Summer Silly Season Transfer Thread 2025

[Bronaldinho]

In theory, it could be a really solid starting 11 and even matchday squad for us if it all goes to plan:

Leno
Tete Joa Bassey Robinson
    Berge and Lukic
Wilson   ESR   Kevin
       Muniz


That 11 doesn't include; Nelson, Sessegnon, Raul, Iwobi, Andreas, Cuenca, Josh King, Diop, Castagne etc.

[General]

13 days now until the window shuts, and still eerily quiet..

So far, according to Marco, we've spent nothing on a free backup GK.

[Rambler]

In theory, it could be a really solid starting 11 and even matchday squad for us if it all goes to plan:

Leno
Tete Joa Bassey Robinson
    Berge and Lukic
Wilson   ESR   Kevin
       Muniz


That 11 doesn't include; Nelson, Sessegnon, Raul, Iwobi, Andreas, Cuenca, Josh King, Diop, Castagne etc.

The CM position looks weak. If Kevin comes the next we need is an 8

[bahay18]

Definitely need an 8 . No creativity or attacking intent from Berge and Lukic . Add that to inverted wingers and it's hard to see where the goals come from.

Could Josh king be a No.8?

[lomotd]

Definitely need an 8 . No creativity or attacking intent from Berge and Lukic . Add that to inverted wingers and it's hard to see where the goals come from.

Could Josh king be a No.8?

I'm not saying I don't think we should sign a No.8 but I don't see the powers that be going for it, Andreas, Cairney, Iwobi & King could all fill in there.

[Count Flapula]

So we need Kevin (LW), plus a 3rd striker (Taremi? Seems the reports of Hoijlund are wide of the mark), another winger (Nelson?, or a player who fulfils both briefs such as Sterling/Maeda), maybe a CM.

If we get those in then we should move on Godo (has a contract to 2028 so a loan to the Championship best to either help him develop or put him in the shop window/maximise his sell on value), then likely Reed.

Problem with signing our players last minute is we hardly have any time to move on people they are replacing. Hopefully the recruitment team pull their finger out in time.

[Tabby]

Definitely need an 8 . No creativity or attacking intent from Berge and Lukic . Add that to inverted wingers and it's hard to see where the goals come from.

Could Josh king be a No.8?

Isn't the whole point of inverted wingers that they are supposed to be a direct goal threat as opposed to crossing from the byline?

[AJW48361]

 4 8 10 Drives me mad. We just need good all round midfielders that work in a well balanced unit and can rotate.

[AJW48361]

I would welcome Stirling no problem.

I worry about he's big drop off in form the last season or so hopefully Marco can help recapture that.

[Count Flapula]

Still have huge question marks over Sterling's attitude / motivation since leaving Man City.

I know a lot here feel Silva can wave his magic wand and get him motivated again, but my original thought was if he can't get up playing for Chelsea AND Arsenal then WHY will that change at Fulham?

I've just realised though it's World Cup year and if he backs himself (he clearly did at one time) then he might want regular first team football to give him a chance to get into the squad, plus the rumours of him being willing to take a pay cut to get a move may highlight towards that as he could easily stay where he is and pick up the pay checks if he was that unmotivated.

After Maresca (reportedly) approved him going out on loan again recently, my money is on him ending up at West Ham or Fulham on a season long loan with no obligation to buy.

Normally I would be against a no obligation loan but realistically if Chelsea are green lighting that then I can see him moving for game time to get him in the frame for the WC then reassessing his options in the summer when he's 31 and still on his fat contract.

Id rather have a motivated Sterling on a years loan with no obligation than an obligation to buy an ageing player with huge question marks over his motivation.

[sunburywhite]

Still have huge question marks over Sterling's attitude / motivation since leaving Man City.

I know a lot here feel Silva can wave his magic wand and get him motivated again, but my original thought was if he can't get up playing for Chelsea AND Arsenal then WHY will that change at Fulham?

I've just realised though it's World Cup year and if he backs himself (he clearly did at one time) then he might want regular first team football to give him a chance to get into the squad, plus the rumours of him being willing to take a pay cut to get a move may highlight towards that as he could easily stay where he is and pick up the pay checks if he was that unmotivated.

After Maresca (reportedly) approved him going out on loan again recently, my money is on him ending up at West Ham or Fulham on a season long loan with no obligation to buy.

Normally I would be against a no obligation loan but realistically if Chelsea are green lighting that then I can see him moving for game time to get him in the frame for the WC then reassessing his options in the summer when he's 31 and still on his fat contract.

Id rather have a motivated Sterling on a years loan with no obligation than an obligation to buy an ageing player with huge question marks over his motivation.

We dont want another Loftus Cheek

[AJW48361]

If Newcastle go big in the Market before the deadline which I feel will happen. I would make a approach for Harvey Barnes a exciting player.

[Count Flapula]

We dont want another Loftus Cheek

Agreed, but Loftus-Cheek was coming back from a badly ruptured Achilles injury and nowhere near fit/was physically impossible to play his best in hindsight so a different situation.

This would be a roll of the dice but it's within Sterling's gift to play well and get motivated IF the World Cup is his main driver.

As I say I still have question marks, but it does put a slightly different slant on things as before I flat out didn't want him, as couldn't see how he could possibly be motivated to play for us if he couldn't get up for Chelscum/Arsenal. Now I can see a way he could so a loan may be worth rolling the dice for.

[Bronaldinho]

Definitely need an 8 . No creativity or attacking intent from Berge and Lukic . Add that to inverted wingers and it's hard to see where the goals come from.

Could Josh king be a No.8?

This was my take - I think others can deputise there, same as Iwobi/Wilson/ESR/Andreas/King that could all playing in the 10 role.

Would I like another defensively minded CDM, yes as Berge is probably the only profile, as Lukic can do a mix.

But, I don't think we'll get one.

I'm not saying I don't think we should sign a No.8 but I don't see the powers that be going for it, Andreas, Cairney, Iwobi & King could all fill in there.

[bahay18]

Definitely need an 8 . No creativity or attacking intent from Berge and Lukic . Add that to inverted wingers and it's hard to see where the goals come from.

Could Josh king be a No.8?

Isn't the whole point of inverted wingers that they are supposed to be a direct goal threat as opposed to crossing from the byline?

Absolutely . But ours are often standing still when they receive the ball and the first touch is back , end of the attack with any players running forwards taken out of the game. So with 2 defensive central midfielders  it makes us easy to defend against . Nelson on the other hand plays the inverted winger very well , always on the front foot .

[Deeping_white]

On the #8 reqiurement; yes in theory Pereira can play there, but he's awful every time he does it, TC is a fantastic technical player but he's getting on a bit and we need someone who can get up and down the pitch for 90 mins who is an improvement on Lukic/Berge to raise the level of the squad. King could play there but I think he's shown he's better roaming in that #10 role, and Iwobi honestly feels like a bit of a square peg in a round hole trying to play him there

[Jim©]

Definitely need an 8 . No creativity or attacking intent from Berge and Lukic . Add that to inverted wingers and it's hard to see where the goals come from.

Could Josh king be a No.8?

Isn't the whole point of inverted wingers that they are supposed to be a direct goal threat as opposed to crossing from the byline?

Absolutely . But ours are often standing still when they receive the ball and the first touch is back , end of the attack with any players running forwards taken out of the game. So with 2 defensive central midfielders  it makes us easy to defend against . Nelson on the other hand plays the inverted winger very well , always on the front foot .

Didn't Iwobi score 9 last season and assist 6? Wilson scored 6 and assisted 2 or 3, Traore did too etc.
I'd love to have a winger that really runs at defences (like traore can sometimes) and hopefully that's Kevin.
If we want to progress it'd be great to have a quality less defensive MF that can chip in with some goals and assists- it's not quite happened for anyone there yet. I think Berge had 1 (ONE!) shot for us all of last season- in the last game (when he should have scored). That's really poor.

[General]

Still have huge question marks over Sterling's attitude / motivation since leaving Man City.

I know a lot here feel Silva can wave his magic wand and get him motivated again, but my original thought was if he can't get up playing for Chelsea AND Arsenal then WHY will that change at Fulham?

I've just realised though it's World Cup year and if he backs himself (he clearly did at one time) then he might want regular first team football to give him a chance to get into the squad, plus the rumours of him being willing to take a pay cut to get a move may highlight towards that as he could easily stay where he is and pick up the pay checks if he was that unmotivated.

After Maresca (reportedly) approved him going out on loan again recently, my money is on him ending up at West Ham or Fulham on a season long loan with no obligation to buy.

Normally I would be against a no obligation loan but realistically if Chelsea are green lighting that then I can see him moving for game time to get him in the frame for the WC then reassessing his options in the summer when he's 31 and still on his fat contract.

Id rather have a motivated Sterling on a years loan with no obligation than an obligation to buy an ageing player with huge question marks over his motivation.

We've been through this a few times over the past however many days/weeks/months and pages. Sterling didn't play much but in highly competitive squads, numerous managers, yet - when he did play, his actual g/a per minutes played were still very high. The only season he genuinely dropped off in was his first at Chelsea, but since then he's had seasons where his contributions have been close to 1 in 2, and sometimes better.

The underlying stats show he's not actually dropped off much at all, he's just not being played - for whatever reason.

I happen to think this squad, manager, and playing at a club like Fulham is just what he needs and would be a breath of fresh air for all involved.

[Bill2]

Definitely need an 8 . No creativity or attacking intent from Berge and Lukic . Add that to inverted wingers and it's hard to see where the goals come from.

Could Josh king be a No.8?

I'm not saying I don't think we should sign a No.8 but I don't see the powers that be going for it, Andreas, Cairney, Iwobi & King could all fill in there.

That position demands someone who will score goals and while Iwobi does score and we are yet to see what Josh can do Andreas only scored 2 last season and Lukic and Berger not a single goal between them. Tom will only ever be a bench player this year.

[Bill2]

I see there is mention of Nelson and Kevin on posts. Have I missed something because as far as I know we have not signed them or any outfield player. We had better pull our finger out only a few days left.