Summer Silly Season Transfer Thread 2025

[Deeping_white]

The fact that all the "ITK's" have gone quiet too is weird, something really seems amiss at the moment at the club

[sarnian]

Is the biggest problem with the club at present is salaries at 85% of income, the highest ever. This is one of the things that come into consideration in the new rules for coming seasons.

[Deeping_white]

Is the biggest problem with the club at present is salaries at 85% of income, the highest ever. This is one of the things that come into consideration in the new rules for coming seasons.

It's not a rule yet though, we're just using it as an excuse to be tight this season. Not a single other club seems to have adopted that mindset and we're gambling on it becoming a thing when it's not actually set in stone yet. Great we might be getting a year's headstart if that does become a rule, but if not we're just hamstringing ourselves for no reason

[Caedal]

It also won't affect us if we're in the Championship...

[Fulham 442]

This is all so bloody depressing isn't it?  I was prepared to be patient/optimistic about transfers/glad we kept players we wanted to etc but every day I am hunting for some positive news on incoming players for us and every day it is the same, nada....Everyone knows we need to build on the relative success of last season in order to progress as a club, firmly establish ourselves in the Premier League and leave the yo yo years behind us...

[FFC007]

I think the aim for the club is to finish 17th as a minimum.

[Chobby]

My take:

Positives
1. Youth signed up to longer professional contracts, e.g. Josh King, LDF, Seth Ridgeon
2. Silva and his team are still here - just
3. The core of our first team are still here, i.e. no major outgoings - just
4. We have the best squad in recent memory
5. The Riverside is complete providing us with an all year revenue stream - time will tell on its success of course
6. The women's team is receiving investment
7. The Kahn's recently wrote off some more debt - the club is looking healthy all things considered
8. The Kahn's have been and are very good custodians of the club - slow learners but they are getting there

Negatives
1. No notable signings except for a better back up goal keeper
2. It will take time for new players coming in to be integrated into the first team set up.
3. A very unhappy manager
4. A very unhappy fan base - on the whole
5. Transfer strategy non-existent or at the very best piss poor - do we have a scouting network..?
6. An absent Director of Football Operations
7. No development of the training facilities at the BBC Sports Ground -  why?
8. AFCON, lose Bassey and Iwobi and why therefore are we looking at more African players - reactionary transfer strategy
9. Club communications are appalling and treat fans with derision
10. Ticket prices are outrageous although Sir Jim Ratcliffe is impressed and is looking to replicate our model - sorry Man United fans
11. PSR, SCR and TBA - tbh we can still operate in the market so properly planned these rules are not obstacles for a well run club

In Conclusion:
The Kahn's have always struck me as being two steps forward one step back operators (this is not a criticism, we all have to learn) but this year there has been no squad progress and that's not penny pinching that speaks more of a hidden agenda. Perhaps we are now adopting an Ajax model in providing a pathway for our youth to the first team and thereby differentiating ourselves from our competitors in attracting more top quality youth to our club but the Premiership is a very different beast to the Dutch Eredivisie. Anyway, 10 days to go, so anything can still happen, like the odd player coming through the door..., maybe.

[FFC007]

It also won't affect us if we're in the Championship...

We'd be dead in the water with FFP and all that jazz.

[Tabby]

8. AFCON, lose Bassey and Iwobi and why therefore are we looking at more African players - reactionary transfer strategy

Wouldn't the reactionary strategy be to not sign any African players because they'll be missing a couple of weeks this season?

[demeant0r]

8. AFCON, lose Bassey and Iwobi and why therefore are we looking at more African players - reactionary transfer strategy

Wouldn't the reactionary strategy be to not sign any African players because they'll be missing a couple of weeks this season?

That would be sensible strategy. Why would you ever want to buy players who will be out for a month every single year? Granted Bassey and Iwobi are ace.

[Arthur]

Is the biggest problem with the club at present is salaries at 85% of income, the highest ever. This is one of the things that come into consideration in the new rules for coming seasons.

It's not a rule yet though, we're just using it as an excuse to be tight this season. Not a single other club seems to have adopted that mindset and we're gambling on it becoming a thing when it's not actually set in stone yet. Great we might be getting a year's headstart if that does become a rule, but if not we're just hamstringing ourselves for no reason

I think the fact that UEFA has adopted SCR for its club competitions means it will be adopted in the P.L sooner or later. If the bigger P.L. clubs that regularly feature in Europe are having to conform already, and the aspiring clubs know that, perchance they win a domestic cup or have a phenomenal season, they will need to be compliant, I don't see what reason they would have to vote against it. In which case, I think our having one eye fixed on probable future financial requirements is sensible, justified and not just an excuse.

[Tabby]

8. AFCON, lose Bassey and Iwobi and why therefore are we looking at more African players - reactionary transfer strategy

Wouldn't the reactionary strategy be to not sign any African players because they'll be missing a couple of weeks this season?

That would be sensible strategy. Why would you ever want to buy players who will be out for a month every single year? Granted Bassey and Iwobi are ace.

Every single year? Thought Afcon was every 2 years.

[KJS]

Is the biggest problem with the club at present is salaries at 85% of income, the highest ever. This is one of the things that come into consideration in the new rules for coming seasons.

It's not a rule yet though, we're just using it as an excuse to be tight this season. Not a single other club seems to have adopted that mindset and we're gambling on it becoming a thing when it's not actually set in stone yet. Great we might be getting a year's headstart if that does become a rule, but if not we're just hamstringing ourselves for no reason

We have lost no players of importance in this window and secured good youngsters on decent contracts, the club will look at loans to enhance the squad and they do not happen until the last week of the window, why spend stupid money on players that are frankly overpriced as most transfers have been in this window for other clubs? Yes we all want new players but everyone I clouding Marco knows what the situation is at FFC at this current time and the fact he hasn't walked away says to me that despite his little comments in some interviews he understands the reality of this moment in time COYW

[demeant0r]

8. AFCON, lose Bassey and Iwobi and why therefore are we looking at more African players - reactionary transfer strategy

Wouldn't the reactionary strategy be to not sign any African players because they'll be missing a couple of weeks this season?

That would be sensible strategy. Why would you ever want to buy players who will be out for a month every single year? Granted Bassey and Iwobi are ace.

Every single year? Thought Afcon was every 2 years.

You might be correct but why does it feel like it happens every year? Even still, we should be buying players whose international schedule lines up with the European football schedule. (Obviously if Fulham were offered Salah, you'd take him regardless of his international schedule.)

[Twig]

Is the biggest problem with the club at present is salaries at 85% of income, the highest ever. This is one of the things that come into consideration in the new rules for coming seasons.

They are NOT new rules for the coming seasons. They are still at the proposal stage and the Premier League clubs recently voted against even trialling them yet. If, and it's a big if, they are ever introduced we don't even know currently whether they will be amended from their current form. It's all still up in the air.

[Twig]

Is the biggest problem with the club at present is salaries at 85% of income, the highest ever. This is one of the things that come into consideration in the new rules for coming seasons.

It's not a rule yet though, we're just using it as an excuse to be tight this season. Not a single other club seems to have adopted that mindset and we're gambling on it becoming a thing when it's not actually set in stone yet. Great we might be getting a year's headstart if that does become a rule, but if not we're just hamstringing ourselves for no reason

We have lost no players of importance in this window and secured good youngsters on decent contracts, the club will look at loans to enhance the squad and they do not happen until the last week of the window, why spend stupid money on players that are frankly overpriced as most transfers have been in this window for other clubs? Yes we all want new players but everyone I clouding Marco knows what the situation is at FFC at this current time and the fact he hasn't walked away says to me that despite his little comments in some interviews he understands the reality of this moment in time COYW

Sorry but what is "the situation at FFC at this current time"? Because I'm not aware of a situation?

[StuinSalop]

Does this mean Kevin has fallen through? There's been no news in days?

Nelson was supposed to have been done weeks ago,I personally believe the club is putting out false info,just to keep the fans interested and hoping we are going after players that we're not really interested in...Joke carry on.

I think Nelson is a genuine target and on our list but because of injury the club are trying to negotiate the way its been suggested in the press. He could also be the option second to Kevin signing.

Not much looking seemingly likely atm though.

The owners don't want Nelson, I've been told that first hand, he's a Marco target, not theirs. Yes, there are big concerns over his fitness, but also his 110K salary a week, that Arsenal want us to fully absorb with an obligation. I can see the concerns, but I can't also work out why they've not been working on an alternative.

This is exactly what I have been told by a board member.  They see Nelson as a big risk.  Doesn't matter to Marco as he has less than a year left.  Our priority was ALWAYS to keep the squad together and add in a few places. This will still happen.  I know for a fact that Marco has a list of players he wants but without a big sale this would bust the club. Marco must know this so I really don't understand the outburst unless it purely posturing

[LittleErn]

In purely pessimistic mode, I wonder if the Khans bought FFC with a view to it being a lever to open up Wembley to them as a Jags showcase? If so, they might well now have given up on that and be looking to disengage. Hence the inaction?

[Tabby]

In purely pessimistic mode, I wonder if the Khans bought FFC with a view to it being a lever to open up Wembley to them as a Jags showcase? If so, they might well now have given up on that and be looking to disengage. Hence the inaction?

That was dead in the water before the Riverside development started.

[Angus Telford]

Is the biggest problem with the club at present is salaries at 85% of income, the highest ever. This is one of the things that come into consideration in the new rules for coming seasons.

It's not a rule yet though, we're just using it as an excuse to be tight this season. Not a single other club seems to have adopted that mindset and we're gambling on it becoming a thing when it's not actually set in stone yet. Great we might be getting a year's headstart if that does become a rule, but if not we're just hamstringing ourselves for no reason

I think the fact that UEFA has adopted SCR for its club competitions means it will be adopted in the P.L sooner or later. If the bigger P.L. clubs that regularly feature in Europe are having to conform already, and the aspiring clubs know that, perchance they win a domestic cup or have a phenomenal season, they will need to be compliant, I don't see what reason they would have to vote against it. In which case, I think our having one eye fixed on probable future financial requirements is sensible, justified and not just an excuse.

The thing is the UEFA model is based on wages only so substantially different from the model it was claimed further up this thread is proposed for the PL, which includes transfer spending in the cap. So not sure the logic that the PL will inevitably follow UEFA really works. In any case, if the choice is between putting ourselves at a certain disadvantage now through restricted spending, or maybe being disadvantaged later if/when we have to adapt to a possible rule change, I'd rather take my chances on the latter, especially given peers seem mostly to be doing the same.