Summer Silly Season Transfer Thread 2025

[Tabby]

Silva did say that Pereira was brought in to play 'as an 8' last season IIRC (he never really performed well in that position but he was still a depth option). I don't think we need another CAM unless Wilson is very badly injured, seeing as Silva has started using him there as well brining us up to 4 players who are well capable of the position (ESR, Iwobi, King and Wilson).

I'd assume the reinforcement for midfield would be in the two deeper positions where we have a lot less depth.

[sunburywhite]

Stating the bleeding obvious here!

I think we can all agree there was a list of players drawn up some time ago.

We are never shopping at the top end, so clever scouting & deal making finds gems such as Bassey, Robinson etc.

There is a case to say leaving it late saves a months worth of money on salaries.

Late deals can work in our favour as the clock ticks down and clubs need to sell.

We can't offer Euro football and won't be able to convince every target to sign despite being a London club etc.

Other clubs, agents and players of interest will negotiate at their pace and not do us any favours.

And of course there's likely some financial constraints on how much we can spend but why have an agreed plan for several players if you don't have the means to buy at least some.

But whatever the difficulties are to improve the team, this is not the way to go about doing business.

I assume a player or 2 will eventually sign but I simply do not believe we will achieve an improved team by the end of this window.

These things take time, even AP who has been very obviously going in the last two weeks still hasnt got the deal across the line

[alfie]

Are we all seriously trying to justify to ourselves the merit of bringing Willian back, desparate times.

No we are not "ALL", just the odd one or two.

[OZ-WHITE]

Just so everyone is on the same page regarding Dilane Bakwa - His Manager Liam Rosenior ( yes, that Liam ) switched him to right midfield where he has done very well and played his best football , so its not a winger transfer its a left footed right midfield replacement for Pereira, we will have pay up though but no real loss over time he's only 23yo

[junior white]

Wolves after Arokadare apparently. Not sure we were ever really in for him but we were linked

[Deeping_white]

Just so everyone is on the same page regarding Dilane Bakwa - His Manager Liam Rosenior ( yes, that Liam ) switched him to right midfield where he has done very well and played his best football , so its not a winger transfer its a left footed right midfield replacement for Pereira, we will have pay up though but no real loss over time he's only 23yo

I'm not sure you've got that right - he's played pretty much most of his senior appearances at RW/RM or LW. He's played the odd game here or there as a CF or attacking midfielder but he's predominantly a winger. Pereira has always been an attacking mid or centre mid for us and as far as I can see they don't really overlap in their positioning

[Hugh Janus]

On Willian, if he's our lowest paid player or close to it, I wouldn't mind it. He would be used only if we get an injury crisis or maybe during AFCON. If he's on high wages, no thanks.

Exactly as you say. If the money is right I don't see the issue. He knows the system too. Looks fit as a fiddle. He could help nurture Josh King. Chuku, Kev, Otele and Willi. Let's see what the club can do with him

[Tabby]

Just so everyone is on the same page regarding Dilane Bakwa - His Manager Liam Rosenior ( yes, that Liam ) switched him to right midfield where he has done very well and played his best football , so its not a winger transfer its a left footed right midfield replacement for Pereira, we will have pay up though but no real loss over time he's only 23yo

Thought it was right midfield as in a right midfielder in a 442, not a central midfielder.

[Rambler]

Calm before the storm?

Gone all quiet today after lots of news yesterday

[Lighthouse]

Was rather hoping that we would hear something by this afternoon, early evening. Oh well.

[Tabby]

Was rather hoping that we would hear something by this afternoon, early evening. Oh well.

Doubt anyone will be in before the Chelsea game.

[ffc_forever]

If people had to rate Kevin, Chukwueze, Bakwa, Nelson, Sterling from who you most want to who you least want what order would you put them in?  for me below

Kevin, Bakwa, Chukwueze, Nelson, Sterling

Last three all pretty close though, but Kevin and Bakwa would be my two favourites, also two most expensive though.

To be honest I think I'm happy with any of them, Sterling probably my least favourite of the options

For me and this is based purely on there career goals assists to minutes

1.Stirling 197 goals, 122 assists in 45381 minutes - Left & Right
2.Nelson 51 goals, 29 assists in 11691 minutes - Right & Left
3.Kevin 16 goals, 10 assists in 4202 minutes - Left
4.Otele 56 goals, 16 assists in 12950 minutes - Left
5.Chukwuese 53 goals, 35 assists in 18045 minutes - Right
6.Bakwa 18 goals, 26 assists in 9226 minutes - Right & Left

Stirlings stats and experience and versatility on both wings makes him a no brainer IF we can make the package affordable

[OZ-WHITE]

Just so everyone is on the same page regarding Dilane Bakwa - His Manager Liam Rosenior ( yes, that Liam ) switched him to right midfield where he has done very well and played his best football , so its not a winger transfer its a left footed right midfield replacement for Pereira, we will have pay up though but no real loss over time he's only 23yo

I'm not sure you've got that right - he's played pretty much most of his senior appearances at RW/RM or LW. He's played the odd game here or there as a CF or attacking midfielder but he's predominantly a winger. Pereira has always been an attacking mid or centre mid for us and as far as I can see they don't really overlap in their positioning

King - right footed - left side - left/central midfield . ESR - right footed - left side - central/attacking midfield . Bakwa - left footed - right side - right midfield . Rosenior switched him to right midfield for the majority of the season, only played wide when they changed formation even then inverted in the right channel

[hopper]

As nothing is over the line and won't be in for Saturday. Looking like it will all be final day. Which represents a lot of risk. What happens if a selling club change their mind last minute, or there's medical issues etc.

[Angus Telford]

However it also strikes me as odd that the buying late strategy means that any new signings will each have already missed approximately 10% of the season by the time they have settled in .

Where is the sense in that?

IMO it's a symptom of our set-up and the relevant individuals' personal incentives. AM is an accountant - his ledger won't show when we signed player X. Nor will TK's spreadsheet. It'll just show what we paid, and if we reduced the price by £500k by waiting until the last day, it'll look better for them. If the timing, or even the deal falling through, impacts our performance on the pitch, well that's Silva's problem because the football results are his deliverable.

As usual it comes back to the problem of not having a proper DOF bringing the football, economics and overall strategy together.

[General]

I'm surprised not more hasn't been made of the founder of Clearlake capital (and owner of Chelsea) was with Shahid at the Man Utd game - surely that's of relevance to deals being agreed - mainly Sterling at this point?

Is on our radar, and publicly, but surely must mean there's a deal trying to be discussed at a high level to make it work.

[C Block]

I'm surprised not more hasn't been made of the founder of Clearlake capital (and owner of Chelsea) was with Shahid at the Man Utd game - surely that's of relevance to deals being agreed - mainly Sterling at this point?

Is on our radar, and publicly, but surely must mean there's a deal trying to be discussed at a high level to make it work.

I still think Sterling is likely but nothing will happen until after we play them.

[Tabby]

Just so everyone is on the same page regarding Dilane Bakwa - His Manager Liam Rosenior ( yes, that Liam ) switched him to right midfield where he has done very well and played his best football , so its not a winger transfer its a left footed right midfield replacement for Pereira, we will have pay up though but no real loss over time he's only 23yo

I'm not sure you've got that right - he's played pretty much most of his senior appearances at RW/RM or LW. He's played the odd game here or there as a CF or attacking midfielder but he's predominantly a winger. Pereira has always been an attacking mid or centre mid for us and as far as I can see they don't really overlap in their positioning

King - right footed - left side - left/central midfield . ESR - right footed - left side - central/attacking midfield . Bakwa - left footed - right side - right midfield . Rosenior switched him to right midfield for the majority of the season, only played wide when they changed formation even then inverted in the right channel

Right midfield is the wide player for Strasbourg when Bakwa played there. What are you going on about?

[Tabby]

I'm surprised not more hasn't been made of the founder of Clearlake capital (and owner of Chelsea) was with Shahid at the Man Utd game - surely that's of relevance to deals being agreed - mainly Sterling at this point?

Is on our radar, and publicly, but surely must mean there's a deal trying to be discussed at a high level to make it work.

Clearlake Capital also own Strasbourg. Since we are being linked with Bakwa that could also be a link.

[Tabby]

If people had to rate Kevin, Chukwueze, Bakwa, Nelson, Sterling from who you most want to who you least want what order would you put them in?  for me below

Kevin, Bakwa, Chukwueze, Nelson, Sterling

Last three all pretty close though, but Kevin and Bakwa would be my two favourites, also two most expensive though.

To be honest I think I'm happy with any of them, Sterling probably my least favourite of the options

For me and this is based purely on there career goals assists to minutes

1.Stirling 197 goals, 122 assists in 45381 minutes - Left & Right
2.Nelson 51 goals, 29 assists in 11691 minutes - Right & Left
3.Kevin 16 goals, 10 assists in 4202 minutes - Left
4.Otele 56 goals, 16 assists in 12950 minutes - Left
5.Chukwuese 53 goals, 35 assists in 18045 minutes - Right
6.Bakwa 18 goals, 26 assists in 9226 minutes - Right & Left

Stirlings stats and experience and versatility on both wings makes him a no brainer IF we can make the package affordable

I assume that Nelson includes youth games, but even then I only get it to 46 goals (and 30 assists), 27 of those goals being in youth football.

Where are you getting your numbers from?