Summer 2024 Transfer Window Discussion - Rumours and Links welcome

[jojomk1]

I am just not sure Trafford has the ability to play the style VK wants.

So why sign him in the first place ?

Not sure either has the true ability required, but you would have thought VK had done some homework on Trafford

You would have thought so !

[Rick_Muller]

The major aspect Trafford lacked was confidence in him by the back four. That is all. He is just as, if not more than capable than Muric but it was a mistake to throw him in too early.

[Tricky Trevor]

The major aspect Trafford lacked was confidence in him by the back four. That is all. He is just as, if not more than capable than Muric but it was a mistake to throw him in too early.

I agree with that but it reflects more on him than it does on them. They had no confidence in him being at that level. His lack of physicality was his other major negative but hopefully that will be sorted before next term.

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

If we can get our money back on Trafford this summer it will be the best outcome for all parties.

[NewClaret]

Who knows, the lad is 21, I’ve said this on here before but at the same age Raya was poor with his feet (Rovers mate), average at Brentford at first and then improved massively in the past season or two, getting a move to Arsenal for that reason. He’s got the ‘raw tools’ for it in my opinion. I’m happy either way in the Champ so I guess it boils down to who attracts the bids and the largest of them.

He’s definitely got the raw ability to be an elite keeper.

Remember the first half of last season when our fans were criticising Muric for not commanding his area? Then he improved second half of the season. This season everyone calling for his return because he commands his area so much better (amongst other reasons).

Young players improve aspects of their game. It’s crazy how fans on here write obviously-talented players off on the basis of what they’ve seen in their first season.

[Ric_C]

Well Newcastle definitely want a keeper. There are also rumours of them wanting to sell Pope. Feel like his injuries are costing him now.

[Darthlaw]

If we can get our money back on Trafford this summer it will be the best outcome for all parties.

Sadly, this.

Lad needs games to develop and an element of BFC fans won’t allow that.

[RVclaret]

If we can get our money back on Trafford this summer it will be the best outcome for all parties.

Depends which view you take. If Newcastle are interested in him and willing to pay that kind of money, you have got to question why we’d be happy to lose a player who’s thought so highly of?

[NewClaret]

Depends which view you take. If Newcastle are interested in him and willing to pay that kind of money, you have got to question why we’d be happy to lose a player who’s thought so highly of?

I wouldn’t be happy to lose him for the reason stated, but assuming a few things (maybe a euros place, Liverpool also interested as reported), there’s a chance we could make a decent profit on what we paid - depending how the clauses worked - in which case I would rather that than sell Berge, Odobert, Koleosho, etc.

Only if we were extending Muric on a long term deal though.

[burnleymik]

Depends which view you take. If Newcastle are interested in him and willing to pay that kind of money, you have got to question why we’d be happy to lose a player who’s thought so highly of?

I think it's more about a risk to see if he makes it, he wouldn't go there and be their number one. We need a number one, especially with the price we paid.

As it stands he doesn't seem ready to play how VK wants him to. He might do better in a traditional keeper role, not sure, but for the fast, sweeper type role, I just don't think he is anywhere near as it stands.

[warksclaret]

Looks like we already have clubs looking at some of our better players. For me if we can get a decent fee for players like Ekdal, Trafford,Weghorst we should take it. Ekdal is an intelligent defender, but lets face it not a regular in the Championship or PL and slow. Trafford may well be a great keeper in time but he just does not fit into our style of play, and too indecisive when he regains the ball. Lots more to go I suspect

[Ric_C]

Sadly, this.

Lad needs games to develop and an element of BFC fans won’t allow that.

Partly agree, but I don't think we are in a position as a club to "allow a player to develop" in such a key position. Especially in the prem. Maybe if we were an established side like a Palace or a Brighton for example, we could give him 10-15 games to learn his trade, but last season was suicide.

[Ric_C]

Looks like we already have clubs looking at some of our better players. For me if we can get a decent fee for players like Ekdal, Trafford,Weghorst we should take it. Ekdal is an intelligent defender, but lets face it not a regular in the Championship or PL and slow. Trafford may well be a great keeper in time but he just does not fit into our style of play, and too indecisive when he regains the ball. Lots more to go I suspect

I actually think Ekdal (when fit) is one of our better defenders. Unfortunately, like Beyer, there are question marks over his ability to stay fit for a season.

[burnleytom]

I wonder if we might sell both keepers and buy Butez. Heavily linked pre-Trafford. Would be an easy way to get cash in, establish a clear number 1, and we have plenty of other options for back up/reserve.

https://ibb.co/DRCKDR4

[summitclaret]

To a large extent I don't really care who is our keeper. I do care about the lack of a left back, a cd midfielder and a striker, just like I did 9 months ago. It's why we went down.

[Quickenthetempo]

Looks like we already have clubs looking at some of our better players. For me if we can get a decent fee for players like Ekdal, Trafford,Weghorst we should take it. Ekdal is an intelligent defender, but lets face it not a regular in the Championship or PL and slow. Trafford may well be a great keeper in time but he just does not fit into our style of play, and too indecisive when he regains the ball. Lots more to go I suspect

Has Ekdal ever been outpaced for us?

I know he looks a touch slow but is so much of a better defender upstairs than any other we have, he always seems in the right place, with no chance to get outpaced.

He seemed to cope with Danny Wellbeck easily enough and there's not many faster in English football.

[bumba]

Has Ekdal ever been outpaced for us?

I know he looks a touch slow but is so much of a better defender upstairs than any other we have, he always seems in the right place, with no chance to get outpaced.

He seemed to cope with Danny Wellbeck easily enough and there's not many faster in English football.

Yes his first game away at Norwich by Pukki

[NewClaret]

Has Ekdal ever been outpaced for us?

I know he looks a touch slow but is so much of a better defender upstairs than any other we have, he always seems in the right place, with no chance to get outpaced.

He seemed to cope with Danny Wellbeck easily enough and there's not many faster in English football.

I’m terrible at remembering games but I seem to remember Fulham at home. Could be completely wrong on that. He’s been exposed a few times but I agree he reads the game so well it’s rare he has to rely on it. Great defender I’d like to keep.

Certainly at Champ level I thought he looked better than THB (who also lacked pace) when he came in Jan and THB was injured… and City want £20m for him!

[Spijed]

Well Newcastle definitely want a keeper. There are also rumours of them wanting to sell Pope. Feel like his injuries are costing him now.

If only we could get Pope and cash in return as part of a swap deal

[Goliath]

Well Newcastle definitely want a keeper. There are also rumours of them wanting to sell Pope. Feel like his injuries are costing him now.

Wouldn't surprise me in the slightest. His distribution is probably one of the worst in professional football. The rest of his game is world class but we've seen how important distribution can be, especially when they are trying to break into the elite teams of English football.

[ecc]

The Saudis would be crazy to let Nick go. I'd be happy to see it though.

[Darthlaw]

Partly agree, but I don't think we are in a position as a club to "allow a player to develop" in such a key position. Especially in the prem. Maybe if we were an established side like a Palace or a Brighton for example, we could give him 10-15 games to learn his trade, but last season was suicide.

Certainly chucking him in against the top 8 teams in England (including some of the best teams in world football) was brainless.

But I’m thinking going forwards. All you players need games to develop and Trafford will have a section on his back from the first kick off.

[Spijed]

Wouldn't surprise me in the slightest. His distribution is probably one of the worst in professional football. The rest of his game is world class but we've seen how important distribution can be, especially when they are trying to break into the elite teams of English football.

And as a result we now see goal keepers who can't make proper saves, or catch crosses because they are better with their feet.

And it'll get worse as time goes on.

[NL Claret]

I agree with that but it reflects more on him than it does on them. They had no confidence in him being at that level. His lack of physicality was his other major negative but hopefully that will be sorted before next term.

The confidence issue can work both ways, Trafford and VK to a certain extent had no confidence in an ever changing back 4, none of whom were of the required quality. The GK position really is not the issue, its the rest of the squad and manager that's not quite PL standard.

[Jakubs Tash]

Yes his first game away at Norwich by Pukki

I remember this very well and Ekdal wasn’t really outpaced. He was actually let down by teammates allowing a ball to get through that never should and this then meant he was chasing down Pukki after he had got a head start on him.

There’s been far too much made about this incident and also that Ekdal is ‘slow’.

[Quickenthetempo]

Yes his first game away at Norwich by Pukki

https://youtu.be/7gYOE3jFSfY?si=t8Yn7KqdKENVw2jd
1min 8 sec on the video

Ekdal is covering the right back and Pukki runs off the other Centre Half.
He catches him up.

Great run by Pukki though

[bumba]

I remember this very well and Ekdal wasn’t really outpaced. He was actually let down by teammates allowing a ball to get through that never should and this then meant he was chasing down Pukki after he had got a head start on him.

There’s been far too much made about this incident and also that Ekdal is ‘slow’.

Ekdal is slow there no debating or hiding from it

[FeedTheArf]

Ekdal is slow there no debating or hiding from it

John McGreal was slow and he did great. In the Championship you don’t often come up against raw pace matched with ability. Ekdal’s footballing brain will see him through just fine.

IF we are promoted again next summer then there’s probably a question mark over him but not next season.

[jojomk1]

John McGreal was slow and he did great. In the Championship you don’t often come up against raw pace matched with ability. Ekdal’s footballing brain will see him through just fine.

IF we are promoted again next summer then there’s probably a question mark over him but not next season.

There's a question mark over all of our squad at Prem level

He, Esteve, O'Shea and Al-Dakhil would be fine for the Championship - assuming Beyer, Delcroix and McNally go

[JimmyRobbo]

John McGreal was slow and he did great. In the Championship you don’t often come up against raw pace matched with ability. Ekdal’s footballing brain will see him through just fine.

IF we are promoted again next summer then there’s probably a question mark over him but not next season.

I agree with this summary, FTA.

[Guller Bull]

Muric to Celtic?

https://videocelts.com/2024/05/blogs/la ... ng-target/

[NewClaret]

Muric to Celtic?

https://videocelts.com/2024/05/blogs/la ... ng-target/

That report also says we didn’t spend big after winning promotion

Doubt there’s anything in this at all.

[Quickenthetempo]

That report also says we didn’t spend big after winning promotion

Doubt there’s anything in this at all.

It comes from Nixon

[Woodleyclaret]

£100m is peanuts to build a Premier league team that was part of the problem. Its getting harder and harder to compete unless you spend North of £500m

[jojomk1]

If only we could get Pope and cash in return as part of a swap deal

We would need a load of cash just to pay his current Prem League wages
Ramsdale being linked with Newcastle as well

[ArmchairDetective]

Not often Celtic spend big. The most they've ever spent on a keeper is £5m. If they are interested in him it's likely for a fraction of the price people have been quoting on other threads.

[AGENT_CLARET]

Not often Celtic spend big. The most they've ever spent on a keeper is £5m. If they are interested in him it's likely for a fraction of the price people have been quoting on other threads.

And that's why it won't happen and it's BS

[burnmark]

Stoke and Huddersfield after Rodriguez- Nixon

[NewClaret]

Stoke and Huddersfield after Rodriguez- Nixon

I’d like to hope he’ll stay with us if they’re our only options.

[Stockbrokerbelt]

Ekdal is slow there no debating or hiding from it

As Kompany said, when we signed Ekdal he was not fit & then got injured, not slow as made out.

[Taffy on the wing]

I was excited about Ekdal when he signed.........i still think he could be a gem, a very intelligent player who just needs a run of games & to get fit.

[AGENT_CLARET]

I was excited about Ekdal when he signed.........i still think he could be a gem, a very intelligent player who just needs a run of games & to get fit.

Ekdal could play a role at CDM next to Cullen if we lose Berge

[bumba]

As Kompany said, when we signed Ekdal he was not fit & then got injured, not slow as made out.

He is slow, surely you've seen him play? Players don't generally get quicker as they get fitter the speed is normally there naturally

[TopCat]

I’d like to hope he’ll stay with us if they’re our only options.

If he wasn't "one of our own" then more people would not want him retained.
A move (Huddersfield) is best for all parties.

[Targetman]

If he wasn't "one of our own" then more people would not want him retained.
A move (Huddersfield) is best for all parties.

Well you just need to let Jay know that then!

[Swizzlestick]

Outside of the truly great ones, how many CBs are actually quick? I would think physicality, awareness and positioning are more important.

[Grimsdale]

Liam Millar from Basel linked: https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/28033431 ... relegated/

Was on loan at Preston last season where it looks like he played mainly as a left winger/wing back, not exactly a position we're short of.

[burnleytom]

Our record of buying players from Basel is not impressive, thus far.

[jedi_master]

He's a good player - literally the only one who was playing for Preston who looked capable any time I saw them last season. Scored a great goal against Leeds as I recall.

[NewClaret]

Outside of the truly great ones, how many CBs are actually quick? I would think physicality, awareness and positioning are more important.

I agree but in our system where they push right up, recovery pace is super important. Reason City’s back line is so fast.

Love Ekdal though, really classy defender.