10 Mar 2026 16:38:42
Centre backs:
I'll say from the outset MdL needs to go as he is not available, cut losses and get him back to fitness and out the door.
Renew Maguire on a rolling one year extension is stage 1.
Sign Senesi on a free stage 2.
Senesi and Licha first choice.
Yoro and Maguire second choice.
Heaven and Kukonki back up.
I do expect Heaven and Yoro to keep pushing and it may even see Licha dropped into the second choice position through the season.
I said in a previous post we don't need to spend too much here as well stocked, next window would probably need to be looking at a Branthwaite to replace Licha or Maguire.
If the club has the funds to make that change this summer I wouldn't be against it, but I feel fullbacks and centre mid are crucial for our future progression.
What is the general consensus here.
10 Mar 2026 18:34:33
Senesi isn't good enough.
Shaw needs to be the first out the door.
10 Mar 2026 18:37:29
I can already see centre back being a big issue for us next season. It's not a position you can afford to be naive about. Two seasons ago, Varane and Martinez missed most of the season, and our season imploded (J Evans went from 5th choice to first choice lol).
I appreciate we have so many other areas to strengthen (CM, LW and LB), but this overlooks that all of our centre backs are either injury prone or inexperienced.
I agree with OP that MDL is injury prone, and so is Martinez.
Maguire is getting older and suffering more injuries as he ages. None of them can be relied upon tbh.
Yoro and Heaven are promising but inexperienced. I could see them starting a lot of games, but they would need to be next to a highly experienced partner.
I think we desperately need to sign a top CB next season and let MDL or Martinez go.
First Choice: Yoro and New CB
Backups: Maguire & Martinez & Heaven.
10 Mar 2026 18:45:16
Not sure on Senesi, if w how about Murillo from Forest, Nathan Collins at Brentford or Lacroix from Palace.
10 Mar 2026 19:03:39
I contemplated Branthwaite this season, but I suspect he would cost north of $70m, and I felt midfield is more of a priority.
Senesi has been a beast this season. I think overlooking him might be a mistake, more so for our financial position.
Don't disagree with your sentiments on moving on more players this summer from CB DSG.
My concern is whether we have the team to execute this, and the funds to do it right.
Talk of Amissah from Fulham, which would make sense as he covers all positions. But, again, young.
Wiggy, of those I like Lacroix, the others I'd pass on personally.
10 Mar 2026 20:03:49
Sell Maguire. As a self-confessed anti-Maguire, I accept that he has had somewhat of a purple patch of late, but the fact remains he is borderline average at this level.
He will fall off the cliff next season, post-World Cup. Not that he could get much slower, but he will struggle even more to play the high line.
It's laughable seeing him try to recover from the halfway line. I've got T-shirts whose colour runs faster!
If you are going to keep him on for one more year, then it can only be as backup, as mentioned above, when we need to shore up defence in games for the last 10 minutes.
10 Mar 2026 20:21:08
Murillo would also be my first choice. We need a serious improvement on Dalot. I think calling for Shaw to go isn't particularly fair on him.
10 Mar 2026 21:19:58
Similar to Keefy's comment on Maguire, DonRed, Shaw's stock, form, and availability will fall off a cliff post WC. The only thing that will go up will be his weight, if I had to predict proceedings.
11 Mar 2026 05:52:55
Licha should take the Casemiro role until we have a replacement. Maguire needs to stay for his experience. Likewise, Shaw has had a decent season this year.
It's a shame about Mdl, but if he can't keep fit, we need a replacement with experience and pace to help Yoro and Heaven. Must be a guide, an in-game talker, to guide these two young boys.
Def need a good left back.
But, first priority has to be midfield. It has been neglected far too long. I don't want £80m + being spent on a 28yr old like Newcastle Bruno. I want a 25 yr old who is maturing, but we can still get 4 to 5 years of good playing time at least from him and in his prime years.