🌞Summer Silly Season Transfer thread 2026

[jayffc]

Agree @Bronaldinho

Nixon seemed to think Jordan James was the one cited as Lukic replacement but seems he might just be flat out wrong there

Shea Charles and Pitarch I think happen regardless of what happens with Berge. IF he goes I think we'd sure sign another as Pitarch is not a Berge profile

[LC]

I wonder what the fee for Lukic is - it should be at least £15m but I think he's worth £20m personally. He brings a lot to the team in terms of experience and defensive cover. You know he's a top half of the PL midfielder because we've consistently finished there for a couple of seasons now - so what is that worth if he's got 1 year left on his contract and a 1 year option, so effectively 2 years..

[Neutral Zone Ultra]

I wonder what the fee for Lukic is - it should be at least £15m but I think he's worth £20m personally. He brings a lot to the team in terms of experience and defensive cover. You know he's a top half of the PL midfielder because we've consistently finished there for a couple of seasons now - so what is that worth if he's got 1 year left on his contract and a 1 year option, so effectively 2 years..

I certainly don't think it's any more than £15m and I suspect it's probably closer to £12m.

[Neutral Zone Ultra]

Thinking more about it - The Berge United rumours are heating up. They've missed out on Ederson, Tonali and now Tchaoumeni is injured. Feels like Sander will be targeted.

Only fear here is are we spending the Berge money on Charles, and replacing Lukic with Pitarch.

Be nervous to lose both Berge and Lukic in one window. Berge especially as we don't have a disciplined DM.

I agree I'd prefer not to lose Berge, despite his limitations. However if the heat grows on the Man United board and they start putting panic bids in I think we should definitely try and exploit it, at least test the waters to see what they would pay.

[Volz]

Possibly controversial opinion for some but I believe Berge could be more crucial than ever if high line high press is key. An enforcer type like Paulhinha would be one headless sliding tackle away in every match for us to let in goals on every opposition attempt in that system. A smart DM that rather uses his vision to block passing lanes early and slows down a potential counter in cohort with the rest of the defence could be exactly what is needed.

[hovewhite]

Hope he's not earmarked by tractor boys.

[Whitestone]

Possibly controversial opinion for some but I believe Berge could be more crucial than ever if high line high press is key. An enforcer type like Paulhinha would be one headless sliding tackle away in every match for us to let in goals on every opposition attempt in that system. A smart DM that rather uses his vision to block passing lanes early and slows down a potential counter in cohort with the rest of the defence could be exactly what is needed.

Nothing controversial IMO. It would crazy to sanction a move for Berge.

[Arthur]

I can see the argument for not confirming any such signing till he's coming back from the injury. Would be a bit of a waste of what would presumably be around £200k (I know people think this is peanuts but it all does add up, so still makes sense to not spend it if you don't need to - the player can't train while injured, so if the club deems it not worth rushing through I can still see the reasoning of not waste money uneccesarily).
Could of course backfire, but the insituation is it's looking good on this deal for us if/whenever it does happen.

I hope the Club are not thinking this way. A lot can happen between now and the 31st August. What if Real change their mind about selling Pitarch because one of their senior midfielders suffers a long-term injury? What if they change their mind because they don't end up signing Rodri? Is it worth risking £200k against missing out on the player altogether? Not in my book. It's swings and roundabouts with players' wages anyhow; the collapse of our attempt to sign Nwaiwu a few weeks ago has saved us as much as we'll need to cover Pitarch. I'd like to think the Club are working to bring him here sooner rather than later.

[SimonDaviesEnjoyer]

I certainly don't think it's any more than £15m and I suspect it's probably closer to £12m.

Yeah this. Anything more would be hilarious.

[General]

Possibly controversial opinion for some but I believe Berge could be more crucial than ever if high line high press is key. An enforcer type like Paulhinha would be one headless sliding tackle away in every match for us to let in goals on every opposition attempt in that system. A smart DM that rather uses his vision to block passing lanes early and slows down a potential counter in cohort with the rest of the defence could be exactly what is needed.

Nothing controversial IMO. It would crazy to sanction a move for Berge.

Agreed, it's a recipe for disaster letting our two leading scorers, then two first choice CMs and a solid RCB all go in one summer and replacing them with largely untested youth, no matter how good the youth is

There's really no need to force this and rush the process.. especially with a largely unproven manager.

Last thing we want is a squad full of young and underperforming talent. It'd be very irresponsible in my books.

[ffcthereligion]

Lukic has been okay for us, solid pro. Thanks for the service and 10m about right.

As for Berge, I'm sorry I just don't see it. The idea that there's a real player in there seems pervasive, but I can't see why. Doesn't drive with ball, doesn't ever play a risky pass, no pace, quite literally attracts ironic comments and cheers when he even attempts a shot and zero goals or assists for Fulham in over 60 PL games. If that's what 70m gets you these days then god help us all

[jayffc]

I can see the argument for not confirming any such signing till he's coming back from the injury. Would be a bit of a waste of what would presumably be around £200k (I know people think this is peanuts but it all does add up, so still makes sense to not spend it if you don't need to - the player can't train while injured, so if the club deems it not worth rushing through I can still see the reasoning of not waste money uneccesarily).
Could of course backfire, but the insituation is it's looking good on this deal for us if/whenever it does happen.

I hope the Club are not thinking this way. A lot can happen between now and the 31st August. What if Real change their mind about selling Pitarch because one of their senior midfielders suffers a long-term injury? What if they change their mind because they don't end up signing Rodri? Is it worth risking £200k against missing out on the player altogether? Not in my book. It's swings and roundabouts with players' wages anyhow; the collapse of our attempt to sign Nwaiwu a few weeks ago has saved us as much as we'll need to cover Pitarch. I'd like to think the Club are working to bring him here sooner rather than later.

Depends entirely on what assurances there are and understanding of it going through are which they'll know intimately given the links here - Arbeloa on same agency, close relationship with real and player etc. I gather all sides are pretty much there in terms of agreement on the move and happy at this stage, including player from what's been said. Of course it's possible that changes I suppose but he is injured so not as though he's gonna be lighting up training etc. a bit of a unique set up to this deal. As I say some rumour he even was permitted to visit recently

Regardless it seems he's very close to joining anyway , all reports that it's all but done so we may well see him soon. Hopefully we get a bomba in the next week or so

[ffc_forever]

If we sign Pitarch and Charles then they can work as a single pivot. Charles deep with Pitarch up and down with Palacios as the AMC

BUT when we are defending Charles and Pitarch and work together as a double pivot and win the ball back higher up the pitch.

I don't see selling Berge and Lukic as such a bad thing and only see positives in bringing in younger energetic players who can cover several positions and work well together. I think Reed could be an important captain type player (even if he doesn't start).

Even before his injury I think Cairney would struggle with game time in this team. Not sure where he fits. Not a DMC, not a box2box player, and we've loads of AMC's.

[St Eve]

The player we need is Palhinha and he is still available

[The Cravenette]

As much as I love the move towards younger additions, losing Lukic and Berge in the same window would be madness IMHO. There has to be some stability and we  should not be putting too much pressure and responsibility on the new guys.

Still very excited though.

[southwest6]

i would not sell berge for anything less than 40 mil. I know he divides opinion but I personally really appreciate him as a player for FFC.

[Hatch007]

Ignoring for now the defensive upgrades required, if we close the window with something like the front six options listed below  it will have been one helluva window.

Is two more wingers overkill with the likes of Sess, Iwobi and ESR able to cover LW at least. Maybe just a Wilson replacement for RW competition?


6 Berge / Charles / Reed

8 Pitarch / Palacios / Iwobi

10 King / ESR / Cairney

7 Bobb + Wilson replacement

11 Kevin + Chuk replacement

9 Garcia / Muniz / JKA

[sarnian]

i would not sell berge for anything less than 40 mil. I know he divides opinion but I personally really appreciate him as a player for FFC.

Agree 100%. Berge makes things tick but under appreciated because he does the simple things that often go unnoticed.  Yes he seems reluctant to pull the trigger at times but just wonder if he was just following instructions from Silva.

[wback100]

i would not sell berge for anything less than 40 mil. I know he divides opinion but I personally really appreciate him as a player for FFC.

£40m is waaaay too low. He's a key player in a World Cup quarter finalist team, plays at a high level in the PL, at his peak age, plus Utd premium. £75m please.

(Also, divides opinion but... he's our Rodri. Not as good of course, but does Rodri score often? Make loads of killer passes? Do much more than move it side to side? Win the ball back when someone tries to break on them?)

[OZ-WHITE]

Only problem with any transfer interest in Thiago Pitarch is that he has a left knee injury, about two months out
https://www.managingmadrid.com/110561/thiago-pitarch-knee-injury-2026