Elvedi speculation played down

Some links tonight with Nico Elvedi.

Interesting centre-back. Much more of a ball playing centre-back than Tarkowski or Keane but a decent defender too. 6ft-2in and almost 27.

£8M fee apparently which would be decent value for an experienced international centre-back. He's only 1 year left on his contract

Elvedi would be an upgrade on Godfrey, Holgate and Keane, seems to be gathering traction on SM so maybe a goer.

At the moment, we only have Keane and Godfrey to come in for Tarkowski and/or Branthwaite so I think we should get another centre-back in, but please is there not a goal scoring creative midfielder out there we could get in? I would definitely swap Onana for McTominay and cash.

Not sure about this one. The bar's pretty high to get into our back line.

Sod getting another centrehalf in and concentrate on a playmaker. Get Florian Wirtz.

Phil, there is precisely 0% chance we could attract a player with even half of Wirtz's talent.

Not that it matters to us, but Wirtz will be one of the stars over the next decade plus. He'll be at Bayern, Barca, Real Madrid or Manchester City next year and will be a mainstay for a decade to come.

Anything that moves Keane further away from the first team…

Excellent player, but he will be moving to a side that will ensure starting position. If we progressed this it would interesting to see if thus lead to change in shape to 3-5-2. I actually think with current squad of players and chance to have two forwards playing off each other would not be a bad idea.

Gk. Pickford
RCB. Elvedi / Godfrey
Cb. Tawkowski / Keane
LCB. Branthwaite / Mykoleno
RWB. Garner / Patterson / Coleman
LWB. McNeil / Young / Mykolenko
CM. Onana / Gueye
CM. Iwobi / Garner / Gomes
CM. Doucoure / Harrison
CF. Beto / Chermitti / Maupay
CF. Calvert-Lewin / Danjuma / Dobbin

We have more chance of getting Elvis than this guy.

Everyone thinking this is a Keane replacement, but I'm thinking “what does Godfrey bring?” Tbh. Apart from a little versatility, but after he got ripped apart at United and games following I'm not sure he offers that even.

He's not dominant in the air and offers no goal threat (something we'd lose if we get rid of Keane - albeit Jarrod might replace). He doesn't look comfortable on the ball (an attribute apparently of Nico here). Not sure he brings anything at all now…..pace seems to have gone post injuries, thumping tackling we saw early days gone too?

I'd like to see him tomorrow night alongside Branthwaite just to get a feel for if they can partner, but if there's any clubs willing to take him for £10-£12m in next few days, this Nico signing would make a lot of sense.

Outside of that (assuming Beto done), my remaining hopes:

- Gray, Maupay, Gomes, Gbamin out (Onana if United daft enough to offer £50-60m)

- Left footer / left-sided DCM

- Left-footed lef-back who offers Digne esque crossing, set pieces and an overlap.

Too much to ask? 🤣

Why's that, Colin? For all intents and purposes, he wants out of his current team and is close to Wolves. Sure they beat us, but they aren't much better at all… questionable if any.

Just that apart from Luton, and maybe Sheffield, we are the least attractive suitor in the prem right now, Gary. But it was more a play on his name (Elvedi - Elvis) than anything else.

For me, the most interesting words above are ‘…can also operate at right back'. We desperately need strengthening in that position.

Patterson is still learning amid doubts about his ability ever to reach the standard required. Seamus is on his final lap. Godfrey is unsuited to the role. Garner is needed in midfield.

Garner is not needed in midfield. We're currently picking Garner, Gueye, Onana and Doucoure in the same lineup. Only two of these should be in the same midfield at once.

Garner is currently being used in an unsuitable position.

Come on, Thelwell! Sort this mess out.

Next priority should be an attacking midfielder who can score goals. Get Isi Palazón in. Or at least try, goddammit!

Enough Soren, you are three steps behind Kev all the way to the close. He is making optimal choices in a competitive and constrained situation. There is no mess on his desk.

Okay, Mike, Garner is needed in central midfield. Apologies for sloppy wording on my part.

Never heard of him? Any road, isn't Harrison a creative player who plays in central midfield?

I would still go for Cantwell (wasted at Rangers) and would keep an eye on Tierney (better bet than Mykolenko) as well during his loan spell in Spain, both decent players who would enhance us.

How about Harrison and Danjuma playing wide of Beto with Garner and Onana in the deep midfield roles and Dobbin playing the role Barkley played under Martinez?

Sounds good to me Andrew,but would Dyche play it that way?

Sadly doubtful.

Pace!? We need better than what we already have and additionally we need pace at the back.

First teamers only, improving the squad is a challenge for youth players.