The silly season is now in full swing, so just for fun, MFW regular, Alex Bain has pulled together a list of rumours, thoughts and ideas on what may or may not occur in this window. Get your pinches of salt at the ready…
So… deep breath….
1) Jordan Rhodes – obviously an experienced Championship striker, but one who has never played enough games in the Premier League to prove himself at that level. The question is, would it be a gamble worth taking if, as Steve Bruce has suggested, Wednesday are waiting on City to make the next move. There is supposed to be a fee agreed but the club wants the promotion bonus taken on that fee. Still work to be done.
2) Ollie McBurnie (Swansea) – Possibly a good signing. Younger than Rhodes and did well in the Championship last season. He is rumoured to be interesting a few other clubs in the Championship with money available and it looks like the Swansea owners are willing to sell some players. Again no experience of the Premier League but maybe that would be reflected in the asking price.
3) Che Adams – The Birmingham striker is ready to make the step up to the Premier League. There was a rumour that City interested but so too are Southampton, Burnley, Brighton and any number of clubs in the lower reaches of the Premier League. A reported starting price of £15m seems high and out of City’s reach.
4) Alexis Claude-Maurice – A promising Lorient youngster who could be ready to make the step up, particularly with Daniel Farke proving he will give youth a chance. Another up and coming player that has been searched out by City’s recruiting team, at one stage it looked like he was a sure thing, but Arsenal seem to have muddied the waters and his price has reportedly risen to the £12m mark. Can City really compete against a top-six club? He would, however, get more game time at a club like ours. A possibility.
5) Britt Assombalonga – Middlesbrough paid £15m for him and he has had a tougher time than expected with injuries and has not really been a roaring success. Maybe it was Pulisball that hindered him, but he has got potential. Reminds me of Troy Deeney at Watford – a big bustling centre-forward. Could he adapt to Farke’s style and would Steve Gibson sell for less than he paid for him, especially to a promoted club?
6) Will Vaulks – a star midfielder from Rotherham rumoured to interesting Villa, Burnley, Southampton and Sheffield United among others. City would possibly get help from their manager in persuading him to choose Norwich if an offer was accepted, but where would he play and who would he replace? Possibly just his agent his drumming up some interest.
7) Semi Ajaya – another key member of Paul Warne’s Rotherham side. Either a centre-back or a defensive midfielder, this ex-Arsenal Academy player is in demand but is he any better than Sean Raggett?
8) Simon Sluga (HNK Rijeka) – a 26-year-old Croatia international goalkeeper, rumoured to be on offer for €.1.8 million. Again Sheffield Utd are reported to be interested, along with Derby and Hertha Berlin. Is this just an agent throwing a few clubs name in hoping one sticks to him? He might however improve our goalkeeping depth.
9) Kwasi Okyere Wriedt (Bayern Munich II) – a 24-year-old striker who scored 22 goals and had seven assists this season. Sounds, on paper, like a typical Stuart Webber/Farke signing but if he is that good, surely clubs higher up the German league will also be interested? One to watch.
10) Marko Burki (Zlute Waregem) – the Belgian Pro League club are reportedly fending off interest from a number of European clubs, including Norwich and Nottingham Forrest for their defender. Another one that seems a little unlikely unless City decide to let Raggett and/or Grant Hanley leave. Again, no fee has been quoted and also clubs from Italy are included in the list of possible destinations. At 25-years-old, this Swiss international is a good age and plays out from the back. A Farke type player.
11) Simon Mignolet (Liverpool) – with a quoted price £15m plus, this really does smack of an agent trying to drum up interest for his client. If he is available, I think he will be snapped up by a club in Turkey, or maybe even Watford to replace Gomes.
12) Conor Masterson (Liverpool) – a 20-year-old defender, again from Merseyside. There might be a small fee due to him being an ex-academy player, but he will be familiar with City’s Irish Under-23 players. This might sway him into choosing City. He has not progressed as Liverpool would have liked but they are now spending big bucks to get the near-finished articles ready for their first team. Could prove to be a good Under-23 player and, in time, a first-team player.
13) Jarrod Bowen (Hull) – this has been rumoured since the end of the last window and would definitely improve the squad, but with Spurs, West Ham, Southampton and a few others interested, I just can’t see this one coming off. Besides, I think his price will start at £12m and then head northwards.
14) Macauley Bonne (Leyton Orient) – the 5ft 11in front man scored 16 goals from just 21 league outings this season, in addition to the 22 he managed in 44 last term in non-league – a total that is impressive whatever league you play in. At the moment Leeds, Sheffield United (obviously), Derby, Forest Birmingham are all reportedly looking at him, although no price has been quoted. He will not come cheap but is he possibly worth a gamble?
15) Kalvin Phillips (Leeds Utd) – this one has upset the Leeds supporters, if indeed it is true that City are weighing up a £12m offer for another of their up and coming stars. A solid defensive midfield player, Bournemouth are also supposed to be interested as well. Could City tempt Leeds to sell, and could they be about to sell a few players? Spurs are reportedly interested in Jack Clarke, Villa in Pontus Jansson and a couple of others are in the sights of Premier League clubs.
All in all, while the rumours are interesting and pass the time for fans in the close season, many are started by agents trying to get their player a move, picked up by the internet and then the daily papers. Most will not come to pass.
Webber has already stated that City will be one of the smallest spenders this window and I’d suggest that some money will be set aside for the January window to cover for possible injuries, form and to help out where required and to refresh the squad.
Sheffield United’s ownership issues – their two joint-owners are currently both battling for full ownership of the club – may affect their summer spending plans and have already stated that they don’t intend to spend fortunes. And the Derby owner has said no matter what league they are in, he will not continue to spend as they can’t afford it even with the Premier League money.
Villa now have extremely rich owners (reportedly, three billionaires) but due to their spending over the last three years are subject to FFP rules, so if they get promoted could be under sanctions from both leagues.
So in that regard, this will be a one-off pre-season for all promoted clubs in that none will be planning to spend big. Karren Brady will, of course, chastise them for trying to do it “on the cheap”, without realising they need to build a platform for success. Unlike West Ham, they all own their home grounds and have the expense that goes with it.
Onwards and upwards.
OTBC
Agree the rumour mill is in full force as usual. As the recruitment team have shown already they will have a trick or two up their sleeves & the first we all know is after they’ve signed. Some of the figures quoted are ridiculous, (7m for Rhodes) especially with the budget constraints Webber has referred to! I’d guess that being the case none of the above names will wear the yellow & green & as you’ve said it’s the agents trying to earn their crust! OTBC
Nice coverage although was there not a German Captain from Hannover as well? What happened to him.
Can’t get every one – just put the ones that seem to be the most quoted in the press.
But thanks for the input
Hi Alex
That was a brave article – I wouldn’t have wanted to pen that one!
From your list the only one I would put any money on would be the Croatian keeper, although there’s a rumour Dinamo Zagreb have made a firm three million euro bid for him so even that might not be on the cards as I doubt Stuart Webber enters bidding wars.
The only rumour that makes sense to me is the Luca Connell from Bolton one but even there I understand that either he or his agent are demanding first team football. Oh Please!
We’ll have to see.
We don’t need many incomings, but when they do arrive I reckon they’ll ALL be off the radar of the media speculators.
Let’s be honest – had any of us heard of Emi Buendia or Onel Hernandez, to name but two?
An entertaining read.
Hi Martin
There were a few more that I could have added like the Bolton lad and Brentford defender.
I must thank Gary for adding the photos – it was a nice touch.
Webber’s rumour came to the fore after I sent this in. If it is all about money and they make an offer for him and possibly his wife then City’s set-up falls at the first major hurdle, but it will be a step backwards as he will have minimum power and Ole and Woodward will have the final say on everything that comes and goes.
Thanks for the comments
Hi Alex
I’ve given up reading reports of who City are interested in or wanting to sign. I don’t believe the club are leaking information, it’s probably agents in the main trying to generate a sale for their clients in the hope of making a nice commission for themselves. There was no hint last season about Pukki or Buendia, so I’m fully expecting one or two out of left field again.
(Derby don’t own their own ground, they sold it to their owner for an inflated price to get their revenue up in relation to FFP rules, and they lease it back from him at a low rent. Shades of our near (but getting further away) neighbours and their training ground.)
Hi Jim
Didn’t know about the Derby Ground was under the impression they owned it.
The 2 rumours mostly in the news at present is Rhodes for £7m and Sheff Wed will not accept a penny less due to a loan/purchase – Webber said he wouldn’t risk city’s future with overpriced purchases, so why would he agree with such an inflated price with the loan and promotion bonuses. It would mean a complete refund on the fee they paid.
Croatian goalie – either his agents are working overtime but why would Zagreb offer nearly twice what a Premiership club would unless he is that good – he only saved 1 penalty against them last season so we will see.
Thanks for the comments
The Derby ground situation is the reason Middlesbrough are suing them – Boro’ claim that it was a dodgy deal that breaches FFP. Watching the outcome of that with interest, but if they make it through today’s playoff, it might not matter.
Vila may have their own FFP worries if they don’t make it today.
I’d be surprised if any new signings are known players or have been previously flagged as on our radar, just not DF/SW style. Roades will sign but as back up and price won’t be anywhere near £7m.
I expect a loan or two in order to increase competition. Klosse signing was massive he should play a major role.
We have a strong young squad, no worries.
Hi Colin
I have family that live in and support Sheff Wed and they were thinking the fee agreed was £4.5m with the loan fee part of that and any other bonuses taken into account as well.
Why would city pay Wed nearly all there purchase fee they gave Middlesbrough some one lives in La La Land
Thanks, Alex – a nice distraction, both from City’s absence and from politics.
I’m told 90% of transfer rumours are completely made-up, and some of these are certainly far-fetched. I knew Assombalonga’s knees were dodgy, but still thought he had a strong scoring record – until I checked and found he was most prolific when on loan in Leagues 1 and 2. No, thanks
Like Martin, the only one I immediately think of as plausible is the Croatian keeper. I doubt we’ll get into bidding wars for familiar-name players – the one exception maybe being Kalvin Phillips, the kind of combative midfielder we could use and a pretty sure-fire investment for the future.
Our business will certainly be more enjoyable to watch than if we hadn’t gone up!
Thanks Stewart
As I said Agents, Clubs and Papers all contriving to confuse the football public, wet the appetites of the bored and feeble minded that believe all that is written.
The sooner Man U sort out there recruit team without Webber involved the sooner the better, he might get more bucks there but would he get the same freedom to make decisions.
Reading the stats on the goalie he seems a good purchase 13 clean sheets in 41 game and 44 goals conceded, has the water been muddied now there has been a so called offer from Zagreb only time will tell.
Thanks for the comments
I seem to have an alter ego on this thread!
For what it’s worth, I feel all these links are rather tenuous and are likely to be the product of an over enthusiastic agent drumming up some interest in his player. The sums quoted for some of the players listed are quite beyond our budget this summer. The best value would once again appear to be abroad.
Thank Chris
I did say that the agents, clubs and papers were behind much that I found on the subject we are suppose to be interested in.
A few have quoted price which I agree seems to be out of cities budget putting cities name against any player will possibly get the interest of clubs to have s look and someone just might take a gamble.
Here is a question that I will put out there for a few in the know to give their views on.
Webber will he go or stay, surely after getting Huddersfield geared up for promotion and leaving before it was finished he would want to complete that at city to see if his style and system works against the big boys, but possibly some one will be penning an article on that subject as I do this.
Onwards and Upwards
OTBC
If the interest is real I’d expect him to go. There’s a lot of upsides – money, not worrying about relegation to The Championship again in 12 months, it’s one of the most prestigious roles in football (despite previous seasons failures). He also seems well positioned to create a new era (similar to Ferguson) with a group of youngsters.
The main downside is – would he be allowed the time to put a plan in place and see it through? Would there be too many interfering voices?
Again, if it’s real, it all depends how the role is framed to him.
I can’t see him leaving for Man United. They have just appointed a new manager. They are not going to appoint a Sporting Director with the remit that SW has at NCFC.
He has expressed disappointment at not seeing the job done at Huddersfield, and also of the importance of the close working relationship between him and the Head Coach. To me it follows, that we shall have him for next season and when he leaves us, it will be for a substantially larger club who have sacked their manager as they are not performing to expectations, and therefore need a major overhaul. So probably Arsenal, next summer.
OTBC