(I’ll open with an apology to Mike Allison who also did a similar (and very good) article a few days ago. I wrote this article a few weeks ago but wanted to wait till we were safe before publishing.)
So it looks as though we will be a Premier League outfit next season despite everything.
Summer 2024 will see a major overhaul in the squad. Obviously, that is a huge blow, especially Branthwaite. Though it would be good to keep him, it’s almost certain that the finances won’t let us.
There’s a good chance we’ll lose quite a few more too. Contenders include:
- Fringe players for very low sums (Keane, Godfrey, Maupay, Holgate and Patterson)
- Fringe players ending contracts (Gomes, Alli)
- Older players on ending contracts (Gueye, Coleman, Young)
- Young players on ending contracts (Kouyate, Warrington, Dixon and John)
- Players entering the final year of their contract (DCL, Virginia, Godfrey, Keane, Doucoure, Onyanyo and Dobbin)
- Loan players who we won’t re-sign (Danjuma and Harrison)
- Beto (to avoid further payment obligations?)
After settling some bills, there won’t be a big transfer kitty even if we generate a lot of money from sales. In fact we may only be able to spend 50% of what we bring in. Maybe less than that. The meagre kitty will be spread across a lot of players, too. Maybe as many as 10. Maybe more. So I doubt we’ll see any signings for more than around £20m, with most being between around £5m and £12m – and others comprising loans and frees.
And those who are hoping to see us give a chance to youth, I would point out that we have no-one in the England youth set up at any level – other than 16-year-old goalkeeper Douglas Lukjanciks. Whilst it is romantic to believe someone will step up if given the chance, there’s no obvious talent to promote just yet (and most would benefit more from a Championship level loan). To remedy this, we’re already starting to recruit young teenagers like Boakye, Akarakiri and Graham – with lots more heavily linked. But none of those will be first team ready next season.
On that basis, I thought I’d look at what a realistic post re-set squad might look like based on rumours, financial constraints and the sorts of signings Thelwell makes. There’s no McTominay or Gallagher or other regularly mentioned favourites (who we are just never going to sign in reality). But despite the departures there is a bit more pace, a bit more depth and maybe more goals. It still going to be a hard season ahead though so hopefully Thelwell and Dyche can do better than I have…
THE FIRST XI
We’ll miss Branthwaite and (despite his critics) Onana but this side probably at least has more pace going forward than our current First XI.
Goalkeeper: Pickford
Right back: Rensch (complete speculation but fits the bill due to likely price / availability) – but Norton-Cuffey would be a really good option.
- Rumours: Dest of Barcelona, very unlikely to join in my opinion. Just lazy journalism because Barca are linked with Onana. Van den Berg (Middlesborough) although he’s really a CB not a RB, especially at Premier League level.
- Free: Walters (Arsenal academy), Tete (Fulham).
- Loan: Norton-Cuffey (Millwall on loan from Arsenal).
- Final year of contract: Rensch (Ajax) and Comenencia (the Dutch full-back in Juve’s academy)
- Low cost: Assignon (currently on loan at Burnley from Rennes), Gendrey (Lecce)
Left Back: Mykolenko
Right Centre Back: Tarkowski
Left Centre Back: Greaves (almost nailed on to replace Branthwaite given he’s another tall left footer and strongly linked – I think he’ll do well under Dyche and alongside Tarkowski).
- Rumours: Greaves (Hull) DeWinter (below) and Lenglet (Barcelona), Anselmino (Boca Juniors)
- Free: Adarabioyo (Fulham), Kelly (Bournemouth) – but both seem to be headed to richer clubs.
- Loan: DeWinter (young Belgian currently on loan at Genoa from Juve); Doyle (Man City)
- Low cost: O’Brien (Lyon), Esteve (Burnley on loan from Montpellier), Toure (Lorient) and Sangante (Le Havre).
Holding midfield: Ugochukwu (since he is almost exactly the same size and shape as Onana and should be available on loan) – but Keita, Chotard and Barranachea are probably better footballers.
- Rumours: Gueye of Marseille, but purely because he’s free – not because he’s any good.
- Free: Gueye (Marseille)
- Loan: Barrenechea (young Argentine currently on loan at Frosinone from Juve) Ugochukwu (Chelsea)
- Low Cost: Renato Veiga (Basel), Maloney (Heidenheim), Sheaf (Coventry), Onyedika (Brugge) Menino (Palmeiras), Chotard (Montpellier), Keita (Antwerp) and Charles (Saints).
Central midfield: Garner (despite lazy rumours to Fermin Lopez of Barca).
Right wing / midfield: Nelson (loan) – Whittaker would be really interesting given goal output but I think he’s headed to Italy with Atalanta or Lazio.
- Rumours: Asprilla (Watford) Weah (Juve) Sarr (Marseille) Iling Junior (Juve)
- Loan: Nelson (Arsenal) Chukwueze (AC Milan)
- Low Cost: Whittaker (Plymouth)
Left wing / midfield: McNeil (although he might be shifted into the number 10 role to accommodate faster players on the flanks, some of whom are listed below).
Attacking midfield / No 10: Hamilton (complete speculation but fits the bill and will only cost a development fee) – but all of the loan options noted would be good along with Rowe of Norwich.
- Rumours: Fati of Barcelona (lazy journalism).
- Free: Hamilton of Man City academy. This kid should be one of our top transfer targets of the summer in my view.
- Loan: McAtee (Sheff Utd on loan from City), Patino (Swansea on loan from Arsenal), Rowe-Smith (Arsenal) Tillman (PSV on loan from Bayern) Ndiaye (Marseille)
- Low Cost: Doumbia (Brest) Baturina (Dinamo Zagreb) Spertsyan (Krasnodar)
- Final year of contract: Rowe (Norwich)
Striker: DCL (I think we’ll offer him a new contract – although wouldn’t surprise me if we are offered a decent fee and sell). Fofana is a very strong option for development if DCL does leave.
- Rumours: Beier (Hoffenheim)
- Free: Adams (Saints) Iheanacho (Leicester) McBurnie (Sheff Utd)
- Loan: Broja (Fulham on loan from Chelsea), Fofana (Burnley on loan from Chelsea)
- Low Cost: Saldanha (Partizan Belgrade), Durosinmi (Viktoria Plzen) Kennedy (Fluminense) Biereth (Sturm Graz on loan from Arsenal) Brereton-Diaz (Sheff Utd on loan from Villareal)
THE SECOND XI
I haven’t gone into this in any massive detail because there are literally hundreds of players who could be recruited for the second string. Just some of the more obvious players who fit the profile.
Goalkeeper: Virginia / Tyrer
Right Back: Bogle (I think it’s time up for Patterson) / ColemanRumours: NoneFree: Bogle of Sheffield United
Left Back: Burrows Rumours: Archie Brown (Gent). Free: Taylor (Burnley), Burrows (Peterborough)
Right Centre Back: Keane (sorry to break hearts but possibly one more season before he goes) / Welch
Left Centre Back: Wood (complete speculation but fits the bill as a free transfer with lots of scope to improve) – though a player like 18-year-old Alleyne from City could become our new Stones or Branthwaite and looks a tremendous player. That’s the reason for the interest in 18 year old Anselmino – although he will go elsewhere. Vitik and Koulierakis look very good also.
- Rumours: Anselmino (Boca Juniors)
- Free: Wood (Swansea) Osho (Luton) Alleyne (Man City)
- Low fee: Kouliarakis (Salonika) and Vitik (Sparta Prague).
Holding Midfield: Gueye (possibly re-signed) / Metcalfe
- Rumours: None
- Free: Lundstram (Rangers), Susoho (Man City academy)
Centre Midfield: Brownhill (Brownhill likely as free and known to Dyche – decent player too).
- Rumours: Brownhill (Burnley) because he’s free – Moder (Brighton) and Onyeka (Brentford).
- Free: Brownhill (Burnley), Hughes (Palace), DaSilva (Brentford), Barkley (Luton), Wright (Man City academy).
Attacking Midfield: Doucoure
Right Wing: Asprilla / Mills (we may get a complete wild card like Sosa but suspect they will try to get Asprilla given he has acclimatised well already to English football – and Mills may get a chance too).
- Rumours: Sosa: 24-year-old Paraguayan winger with impressive in the Argentine league for Talleres.
- Free: Skov (Hoffenheim) Ounas (Lille).
- Small fee: Shoretire (Man Utd academy).
Left Wing: Dobbin / Ebere
- Rumours: O’Hare (Coventry).
- Free: O’Hare (Coventry).
- Final year of contract: Sessegnon (Spurs).
Striker: McBurnie / Chermiti
It wouldn’t surprise me if Beto goes abroad to avoid us having to pay out on this; and McBurnie comes in on a free transfer to provide some experienced muscle while Chermiti continues to develop.