Summer 2025 Transfer Thread / Rumours

[shabba]

We are in a different league again now, a league where Greaves excelled and was one of the players of the season with a string of clubs chasing him. Burgess on the other hand was very in and out in the Championship, to be honest he was often dropped for a reason, yes he has good games but at times defensively a bit of a liability, its ok being left footed but it helps if you can do something with it.

I agree Greaves needs to recapture his form and I'm confident he will, he has the better pedigree in my opinion, he was decent at the start of last season, injury really set him back but look at the mess he came back into, defensively we were a shambles.

Spot on

[hallamblue]

We'd better be signing a significant upgrade to Cam because he's at his peak and we've allowed him to walk away on a free!!

I think we may have made a mistake here....

https://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/ ... s%E2%80%99

[shabba]

I liked him a lot but we need better, the water level has to keep rising. He has gone to a mid table championship side, he is 30, he wasn’t prem level. This isn’t losing a starter to a premier league club.

We need players to improve the XI. Greaves has more potential to develop to be a premier league player in the future.

It’s not nice seeing the old guard leave but we have move forward.

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

We'd better be signing a significant upgrade to Cam because he's at his peak and we've allowed him to walk away on a free!!

I think we may have made a mistake here....

https://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/ ... s%E2%80%99

To be honest, Liz, I am far from being impressed with our recruitment over the last 18 months. With one or possibly two exceptions, it's been pretty dire in my opinion.

[hallamblue]

Me neither. We've paid through the nose for players that dont appear to be any better than what we had following promotion, and certainly less experienced.

I think we are going to see a few more leave b4 we bring anyone in. But a what cost?

[Bluemike]

I liked him a lot but we need better, the water level has to keep rising. He has gone to a mid table championship side, he is 30, he wasn’t prem level. This isn’t losing a starter to a premier league club.

We need players to improve the XI. Greaves has more potential to develop to be a premier league player in the future.

It’s not nice seeing the old guard leave but we have move forward.

Ditto

[hallamblue]

Okay, if we accept the club has every intention of moving forwards, and dispensing with the old squad, who do we think we will be bringing in as competition for Greaves at left sided CB?

Given we are only a year off the world cup , I am now convinced Omari will also be leaving this summer as he won't want to be playing in the 2nd tier. And the same goes for O'Shea and Axel. We could in theory lose the whole back line ( Davis, O'Shea, Axel), as I feel sure PL clubs will come in for them. That's a pretty be rebuild, all, over, again!

Who do people think we can attract and realistically compete with the likes of Leeds, Burnley, Sunderland, West Ham who can all offer PL football, whilst we can offer Championship?

[shabba]

Okay, if we accept the club has every intention of moving forwards, and dispensing with the old squad, who do we think we will be bringing in as competition for Greaves at left sided CB?

Given we are only a year off the world cup , I am now convinced Omari will also be leaving this summer as he won't want to be playing in the 2nd tier. And the same goes for O'Shea and Axel. We could in theory lose the whole back line ( Davis, O'Shea, Axel), as I feel sure PL clubs will come in for them. That's a pretty be rebuild, all, over, again!

Who do people think we can attract and realistically compete with the likes of Leeds, Burnley, Sunderland, West Ham who can all offer PL football, whilst we can offer Championship?

Some will go, that is normal for ANY team going down, but we didn't buy a squad of mercenaries - we bought the cream of the championship, alot will be ok playing another season there - and won't be on huge wages (we had the lowest wage bill in the premier league).

IMO we have a very strong squad for this level, of course the midfield needs sorting*. If we can go up then we have a squad starting at a similar level to what we had last season AND £70-100m to spend on top, i.e if we can add 3-5 quality players on top, then we have a better chance.

I would personally say we need to shop in 3 places:

1) Premier league players who aren't getting game time, the wages will be high but if we can get some good fringe players from these sides who can be starters here, the arguement will be are they good enough for the Prem - and worth their high wages as they will all be on top money.

2) Abroad, we need to develop our scouting, takes time and we are trying according to MA. Its risky of course, you need to bring players in, settle them, maybe have them learn english, but you can get better value.

3) Top championship players, as a bigger fish in the league we can pull in players from clubs who need the money and can't match the wages we can, but its a risk as they might not be good enough.

Its a massive challenge and really not easy, I frankly feel it'll be really hard for any club now to go up and stay up. You'll need one of the establiushed PL clubs to have a really bad season.

[ITFC2024]

That’s a very good point about the WC and players wanting to be in the PL. I hadn’t thought about that, and as you say we could lose several players.

[shabba]

In more of a direct answer, IMO we dont need to bring in anyone, Baggot would be fine as backup, we have Wolfie too etc, for the champ there is probably no point spending loads on a backup CB, wait and it we get promoted them do it then, easier to attract a top player.

[ITFC2024]

I think Shabba’s third point about attracting Championship players is the route we’ll take. As far as PL fringe players we’ll probably be interested in loans, but I think foreign recruitment will be on hold for now.

[hallamblue]

You say that re defence, but we did leak goals in the championship i think. Baggott is an unknown quantity , but having said that I really do want Town to give him a try this season. If not, sell him. My thoughts regarding Woolfenden are well known on here ( and twtd lol), so no need to repeat.

I think with McKenna's and thus clubs more recentipn player development reputation i think getting some very good peripheral PL players might well be the way we go. But that said, itll mean us not getting some players in until PL clubs name their 25 man squad.

On the GK front, I'd love us to consider Haldky again and Palmer hopefully staying, I'd get rid of Walton / Muric, somehow!! OR we promote Slicker to Palmer's deputy. Maybe his time has come.

[shabba]

You say that re defence, but we did leak goals in the championship i think. Baggott is an unknown quantity , but having said that I really do want Town to give him a try this season. If not, sell him. My thoughts regarding Woolfenden are well known on here ( and twtd lol), so no need to repeat.

I think with McKenna's and thus clubs more recentipn player development reputation i think getting some very good peripheral PL players might well be the way we go. But that said, itll mean us not getting some players in until PL clubs name their 25 man squad.

On the GK front, I'd love us to consider Haldky again and Palmer hopefully staying, I'd get rid of Walton / Muric, somehow!! OR we promote Slicker to Palmer's deputy. Maybe his time has come.

But we have two better defenders now who cost us over £30m between them, so we can’t compare last championship defense with this one.

[ITFC2024]

Does Townsend have any experience as LCB? Assuming Davis will still be here, I think KM needs to figure out how to get Townsend and Davis in the starting eleven. I don’t think Tuanzebe will leave, but the jury’s out on O’Shea unfortunately. Greaves will be fine playing RCB.

[hallamblue]

You say that re defence, but we did leak goals in the championship i think. Baggott is an unknown quantity , but having said that I really do want Town to give him a try this season. If not, sell him. My thoughts regarding Woolfenden are well known on here ( and twtd lol), so no need to repeat.

I think with McKenna's and thus clubs more recentipn player development reputation i think getting some very good peripheral PL players might well be the way we go. But that said, itll mean us not getting some players in until PL clubs name their 25 man squad.

On the GK front, I'd love us to consider Haldky again and Palmer hopefully staying, I'd get rid of Walton / Muric, somehow!! OR we promote Slicker to Palmer's deputy. Maybe his time has come.

But we have two better defenders now who cost us over £30m between them, so we can’t compare last championship defense with this one.

I don't think O'Shea will stay .....

[hallamblue]

You say that re defence, but we did leak goals in the championship i think. Baggott is an unknown quantity , but having said that I really do want Town to give him a try this season. If not, sell him. My thoughts regarding Woolfenden are well known on here ( and twtd lol), so no need to repeat.

I think with McKenna's and this clubs more reputation for player development i think getting some very good peripheral PL players might well be the way we go. But that said, itll mean us not getting some players in until PL clubs name their 25 man squad.

On the GK front, I'd love us to consider Haldky again and Palmer hopefully staying, I'd get rid of Walton / Muric, somehow!! OR we promote Slicker to Palmer's deputy. Maybe his time has come.

Meant to say, I saw somewhere, Burnley lost 17 players from their squad when they were relegated. But it didnt appear to affect them do badly did it. Do maybe there's hope for us this coming season, lol.

[Bluemike]

Out-of-contract Town defender Axel Tuanzebe is being linked with a move to Trabzonspor in the Turkish media.

According to widespread reports, Fatih Tekke, head coach of Trabzonspor, is targeting Tuanzebe and Slavia Prague’s Christos Zafeiris.

The 27-year-old was previously interesting the Süper Lig side in the summer of 2022 while with Manchester United.

Town have been in talks with Tuanzebe regarding new terms for some while with his current terms up at the end of the month.

The DR Congo international has been a key man in the Blues side over the last couple of seasons after joining following his release by the Red Devils and his departure would be a blow, especially with Cameron Burgess, Town’s other senior player out of contract this summer, having already moved on to Swansea City.

While Turkish media reports are often not overly reliable, it would be a surprise if Tuanzebe hasn’t had interest from other clubs at home and abroad having been one of the Blues’ best performers in the Premier League despite his campaign being hampered by injuries.

Another one I'm not losing sleep over, yes he's decent, especially at Championship level, but another who's a bit of a sicknote, and if any player doesn't want to be here then I don't want them here.

[hallamblue]

Makes me laugh when McKenna says hiw much he likes Axel, and really wants him to stay at the club. If that's the case why has the club allowed hus contract to run down?

Hell ge another one that will walk away free and the club will get no money ( which we need to allow us to spend).

Personally I'm not impressed with our transfer dealings in or out over the last 12 months.

[shabba]

If he won’t sign a new deal what can the club do?

Then your Into ‘give him what he wants’ territory where you massively overpay on wages and unsettle the squad - and harm the budget for future transfers in.

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

and if any player doesn't want to be here then I don't want them here.

I don't think Burns wants to be here, Mike

[Bluemike]

Lmao, he's not the only one I reckon

[hallamblue]

If he won’t sign a new deal what can the club do?

Then your Into ‘give him what he wants’ territory where you massively overpay on wages and unsettle the squad - and harm the budget for future transfers in.

I'll bet you can apply thst to most of last summers new recruits shabba. Which is probably egy McKenna tended to favour them ahead of the original squad, cos I do t recall a lot of true player integration in that first team. He practically " replaced" each player in just about every position.

[hallamblue]

I see the transfer window has officially opened again today.....

Here we go then guts, hold on to your hat!


https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/25236802.i ... w-reopens/


Ps I see we are rumoured to be after Pogu ( spl?) Midfielder at Posh .

[shabba]

If he won’t sign a new deal what can the club do?

Then your Into ‘give him what he wants’ territory where you massively overpay on wages and unsettle the squad - and harm the budget for future transfers in.

I'll bet you can apply thst to most of last summers new recruits shabba. Which is probably egy McKenna tended to favour them ahead of the original squad, cos I do t recall a lot of true player integration in that first team. He practically " replaced" each player in just about every position.

Yes but we brought in better players last summer, hence they started. Plus we had some go and replacements were needed.
They will be on longer contracts though so we are more protected.

Axel was a big gamble, his fitness record was SO bad before. If we'd have signed him on a five year deal and he ended up being injured the whole time then everyone would be saying what a stupid decision and a waste of money. Club can't win sometimes!

[marko69]

I'll bet you can apply thst to most of last summers new recruits shabba. Which is probably egy McKenna tended to favour them ahead of the original squad, cos I do t recall a lot of true player integration in that first team. He practically " replaced" each player in just about every position.

Egy McKenna, Hallam? Has he been eating Brussels Sprouts?

Get the transfers sorted out, Eggy!

[hallamblue]

Lol, thought I'd leave the typos, just to see what you'd come up with. You didn't disappoint

[hallamblue]

If he won’t sign a new deal what can the club do?

Then your Into ‘give him what he wants’ territory where you massively overpay on wages and unsettle the squad - and harm the budget for future transfers in.

I'll bet you can apply thst to most of last summers new recruits shabba. Which is probably egy McKenna tended to favour them ahead of the original squad, cos I do t recall a lot of true player integration in that first team. He practically " replaced" each player in just about every position.

Yes but we brought in better players last summer, hence they started. Plus we had some go and replacements were needed.
They will be on longer contracts though so we are more protected.

Axel was a big gamble, his fitness record was SO bad before. If we'd have signed him on a five year deal and he ended up being injured the whole time then everyone would be saying what a stupid decision and a waste of money. Club can't win sometimes!

But are some of these players " better"?
Philogene
Phillips
Muric
Clarke

We've paid close to £100m for that lot, if not more , and i don't know about you, but I wasn't impressed with them last season and it's a helluva lot of money to pay for a championship team.

Time will tell i guess, I think players will leave if PL clubs come calling ( Hirst, Davis, O'Shea, Omari).... I'm honestly not sure where Ashton & Mckenna are getting this confidence thst only a couple will be leaving. I reckon as many as 5-6 will leave. But we'll see.....