy]

If we keep Taylor and sign Koleosho we still need 4 players IMO.

LB Maatsen or another
Creative midfielder Lakonga or Vranckx
No 10 to play behind the striker Tella, Flemming or Hamer
A striker as I'm not convinced Foster, Weghorst or JRod are what we need.

[Rileybobs]

There is an argument that we’ve signed a better player than Tella and not spent a penny. Redmond on a free or Tella at £15m? Maybe VK sees Al-Dakhil and/or Ekdal and/or O’Shea ahead of THB in the pecking order, so a lot of money to spend on a backup CB. Maatsen obviously the outlier here for me, but I have no doubt we will sign a left back.

[CoolClaret]

There is an argument that we’ve signed a better player than Tella and not spent a penny. Redmond on a free or Tella at £15m? Maybe VK sees Al-Dakhil and/or Ekdal and/or O’Shea ahead of THB in the pecking order, so a lot of money to spend on a backup CB. Maatsen obviously the outlier here for me, but I have no doubt we will sign a left back.

There’s another argument where you recognise that Tella and Redmond are slightly different players and both can play on both wings and would both be good additions (as we need depth in the forward/wing positions).

Redmond likes playing on the left cutting in (as does Tella) but Tella also played the vast majority of the season for us out on the right stretching the field.

[KRBFC]

Maatsen 4 goals 6 assists in 39 league apps

Taylor 0 goals 7 assists in 166 league apps

Granted 133 of Taylor’s appearances were in the PL under Dycheball but shows how vital VK sees the left back to be offensively, Taylor is miles off being capable.

[warksclaret]

I'd far rather see Jay-Rod getting into a taxi than Wout, but that won't happen; Jay secured himself a two year deal last summer and while I don't know at what salary, I'm confident that it'll be for far more than anyone else will offer him.

This week the forum is full of posts demanding that we offload (some suggesting at any price) Wout Weghorst while others abuse him both here and in Genk because he's apparently not good enough for the EPL and perhaps more abhorently, Wout deserted Burnley to spend a season with Besiktas/Manchester United in furtherance his own ambitions/career.

I've not seen any similar posts about Jay-Rod? Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike the fellow, but it does seem that the 'he's one of us' brigade see him as something of a sacred-cow: This being the same Jay Rodriguez that left the club to further his own career/ambitions with Southampton and when later was offered an opportunity to return, chose WBA instead, only returning to the fold when neither WBA or anybody else, were interested in him anymore.

Do they they forgive that because 'he's one of us' or because they genuinely think Jay-Rod's still up to setting the EPL alight, or even just contributing much of anything - and more than Weghost could - to our cause? Either way... they're deluded.

I have said on several posts that Jay Rod has become the new "Robbie Brady" in terms of injuries/sickness and general unavaiability. I suspect too he might currently be the top player wage at the club and be interesting to see an analysis of the past season or two showing average wage per actual minute playing time. I am sure he will turn out to be a big luxury that we probably cannot afford in the PL. Where was he yesterday for example ??

[warksclaret]

There is an argument that we’ve signed a better player than Tella and not spent a penny. Redmond on a free or Tella at £15m? Maybe VK sees Al-Dakhil and/or Ekdal and/or O’Shea ahead of THB in the pecking order, so a lot of money to spend on a backup CB. Maatsen obviously the outlier here for me, but I have no doubt we will sign a left back.

Think Redmond could be a very sensible signing, but for me , and I suspect many clarets agree, Tella was something special and a very, very good signing by VK when many people knew very little about his playing abilities

[Rileybobs]

Think Redmond could be a very sensible signing, but for me , and I suspect many clarets agree, Tella was something special and a very, very good signing by VK when many people knew very little about his playing abilities

Yes Tella was great for us without a doubt and I’d have loved to have signed him, but Redmond has played the majority of his career as a regular in the Premier League. He’s a proven player at this level and is far less of a gamble than Tella, and that’s even before you consider the difference in transfer fee.

[Ziggy Stardust]

Maatsen 4 goals 6 assists in 39 league apps

Taylor 0 goals 7 assists in 166 league apps

Granted 133 of Taylor’s appearances were in the PL under Dycheball but shows how vital VK sees the left back to be offensively, Taylor is miles off being capable.

If we could combine both of their strengths we would have a sensational fullback!

[Silkyskills1]

If we keep Taylor and sign Koleosho we still need 4 players IMO.

LB Maatsen or another
Creative midfielder Lakonga or Vranckx
No 10 to play behind the striker Tella, Flemming or Hamer
A striker as I'm not convinced Foster, Weghorst or JRod are what we need.

Agree 100% that we need a striker. Mentioned it on here at least 4 months ago when we were cruising in the Championship. Nothing has happened since to convince me to change my mind.

[TheFamilyCat]

Think Redmond could be a very sensible signing, but for me , and I suspect many clarets agree, Tella was something special and a very, very good signing by VK when many people knew very little about his playing abilities

I wonder what kind of offer may have tempted Southampton a year ago.

[kenyon6923]

Just annoying that Tella's inflated price is down to us and our success of which he played a major role !!!! Now we either can't afford him or feel he's not worth the price. Goodness knows how much we could have got him for 12 months ago but that's hindsight that's football.

[Petersa]

Just annoying that Tella's inflated price is down to us and our success of which he played a major role !!!! Now we either can't afford him or feel he's not worth the price. Goodness knows how much we could have got him for 12 months ago but that's hindsight that's football.

Lets be perfectly fair everyone, Coventry's forums could and probably are saying the same about Luke Mc'Nally. We just have to grin and bear it

[dsr]

? Well we could we just didn’t see ‘eye to eye’ on valuations.

The money we’ve already spent + the rumoured fee for Coulibaly brings them all back with change.

Not that much change. If we had signed Coulibaly that would make about £50m spend on Trafford, Coulibaly,. O'Shea, and Amdouni. I don't think the change would have been vast from £50m on buying H-B, Maatsen and Tella.

(I'm assuming, since the purpose is to re-sign the loanees, you won't be deducting Beyer from the transfer payement. An Obafemi was contractual so no choice there.)

[warksclaret]

I wonder what kind of offer may have tempted Southampton a year ago.

Its a good question . I would have envisaged £6m-£8m tops

[CoolClaret]

Not that much change. If we had signed Coulibaly that would make about £50m spend on Trafford, Coulibaly,. O'Shea, and Amdouni. I don't think the change would have been vast from £50m on buying H-B, Maatsen and Tella.

(I'm assuming, since the purpose is to re-sign the loanees, you won't be deducting Beyer from the transfer payement. An Obafemi was contractual so no choice there.)

No, not much change at all - but when VK is coming out and saying ‘we are weaker right now than where we were last season’ three weeks before the start of the season then I’d argue that they’d also make the most sense.

Again, imo at least not everything can be put down to ‘future resale value’ - I can’t imagine we’d be getting much for Dara O’Shea in 2-3 years for example.

[claretspice]

Maatsen 4 goals 6 assists in 39 league apps

Taylor 0 goals 7 assists in 166 league apps

Granted 133 of Taylor’s appearances were in the PL under Dycheball but shows how vital VK sees the left back to be offensively, Taylor is miles off being capable.

And the other 33 League appearances must've been predominantly at centre back and/or off the bench last season.

I am a big fan of Maatsen's and hope we sign him permanently, and tend to agree that Taylor is ill-suited to VK's left back role, but we need to use statistics accurately and fairly - your comparison is so far from like for like its not true.

That said, I did expect us to sign 2 left backs this summer, and I think I still do. It'd be no surprise if Taylor moved on and his biggest value to us is probably his experience .

[RVclaret]

No, not much change at all - but when VK is coming out and saying ‘we are weaker right now than where we were last season’ three weeks before the start of the season then I’d argue that they’d also make the most sense.

Again, imo at least not everything can be put down to ‘future resale value’ - I can’t imagine we’d be getting much for Dara O’Shea in 2-3 years for example.

He didn’t say that exactly.

‘We resumed with a weaker team. So we are still in the construction phase’

This was said when commenting on integrating new players in (yesterday Amdouni and Trafford played after 1 day training and Redmond wasn’t available).

[nil_desperandum]

I think it's always been pretty obvious that in order to get the best deal on Tella we'll have to wait until the final days / hours of the transfer window.
If he wants to join us, and he has told Southampton that this is the position, (we don't know if this is the case), then they'll almost certainly have to sell him before the window closes otherwise they risk keeping a disaffected player who doesn't want to be there, and miss out on a fee altogether this window.
I think there's a pretty good chance that we will see him playing for us sometime in September.
Meanwhile we have to hope that no one else comes in who is prepared to match Southampton's value - but that doesn't seem to be a problem at present.

[AfloatinClaret]

Just annoying that Tella's inflated price is down to us and our success of which he played a major role...

That's the downside of loaning players. The alternative view would be that if Tella or any of the other loanees had proved to be appalling, then we wouldn't have wasted any money on buying them, or alternatively, our transfer budget wouldn't have stretched to buying them in the first place, so we'd have had to do without them last season too.

[Tricky Trevor]

I still feel we are desperately short of goals. WW, JRod, Foster, Amdouni, Obafemi, Twine, Benson, Zaroury, Redmond, JBG.
I just don’t see many goals from that collection. We desperately need a 10-15 goals/season man up top, then the man playing behind him will get more space.

[gandhisflipflop]

I still feel we are desperately short of goals. WW, JRod, Foster, Amdouni, Obafemi, Twine, Benson, Zaroury, Redmond, JBG.
I just don’t see many goals from that collection. We desperately need a 10-15 goals/season man up top, then the man playing behind him will get more space.

People were saying this 12 months ago. We will be fine.

[KRBFC]

And the other 33 League appearances must've been predominantly at centre back and/or off the bench last season.

I am a big fan of Maatsen's and hope we sign him permanently, and tend to agree that Taylor is ill-suited to VK's left back role, but we need to use statistics accurately and fairly - your comparison is so far from like for like its not true.

That said, I did expect us to sign 2 left backs this summer, and I think I still do. It'd be no surprise if Taylor moved on and his biggest value to us is probably his experience .

To be fair I did clarify that the appearances were in different divisions and I thought it was kinda obvious the remaining 33 were last season where he played mainly CB.

[Steddyman]

People were saying this 12 months ago. We will be fine.

and then we signed Tella

[KRBFC]

I still feel we are desperately short of goals. WW, JRod, Foster, Amdouni, Obafemi, Twine, Benson, Zaroury, Redmond, JBG.
I just don’t see many goals from that collection. We desperately need a 10-15 goals/season man up top, then the man playing behind him will get more space.

Assuming Amdouni is playing behind the striker, atm that striker would be Wout, Jay or Foster. I don’t see many goals from that trio at all.

The main concern for me attacking wise is the right hand side, Benson was very effective off the bench last season and also quite prone to injury. There was also less pressure on him because Tella was firing, it allowed us to rotate the two.

Benson was injured Yesterday and Vitinho filled in RW, he’s not the answer. So who is? If we could rely on Benson being fit most weeks then I think Townsend is a fine back up option, I’m not sure Townsend replaces Tella’s goals though. Redmond on the right maybe?

In VKs shape the left back was almost another winger, heavily involved in forward areas to create and chip in. I’m sure that will be priority.

Maatsen and Tella are gonna be really difficult to replace, lost a huge chunk of goals, pace and creativity.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

I wonder what kind of offer may have tempted Southampton a year ago.

Saints fans were quite prepared to drive him up to us just to get rid
The same fans are now laughing and demanding big money for him

[claretspice]

To be fair I did clarify that the appearances were in different divisions and I thought it was kinda obvious the remaining 33 were last season where he played mainly CB.

You did, but it renders the comparison completely void, doesn't it?