Squad for next season

[shabba]

Tried to put together the A and B lineups, naturally its hard and subject to opinion, it was more an exercise to look ast squad quality/depth

https://www.buildlineup.com/shared/683c ... 3f87e9e3ab

https://www.buildlineup.com/shared/683c ... 3f87e9e3af

These don't even include Burns, Broadhead, H Ckark, Baggot, Muric or Slicker.

I suspect Axel may leave, so will Burges, Al-Hamadi would be 3rd choice striker and we get some cm's in as right now we only have 3.

Its hard to pick the best front 3, I prefer Hutchinson on the right, but then who plays centrally other than Chaplin?
Philogene I think plays both sides but is best on the left, Szmodics was usually off the left too. Seems LOTS of options right and left, not so many centrally.

[shabba]

Retained list out from the club


Released

Massimo Luongo, Marcus Harness.

Loans expired

Jens Cajuste (Napoli), Julio Enciso (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ben Godfrey (Atalanta), Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City).

Contract option taken

Elkan Baggott.

Offered new contract

Cameron Burgess, Axel Tuanzebe.

Returning from loan

Ali Al-Hamadi (Stoke City), Elkan Baggott (Blackpool), Harry Clarke (Sheffield United), Cameron Humphreys (Wycombe Wanderers).

Under contract

Ali Al-Hamadi, Elkan Baggott, Nathan Broadhead, Wes Burns, Conor Chaplin, Harry Clarke, Jack Clarke, Leif Davis, Liam Delap, Jacob Greaves, George Hirst, Cameron Humphreys, Omari Hutchinson, Ben Johnson, Sam Morsy, Aro Muric, Chiedozie Ogbene, Dara O’Shea, Alex Palmer, Jaden Philogene, Cieran Slicker, Sam Szmodics, Jack Taylor, Conor Townsend, Christian Walton, Luke Woolfenden.



Not a given Burges or Axel will stay but good we are trying to keep them IMO. I'd don't want us having to sign players to replace perfectly good ones, not when we need a rebuild in midfield and a striker, those need to be the priority IMO.

[Bluemike]

Exactly that, that squad is plenty good enough for the championship provided we strengthen the Midfield and striker areas. I would however have preferred Harness over Taylor.

[hallamblue]

Don't think that retained list tells us an awful lot. My only question is, of those in the section returning from loan, how many are still under contract znd/ or likely to be sold on?

[hallamblue]

This from EADT at least gives lengths of contracts and those with an option * in the club's favour. I'd say those most at risk are those players either contracts expiring 2026.

RELEASED

Massimo Luongo, Marcus Harness

LOANS EXPIRED

Ben Godfrey, Kalvin Phillips, Jens Cajuste, Julio Enciso

12 MONTH EXTENSION OPTION TAKEN

Elkan Baggott

IN TALKS

Axel Tuanzebe, Cameron Burgess

UNDER CONTRACT

2026: Christian Walton, Harry Clarke*, Conor Townsend, Sam Morsy, Jack Taylor, Cameron Humphreys*, Wes Burns, Conor Chaplin, Nathan Broadhead

2027: Luke Woolfenden*, George Hirst

2028: Alex Palmer, Aro Muric, Cieran Slicker, Ben Johnson, Leif Davis, Chiedozie Ogbene, Sammie Szmodics, Jack Clarke, Ali Al-Hamadi

2029: Dara O'Shea, Jacob Greaves, Omari Hutchinson, Jaden Philogene, Liam Delap

* Known 12 months extension option in club's favour

[shabba]

That’s a nice view with the contract dates Hallam,

Mike - regarding Harness - we already have tons of wingers /attackers so he won’t be near the XI. Taylor is more a CM and we need those so happy for him to stay and be backup.