Summer 2023 Transfer Rumours

Think these are different lanes that are crossed here. The stopper for say a lower league Dutch player signing for City tomorrow would be the GBE (which is the thing that's actually changed) rather than the UKs immigration criteria.

These players would still have to pass the same immigration criteria anyone else coming here to live and work would have to. It's just before the change, there chances depended on their score on the GBE which was setup by the FA and the Home Office as these professionals would be able to prove their offer of work, residency etc to pass the normal immigration criteria. The FA have amended their law in line with the home office to make it easier for clubs to sign foreign players through this window change, not the EFL.

Looks like the change allows 2 signings under this blank work permit option. Looks like the contracts are limited in length too, to 2 years. If the club tried signing a 3rd say the season after, they'd have to go through the process again of applying for a standard WP for one of the signings and no doubt failing at that point. As said, it's probably an avenue not many clubs will even go down.

 

Thanks Jordan, much appreciated.

 

Didn't realise Oliver was going to be out so long again.

What a poor value signing he has turned out to be one way or another.

I hope we are looking to bring someone else in then or heaven forbid If Cook gets injured or has a poor run of form we will be snookered

 

Malone finally signed his deal at Gillingham. Another solid signing I'd say. 34 games in the Championship last season is not to be sniffed at for a league two club.

 

I think Gillingham win win the title this season. Their recruitment has looked very decent. I also have a sneaky feeling Doncaster will be up there there too. I have them with Notts County or possibly Stockport as my top 3.

 

Bit like smallwood when we signed him?

 

Yep it is definitely becoming more frequent that we are seeing these type of players drop down to league 2. Gillingham, Wrexham and Stockport have all managed to do just that this summer and like you say we managed it with Smallwood last year.

 

This quickly becoming the rumour free thread. Very very quiet out there

 

Yes it’s been a strange summer, really don’t get the recruitment. Said this to death but am convinced the lack of activity is budget related too many good earners on books we can’t shift - but we’ve done that one.

I know people on here will say I am been negative but I honestly thought Hughes on Saturday looked shattered during the game and after. I do wonder if he’s thinking Christ all this again at this level. Not questioning commitment but it’s a slog and he’s earned the right pre city to not to get bogged down at our level.

I can imagine player negotiations Arguing over relative pennies for him and the level he’s operated and managed at must be draining. Particularly the level of players ability and I imagine the constant repetition as they won’t absorb as quickly.

Some thing has felt off all summer can’t put my finger on it but the club have generated very little excitement signings wise, social media, we haven’t had our sponsor washing of everything posts. Just feels really quiet …

 

And the more you repeat it the more it becomes nonsense. The club said, at the start of the window, we aim for a smaller squad and that we already have on our books the main components and as a result, few additions will be necessary . Other than cough up QAnon theory what part of that don’t you understand?

 

We signed 17 players last summer and a further 7 in January.
To date, we've 'only' signed 6 players and got them all in early on. That to me is how business should be done. 24 players last season is far too many. We shouldn't need to be doing complete squad rebuilds each summer and for me we have done good business and start in a better place than we finished last season

 

Fair bit of fat to trim there.

Jake Young, obviously, as Hughes has cast him out, Ryan East is the weakest midfielder (at least in terms of not being new/getting selected), Luke Hendrie is another that can go, Ciaran Kelly maybe out on loan, and I'd be surprised if Odusina is wanted.

We could get that down to 22, but we actually seem to be having difficulty with the long contract situation

Honestly, with some of the poor, poor players we've been able to move on in recent seasons, I didn't foresee this - but it was the glaring danger.

Let's see who moves before the window slams shut. If all 5 went, I'd have no issues with us bringing 2 more in on loan or something.

 

I think he meant signing 24 players last season was too many......

 

14 players have departed, 6 have come in. Thats suggest there is plenty of budget left for more additions.

We arent rebuilding again - 24 players came in last season.

 

Listening to Hughes at the weekend, it didn't sound like we'll make any more signings!

 

The only player I would like us to sign is a striker as a replacement for Oliver. He has been a poor signing as someone as said above. Couldn’t get in the side, then injured.

several need to go, but if they don’t we will just have to suck it up. The downside of 3 year contracts.

 

I think Kelly and Odusina will both play a part this season. I can't see either of them going anywhere before January at the earliest.

 

I guess the challenge with replacing Oliver is that everyone knows our main man is Andy Cook and we haven't played with two strikers. Anyone that comes in is going to be just getting minutes off the bench. Perhaps fine for a youngster, but not great if you are someone used to being a regular starter.

I expect a loanee again.

 

I think we'll look to move some on either as direct transfers or loan moves when Hughes is satisfied he's got the right players through the door and we've sufficient cover. Some of the names mentioned above may, currently, being kept back as insurance until our recruitment is done.