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Next seasons squad

Solanke played just 15 PL games this season.

Please don't tell me he is capable under any manager. He is not.

Part of the reason we were all bricking ourselves on Sunday is because of Dominic Solanke, 15 appearances, three goals, and zero assists.

If this is our ambition, then welcome to another 17th position.
You expected our centre forward to be able to score goals playing Frank ball? Just about the only chance you'll ever get is a header from a corner or a half chance from a second ball after a long throw.

I'll be happy if we sign a new centre forward this summer (I think Richi will be sold) but think it would be sensible to keep Solanke so that we have a second option. I also think he will be quite suited to RDZ's high pressing game (Solanke did quite well playing in Ange's high pressing system I thought).
 
So my question for everyone is we spent 220M total, 150M net last season. With that in mind, what do you think is realistic? (so much of this thread borders on sell everyone and buy new team). So more a possible, priorities and understanding this is probably window 1 of a multi-window fix.

Lets assume
Scenario A - We have same net spend, can be lifted by sales
Scenario B - We up net spend to 200M + sales
What do you do

For simplicity
- RKM, Bissouma, Davies are all assumed gone/out of contract, don't need to be mentioned
- Fringe youth/loan players, Scarlett, Devine, Philips, Solomon, Taki, etc. are part of plans, I'd say probably Moore/Lankshear/Vuskovic only real options

For me
Scenario A,
- Sell Sarr, Romero, Dragusin, Vic, Richi, a few of the loan players, should get you in 100M-120M on top of budget
- Buy GK (senior backup to Kinsky, 10M), CB (Sensei and Vuskovic, both free), LB (Robertson, free), Palhinha (20M), LW (Savino 40M), leaves you with 150-170M for a CF, CM and perhaps RW? (we don't know medical details of Kudus/Deki). This to me is the United last season scenario, splash on Savino, a CF (Marmoush?) and CM (both could be club record signings) and maybe some left over for a up and coming RW?
- That's a minimum of 8 squad changes with 9 incoming (it's a lot)

Scenario B,
- Same sales except you add Solanke to list, loan one of Gray/Bergvall out
- Buy same list, except add 2nd Striker, 2nd CM, upgrade RW option, maybe buy a keeper to be #1
- 10+ squad changes in and out

Future view
- Summer 2027, Odobert, Tel, Gallagher, Xavi, Maddison, Spence would be potentially for sale if they haven't established themselves under RDZ.
 
I think we will see a couple of surprising players on the block as sellable. Players most of us really, really like.

Of the others, I would personally sell Bissouma, Solanke, Dragusin, Souza, Romero (not because I want to - I think he'd be great under RDZ but I don't think he'll ever be reffed fairly in the Prem plus I think he might see this as the time to move on), Vicario, Min-Hyeok, Kota-Tai, obviously not pick up Muani's contract again in any way.

I'd be looking to keep - Kinsky, Palhinha, Madders, Gallagher, Bentancur, Sarr, Gray, Bergvall, VdV, Porro, Danso, Spence, Richy, Kudus, Tel

Players we cannot make decisions on due to injury - Xavi (I'd keep), Odobert (in the end release)

I think RDZ will make a couple of very surprising decisions, and I have a hunch that Bergy might be a player he just doesn't feel fits what he wants to dos!!! In fairness, we will probably need to lose one of Sarr, Grey, Palhinha.

I'd give Moore, Vuskovic and Lankshear another season on loan continuing their developments and with the hope that in 2027/28 we will be back in the CL and need them.

I'd look for fees for Donley, Devine and Philips as I don't think De Zerbi will ever give them the opportunities and I don't think they're top 6 players sadly, but I think all would command decent fees.

Finally, I do not think Deki can come back to be the same player from his injury. Would LOVE to be wrong, and base this view on absolutely no outside knowledge whatsoever...

Out of interest (I’m not saying you’re right or wrong) why are you selling Souza?
 
Out of interest (I’m not saying you’re right or wrong) why are you selling Souza?

In fairness it is a numbers-game choice on my part and based on nothing other than that (not exactly a quaified opinion LOL).
I just think if we're looking to be ruthless are we prepared to gamble that he is decent?
Of course the counter to this is we cannot sell everyone and we need capable backups. Plus he might be excellent!!!!!! Interested to see what RDZ does.
 
You expected our centre forward to be able to score goals playing Frank ball? Just about the only chance you'll ever get is a header from a corner or a half chance from a second ball after a long throw.

I'll be happy if we sign a new centre forward this summer (I think Richi will be sold) but think it would be sensible to keep Solanke so that we have a second option. I also think he will be quite suited to RDZ's high pressing game (Solanke did quite well playing in Ange's high pressing system I thought).

We have to keep one or the other and upgrade.
 
I think Porro and Spence is one area where we are strong and have no need to do anything other than further 'DeZerbi' them.

Yep, the better question is how do you keep them both happy when you only have domestic football and Spence is no longer utilised as a LB?

Ditto with Romero, VDV, Danso, Senesi and Vuskovic which I've seen in some scenarios?

Each season poses it's own unique challenges. RDZ seems to be all over regular team sheets with minimal changes game to game.
 
Yep, the better question is how do you keep them both happy when you only have domestic football and Spence is no longer utilised as a LB?

Ditto with Romero, VDV, Danso, Senesi and Vuskovic which I've seen in some scenarios?

Each season poses it's own unique challenges. RDZ seems to be all over regular team sheets with minimal changes game to game.

I think we'll end up loaning Vuskovic back for another season, and I genuinely think Cristian is gone. Unless Vuskovic is seen as Romero's replacement and Danso his back-up? Personally I think it'd have to be the other way around until Vuskovic gets used to the Prem...
 
I think we'll end up loaning Vuskovic back for another season, and I genuinely think Cristian is gone. Unless Vuskovic is seen as Romero's replacement and Danso his back-up? Personally I think it'd have to be the other way around until Vuskovic gets used to the Prem...

Admittedly, I don't know too much about Senesi but you would have to believe he would join because he's a first eleven player. Otherwise, as a free agent and 29 years old, you would find a place where you play.

Also, play out the scenario that Romero leaves. Where is he going and for how much? He has just signed a new contract and his stock will be sky high. Who would pay £70-80m in this market? That is surely his market rate.
 
Admittedly, I don't know too much about Senesi but you would have to believe he would join because he's a first eleven player. Otherwise, as a free agent and 29 years old, you would find a place where you play.

Also, play out the scenario that Romero leaves. Where is he going and for how much? He has just signed a new contract and his stock will be sky high. Who would pay £70-80m in this market? That is surely his market rate.

We'll see. I don't think VdV is going anywhere. Perhaps we'll see VdV at LB more this season too. Having three very good left-sided defenders is something we've needed forever. I doubt Udogie has more than 25 games a season in him. With Romero, I think we may end up accepting a modest profit over market rate if everyone agrees it needs to happen. I'd personally be delighted to see him stay as I think RDZ is the perfect manager for him. But yeah, as said, I don't think this league wants him around...
 
Solanke played just 15 PL games this season.

Please don't tell me he is capable under any manager. He is not.

Part of the reason we were all bricking ourselves on Sunday is because of Dominic Solanke, 15 appearances, three goals, and zero assists.

If this is our ambition, then welcome to another 17th position.
Have you looked at his goal to miss ratio? I haven't but based on the fact that first Ange and then Frank starved him of service, only someone naive and /or blinkered would take a view on Solanke's performance levels to date. I suspect with a team geared to create chances from a slow build up to an explosive attack, Solanke will be perfectly suited.

Ange used him to close down from the front and Frank was denied a lot of him and then when he had him had no plan to get the ball forward in a way that suited him.
 
Outs: Vicario, Romero, Dragusin, Davies, Bissouma, Sarr, Solomon, Richarlison

GKs : Kinsky + New GK + Austin
LB : Udogie + New LB + Souza
RB : Porro, Spence
CB : VDV + New CB
CB : Danso + Vuskovic
CM : Gray + Bentancur + New CM
CM : Maddison + Bergvall
AM : Xavi + New AM
LW : Tel + New LW
RW : Kudus + Odobert + Kulusevski
CF : Solanke + New CF

For the new players - depends on how much we have to spend but my options would be:

1. Keeper:
Ramsdale - capable back-up that knows the league and we'd be comfortable if he had to come in and play lots of games.
If we're looking for a first choice then I really like Robin Risser at Lens.
Gregor Kobel at Dortmund is another excellent keeper but would be expensive and probably difficult to persuade to come to Spurs.
Jose Sa from Wolves is a solid keeper with only a year left on his deal if we're looking for a cheap, dependable back-up.

2. Left back:
Robertson - the club needs his influence in the dressing room. Having a player who has won everything and knows how clubs that want or even EXPECT to win things do things differently.
If Robertson opts for a move to another country instead of staying in the PL then Rico Henry from Brentford would be a solid option, Brentford have a year's option on his contract so he wouldn't be free but I don't think he'd cost huge money.
If we've got money to spend then Nathaniel Brown from Frankfurt would be a great option.
I also liked the look of El Hadji Malick Diouf at West Ham if we want to pick the bones of the relegated.

3. Centre back:
Senesi is an obvious choice on a free transfer. Has proven himself as really competent at Bournemouth and would be able to slot right in at Spurs.
Depending on whether or not we want to bring in Vuskovic now or let him have another year on loan, John Stones would be another really good option on a free transfer, another player who knows what it takes to be in a winning dressing room. Him, Senesi, VDV and Danso would be great depth and we could then sell one of those next summer if we wanted to bring in Vuskovic.

4. Centre midfield:
Curtis Jones could be gettable from Liverpool. He is combative, good on the ball, moves well and is creative passer
I'd love us to have another go for Gibbs White but I can't see that one flying.
Elliot Anderson is also top class but I think he'll be off to one of the big boys.
A curveball could be Eduardo Camavinga from Real Madrid. I wonder if we went in big and early we might be able to persuade him?
Mateus Fernandez at West Ham really impressed me, but I think he'll be very expensive.
If we want a young player who isn't quite ready but could explode in a year or two's time then Kees Smit from AZ Alkmaar would be the player I went for.
I also really like Angelo Stiller at Stuttgart and think we could afford his transfer fee and wage demands and Spurs is a nice step up for him.

5. Left wing:
I really rate Said El Mala at FC Koln, I think he is already ready for PL football even though he is still improving.
A bit of a left field one and relies on Barca not being able to afford him but Marcus Rashford could be a good option for us.
Igor Paixao at Marseille is a bit underrated I think and I wonder whether De Zerbi might raid his old club?
Mitoma is another that De Zerbi has worked with and another who only has a year left on his deal though has been somewhat injury prone.
I wonder whether Jack Grealish might be a left field option depending on how De Zerbi wants to play?

6. Attacking midfield:
I've always liked Charles De Kettelare and think he could be a good option for us.
Kang In Lee from PSG is another player that I think would do well in the PL and surely at some point soon he'll want to go to play more?

7. Centre Forward:
Perhaps the hardest position of all to fill. Nick Woltemade has something about him though I think Saudi Sportswashing Machine would want £70m+ for him.
Thiago has has a great season at Brentford but I think, again, he'd be similar sort of money.
We have been linked with Samu Aghehowa from Porto but I think he is another player out with an ACL tear.
I know he has his detractors but Nicolas Jackson could be an option if Chelsea aren't silly with their valuation.
Palace's Mateta only has a year of his contract left and has proven he can score in the PL.
Dusan Vlahovic is on a free transfer but hasn't kicked on at all from the promise he showed a few years ago.
 
Can we just get it right … we are not buying our way out of this until we sell the dross.

War chest of £150m incoming …. Net
 
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