Summer 26 Transfer Rumours

We will wait and see. I think there will be unveiling(s) Monday evening, if not movements will start next week. We cannot match wages of £12/14k pw but we are still very competitive in that area and an attractive club. No one at the club will have been sat twiddling their thumbs since January.

 

I think GA is just managing expectations, which seems like a sensible plan given some of the names being bandied around.

Better to put a bit of a damper on the excitement and announce someone decent, than to disappoint the fans with whoever comes in next.

Still think we end up with a better quality midfield on paper than last season.

 

It does sound like we are looking at more players under contract than free agents, which obviously can be more of a waiting game with parent clubs wanting to secure their own replacements before letting players go. GA didn't mention that of course when he was listing the possible issues that are involved, for obvious reasons.

 

And sounds as if most of the transfer incoming money from them spent:

“Ryan (Sparks) has said to me it’s something we can put back into the squad if possible. “But, being honest, with Jake Beesley and Adam Phillips coming in, quite a lot of that has already been done.”

 

To be fair, he isn't going to broadcast the fact we've got more money to spend.

 

Furthermore reading between the lines Phillips isn't a replacement for either Metcalfe or Power despite it being mentioned he was told he could be playing DM.

Also I think the T&A article could be to throw people off the scent regarding transfer activity which was a similar ploy over the last 18 months.

Back in Jan for instance the talk was we would only bring in a couple new players at best but ended up with 7 albeit they didn't excel.

Last summer we were told not to expect a massive change to the promotion side but didn't we end up signing 11 players or thereabouts.

I think alot of it is smoke and daggers with alot going on behind the scences

 

I personally think the Beesley money was held back when we didn't get him in Jan ready to try again this summer which successfully worked. I also believe we will have had some of the money from the Newcastle cup game put in reserve too and with whatever we got for Power will have offset the Phillips fee or thereabouts. I fully expect a couple more fees to be paid on players this window.

 

For what reason though? Why would anything need to be cloak and daggers?
It’s clear we need 3 central midfielders and we will have a list of targets.. those targets will also been on the radar for the rest of the division. It’s up to Sparks and Sharpe to get them over the line like they did with Phillips.
It’s still 7 weeks until the season kicks off. We will be absolutely fine. We don’t need to spend wages on the likes of Wintle imo.

 

One i've been told we are after is Reece Cole down at Exeter.

 

Could be for a number of reasons players still on holiday or we don't want to alert other clubs that certain players are available.

If you listen to both Phillips and McCracken interviews both said their deals were in the pipeline well before the club officially announced their signature.

Signings rarely happen quickly unless it's transfer deadline day.

 

Thats the way i'd read it when Power left. I think Alexander just expected to have to replace Metcalfe, now not only does he have to look for two starting central midfielders, he also needs a new captain which is never easy to get the right character to pull a new squad together.

 

Both were being reported on social media for quite a while before being announced. Someone knew they were happening.
Phillips will now be our highest earner and I think we will have pulled out all the stops to land him.
I think we will have had an agreement with Burton from January that Beesley would stay there and try and keep them up but we could have him in the summer.
I see Sheff Wed have signed a right back from some Belgian side this morning. It’s going to be really difficult to gauge where our squad stands come August and how well all these players will gel. Forming a new midfield partnership quickly will be key to any success we hope to have.

 

Captain is going to be an interesting one. Sarcevic would be the obvious choice at the minute but I have a feeling we will see him rotate with Jackson for that wide right role so wouldn't be ideal. With the squad as it is I wouldn't be surprised to see either Touray or Phillips been nominated but that's pure guesswork by me.

 

I think it's more cloak and mirrors tbf.

 

I don't disagree if we can get 2/3 midfielders of the right calibre in we won't be far off. Personally I think we are 6/7 players short still.

2 defenders
2/3 midfielders
RWB to compete with neufville
1 forward.


I wouldn't be surprised to see Swan move on either.

 

Been done before.

 

Agree, bar firsr few games last season the only time we really attacked was when we were losing. Maybe going out with that intent from Jan onwards could have made a difference, Cardiff at home really stuck out, they were there to be beaten but poor defending ans lack of attack did for us

 

Or less than some clubs originally overpaid by going in early? When money is no object it doesn’t of course matter. Quite a conundrum for teams on a budget Jordan.

 

Swap one defender for another number 10 and I think your spot on.