27 Jun 2026 13:31:30
And then today the stories are that we are likely to get Mateus Fernandes. Would expect movement on this one over the next three days.
Then we simply must go after Tchouameni as a ball winner.
Tchouameni, Mainoo, Fernandes and then allow the kids (Fletcher, Oroczo, Thwaites, Kone etc.) to fight it out for fourth choice until January before deciding whether we need further reinforcements there.
Throw the rest of the money at a LB and backup CF. Hall and Welbeck, for me.
27 Jun 2026 16:30:35
Ederson?
27 Jun 2026 17:54:58
I'm slightly changing my mind on Tchouameni (which probably means we will sign him).
Initially I thought he was probably the best possible signing we could make in midfield, top class, experienced, and a true ball winning No.6. The kind of player we have been crying out for for years. I also felt that he'd compliment Mainoo well.
Then when considering possible alternatives I realised just how few players of that profile even exist in the modern game.
Few sides play with a dedicated, holding midfielder whose job is solely about shielding the defence and winning the ball back. Even fewer top sides.
In fact when looking around those tops UCL sides only Real Madrid really play regularly with that kind of midfielder, which of course is Tchouameni, who if you believe the rumours they are willing to accept offered on.
That to me means that signing him would mean we are either signing a type of midfielder whose style style of play is not commonly used. In terms of being a successful signing that could go either way. Maybe we are ahead of the curve and that sort of player will become very sought after over the next 3-5 years, or we are behind the curve and signing a player out of place in the modern game.
Given the fee being asked and the wages he is on, as well as him having little to no sell on value if he doesn't become the kind of successful signing we would hope.
While he is easily on paper one of the best midfielders we have been linked with, his almost unique style of play in the modern game and his high cost make him potentially a pretty risky signing.
None of PSG, Barcelona, City, Liverpool, Arsenal, AC Milan, Juventus, Inter Milan, Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, Dortmund, and Bayern Munich play with a dedicated defensive, holding midfielder.
In fact the only one of those teams who have that kind of player in their squad is Bayern Munich with Palhinha. A player who hasn't been the success they hoped and they would also happily move on.
Compare that to a few years ago and they all had a Tchouameni type midfielder in their starting line ups. Football goes in cycles and maybe over the next few years that type of midfielder comes back into prominence. But make no mistake signing Tchouameni in the hope that the current football meta shifts in his favour is a gamble, apparently a 80m, 250k per week kind of gamble.
I'm not so sure I would place him that highly, likewise I wouldn't spend big on Baleba for the same reason (that might be the reason why there is seemingly no competition for his signature).
Surely if we want to take a gamble that purely defensive, holding midfielders come back into vogue then we can find a much cheaper hidden gem type of player.
Also given Ugarte's injury the other day for Uruguay, which looks pretty bad (taken off on a stretcher), which would make it unlikely that we can sell him this summer. Then I suspect that we will probably only sign one more midfielder to go with Ederson and Mainoo. Then probably focus on other areas like LB, LW and ST.
The rumours before the end of the season were that we wanted at least two midfielders, three if Ugarte left, which now looks unlikely. While LW can only happen if Rashford leaves.
I suspect we'll go all in for a midfielder over the next few weeks, followed by a LB and probably a ST. With a LW only happening if Rashford leaves, and a third midfielder if Ugarte is able to leave.
With that in mind, that also makes me less keen to see us spend that biggest part of our summer budget on Tchouameni.
27 Jun 2026 22:47:10
Anderson is playing pretty good in the holding position. Rodri and Rice are also very good in a DCM position. Zubamendi. Chewy is not the only one.
Question is, what does Carrick want? We have gone with him, so please get him. The players he needs to succeed!
27 Jun 2026 23:27:26
Dodgy, I wouldn't call any of them true defensive holding midfielders. All of them are progressive players whose job is to contribute to the attacking aspects of the team as much as defensive duties.
Tchouameni is not an expansive passer like Rodri or Zubamendi, nor is he an all-round player like Rice or Anderson.
He is an old-school, Makelele-type defensive shield.
He is strong in the air and wins the ball in front of the defence, before making a safe pass to someone whose passing skills are better. He doesn't dribble the ball forward and break lines, and he doesn't get high enough to score any goals. All things the others you have mentioned do regularly.
28 Jun 2026 00:32:59
Okay Shappy, let it be known that you are right. On word count alone you should get extra credit. Lol.