Snog, Marry, Avoid: Summer 2023 Transfer Window

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Yeah I was just referencing the meme. Good player but hard to see him coming here, IMO.

[GhostoftheBok]

Yeah I was just referencing the meme. Good player but hard to see him coming here, IMO.

I got the reference and yeah, it'd be a tough "get" as they say. He's on very good money for a defender and you'd think his profile would mean we'd have competition from some with deeper pockets.

At his age he's not looking for a club who will develop him, he will go where he's paid most - with maybe some wiggle room for playing time etc.

Him, Kane Wilson, Brad Dack, Kieran Dowell and others are in that band of players where is we go up people will start suggesting them, but who we might struggle to attract even then.

[Worthy4England]

He’s 27 until he’s 28. Which is next month.

Ideal age, to be honest. Knows his way around, in his prime physically and would be likely to stick around at whatever club he joins next.

He's the sort who can play on the right or cover for Santos when he's out.

He's been on my list for a bit, but I saw aspects of his game tonight that I've not really seen since he was at Wolves and that's bumped him up a few places.

It's entirely possible he stays put, I don't know what his situation is; but if his injury niggles aren't of concern then we'd not do a lot better.

I've heard sod all linking him to us, mind, so I'm just thinking out loud.

I was going to say I didn't recall him as stand-out in the two League games, but he didn't play at their gaff, and I'm struggling to recall if he was any good in August?

[GhostoftheBok]

I was going to say I didn't recall him as stand-out in the two League games, but he didn't play at their gaff, and I'm struggling to recall if he was any good in August?

I'm struggling to recall my own name at the minute. All thoughts firmly on Barnsley...not something I've ever said before.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Reading announce their exits. My (earlier) take on some possibilities repasted below.

Experienced forwards Lucas Joao and Shane Long are among six players being released by relegated Reading. Defenders Scott Dann and Liam Moore, goalkeeper Luke Southwood and midfielder Dejan Tetek will also leave the Royals when their contracts end.

Winger Junior Hoilett and forward Yakou Meite are to be offered new deals to remain at the club beyond this summer. Left-back Nesta Guinness-Walker has had the option to add a further year to his contract triggered, while Senegal Under-21 international Amadou Mbengue has been offered a two-year contract.

So that's Guinness-Walker and Mbengue, mentioned below, out of any consideration (if they were ever under any).
.

Time for another nosey at a relegated Champo club....

READING

In 2021, Reading finished 7th in the Championship. If finishing a place below that dotted line hurt, finishing below the drop-zone dots could be a serious problem for a club whose fans must now be worried about the possible nominative determinism of owner Dai Yongge.

In November 2021 they were docked 6pts and placed under embargo for breaching what's known in that division as "profit and sustainability rules"; they stayed up in 21st position by four points, and seven clear of Derby, who'd been docked 21pts.

In April 2023 they were docked 6pts and placed under embargo for breaching what's known in that division as "profit and sustainability rules"; this time they succumbed to gravity, dropping into the third tier for the first time in two decades. They also went 12 matches without a win and won just three away games all season.

They also have 16 players out of contract in summer – six loanees and 10 'permanents'. We might reasonably expect further departures among those with longer contracts – such as Andy Carroll.

The 10 permies are mostly an ageing bunch. You'd be surprised if we were to pick up Scott Dann (36), Shane Long (36), Junior Hoilett (33 in summer), or Liam Moore (30 and out with a ligament injury).

Striker LUCAS JOAO also turns 30 in September, but you could make the case for signing a 6'4" striker who scored 19 in that relatively recent 7th-placed season (then 10 in 24 last season, if only 7 in 33 this). Paul Ince has got him to work harder, which would be a key concern. But others might be interested - he was even linked with Everton in January.

Another forward option might be YAKOU MEITE. Now 27, the 6'1" Ivorian forward has scored 42 in 156 Champo games for the Royals, from various positions in the front three. Most recently, twas his late late goal that relegated Wigan, so he's already a hero to me.

Goalkeeper LUKE SOUTHWOOD (age 25) has been on loan at Cheltenham this season and kept 16 clean sheets in 45 games. He's got a Northern Ireland cap, but just the one, in March 2022, so I dunno how well he knows our Norn Iron lads.

NESTA GUINNESS-WALKER is interesting. The 23-year-old only signed for Reading last year, on a free from AFC Wimbledon (82 League Ione games across three seasons), after impressing on trial. He's fought with Chelsea loanee Baba Rahman for the left wingback slot, and impressed Reading fanzine The Tilehurst End ("great lung-busting overlaps... stretching the defence," "has shown his attacking quality and given Reading an outlet to get the ball to deliver crosses"). Whether the Twickenham lad would fancy the move north is up for debate, but he fought his way up through non-league with Met Police – something Evatt would approve of.

AMADOU MBENGUE is also intriguing. The Senegalese centre-back, now 21, was initially only given a contract to January but this was extended to summer. He quickly proved his versatility; The Tilehurst End notes he rapidly "played on the right-hand side of a defensive three, right wing-back, left-hand side of another defensive three and then as a right-sided centre back in a four, and in none of those games did he look out of place... his best position could ultimately be as a defensive midfielder. He’s got the mobility, pace and power." But would he get a work permit? Genuine dunno.

Also on a free is young midfielder Dejan Tetek, an Oxford-born Serbian international central midfielder, who's 21 in autumn but had an injury-wrecked season.

As for the loanees - I assume we won't be throwing money at Chelsea's Baba Rahman, Newcastle's Jeff Hendrick or Porto's Mamadou Loum, none of whom are out of contract. Reading returned to Chelsea in January to borrow 20yo Italian central midfielder Cesare Casadei, who's got five years left on his contract.

Conversely, Forest would be happy to sell fellow loanee midfielder TYRESE FORNAH to the Royals, who may now not fancy the £1m fee. Fornah, 23, is an athletic 6'1" defensive midfielder who can tackle, deal with a press and find a pass out of defence. He has a year on his Forest contract and may attract Champo interest if Reading baulk at the fee (or he doesn't fancy dropping down with them – although he said in spring he'd love to stay).

The final loanee is also a possibility... if a mixed bag. JOE LUMLEY – sadly his middle name's Patrick, not Anna – is a 28yo, 6'3" keeper who came through Spurs' ranks, spent 8 years at QPR (mostly on loan) and then moved to Boro two years ago. Asked to player sweeper-keeper (yay!), a high-profile error (oh...) saw him booed by his own fans. Packed off to Berkshire, he won credit for his personality (Tilehurst End: "boisterous... magnetic... everyone on the pitch is going to hear him") and his distribution ("brilliant at times, especially when playing the ball long"). However, his shot-stopping percentage is below average for the division. He's out of contact in summer, and although Boro have a year's option, they're thought unlikely to take it up.

[GhostoftheBok]

Luke Southwood would (no relation to Edward Woodward) be a very Evatt sort of keeper signing.

Somewhat unheralded, unfulfilled potential, cheap...

[Worthy4England]

Luke Southwood would (no relation to Edward Woodward) be a very Evatt sort of keeper signing.

Somewhat unheralded, unfulfilled potential, cheap...

What do you call a man with a lump of wood on his head?

[BWFC_Insane]

Not out of contract but Taylor for Peterborough impressed me. Looked him up 10 goals this season from midfield.

Would have him - if we could afford it.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Not out of contract but Taylor for Peterborough impressed me. Looked him up 10 goals this season from midfield.

Would have him - if we could afford it.

Interesting to see what Posh do now. They would have hoped to bounce straight back and although that's now mashed, after their season's second half they will presumably trust Fergie (again) to rebuild a bit. They don't mess around with contracts - anyone entering their final year is transfer-listed by default, giving them the option to make a bit of money. Haven't got time to deep-dive into them today but I'll await their retyained/released (/listed) announcements.

Oh OK then a v quick look
Per Transfermarkt they've only got Nathan Thompson and Joe Ward (10 league assists) lapsing - but 2024 lapsers include Jonson Clarke-Harris, Oliver Norburn, Dan Butler, Frankie Kent, Ben Thompson, Jeando Fuchs, Josh Knight, Jack Taylor and Harrison Burrows. Posh now face a big decision - do they extend their contracts or list them?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Luke Southwood would (no relation to Edward Woodward) be a very Evatt sort of keeper signing.

Somewhat unheralded, unfulfilled potential, cheap...

What do you call a man with a lump of wood on his head?

Cliff? Doug? Douglas? Russell? Hang on, it'll come back to me....

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Club captain Richard Wood and Wes Harding are among four players released by Championship side ROTHERHAM. Wood, 37, ends a nine-year stay at New York Stadium, in which he made 256 appearances. Harding, 26, has been a regular for the Millers since joining in 2020 but will become a free agent. Goalkeeper Robbie Hemfrey, 21, and 19-year-old midfielder Mackenzie Warne are also leaving.

The club has also announced that it will discuss new terms with five other players whose current contracts expire next month, including last season's nine-goal top scorer Chiedozie Ogbene. Defenders Tyler Blackett, Sean Morrison and Lee Peltier, and goalkeeper Josh Vickers are also expected to hold talks about new deals.

The club has exercised options to extend the contracts of midfielder Ben Wiles and defender Shane Ferguson until 2024.

Loan players Conor Coventry, Tariqe Fosu, Domingos Quina, Leo Hjelde, Bailey Wright and Grant Hall will all return to their parent clubs.

[BWFC_Insane]

Not out of contract but Taylor for Peterborough impressed me. Looked him up 10 goals this season from midfield.

Would have him - if we could afford it.

Interesting to see what Posh do now. They would have hoped to bounce straight back and although that's now mashed, after their season's second half they will presumably trust Fergie (again) to rebuild a bit. They don't mess around with contracts - anyone entering their final year is transfer-listed by default, giving them the option to make a bit of money. Haven't got time to deep-dive into them today but I'll await their retyained/released (/listed) announcements.

Oh OK then a v quick look
Per Transfermarkt they've only got Nathan Thompson and Joe Ward (10 league assists) lapsing - but 2024 lapsers include Jonson Clarke-Harris, Oliver Norburn, Dan Butler, Frankie Kent, Ben Thompson, Jeando Fuchs, Josh Knight, Jack Taylor and Harrison Burrows. Posh now face a big decision - do they extend their contracts or list them?

Indeed. Taylor caught my eye.

If FV find some way to really go for it then Taylor and JCH would I think mean we're right in the mix for top two. Could see JCH and Charles being an absolute nightmare for teams.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

JCH is supposed to be their new* Ivan Toney** (who they sold for £5m rising to £10m) so I doubt they'll be selling him cheap – 57 in 82 League One games for them and hit double figures in the Champo, too – or to a rival. If, however, we went up...


*Although he's actually older
**Their big bet, if you like

[GhostoftheBok]

Of Posh's lads vs our needs the stand out has always been Joe Ward.

Always been criminally underrated in English football because he's not big enough for a fullback and not skilful enough for a winger, but as a RWB he's everything you want. He has pace, he's tenacious, he can beat a man, delivers well, can score goals and he's a horrible little shit when it's needed.

The issue with JCH is cost. He'd be 7 figures plus hefty wages.

Jack Taylor is in that same boat. He cost Posh half a million plus add-ons and there's a sell-on clause for good measure, so I'd assume he's well out of our budget.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Of Posh's lads vs our needs the stand out has always been Joe Ward.

Always been criminally underrated in English football because he's not big enough for a fullback and not skilful enough for a winger, but as a RWB he's everything you want. He has pace, he's tenacious, he can beat a man, delivers well, can score goals and he's a horrible little shit when it's needed.

Ward has been linked with Birmingham and Hull. So we can either reflect negatively that they're Champo clubs, or positively that they're not really very good ones.

FWIW geography may be against us - he's an Essex lad - but it could be one to check out.

[Harry Genshaw]

The lad that came on for Peterborough last night in ET and scored a penalty. Commentator said he'd been brought in from Chesterfield. Is he the striker that a few clubs were linked with, including us, when he was banging in umpteen goals in non league? Another in their long line of effective centre forwards that they'll sell on for a healthy profit?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

The lad that came on for Peterborough last night in ET and scored a penalty. Commentator said he'd been brought in from Chesterfield. Is he the striker that a few clubs were linked with, including us, when he was banging in umpteen goals in non league? Another in their long line of effective centre forwards that they'll sell on for a healthy profit?

Kabongo Tshimanga, late of BWFC (Boreham Wood), aye. On a loan to permanent.

[GhostoftheBok]

On Ward, yeah, anyone we want for the first team will/should have some Championship interest. That's just how it is now. I've no idea if we'd have even half a chance.

On Tshimanga, we had him in for talks - but he wanted more than we were offering. Then he broke his leg and hasn't been the same player since.

[GhostoftheBok]

I see Agyei and Uwakwe at Crewe have been offered new terms.

If we're in League One next season they'd both be very good, economical additions.

Evatt would work wonders with both.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I missed NORWICH, who went early - before the last game, indeed. Beardy inbetweener Teemu Pukki had already announced he'd fly the nest in summer, and the Canaries added Sam Byram, Kieran Dowell (expected to join Rangers), goalie Michael McGovern plus current loanees Josh Martin (at Barnsley) and Danel Sinani (at Wigan).

PRESTON cleared their throat yesterday. They're clearing the desks of Aaron Bennett, Dana Amaral, Harry Nevin, Lewis Coulton and Matthew Olosunde - the latter being a pacey Yankee rightwingback (be still, Insano's beating heart) I've mentioned before every six months. They're offering terms to Greg Cunningham, Josh Onomah, Robbie Brady and Daniel Johnson, and they're waving off incoming loanees Álvaro Fernández, Troy Parrott, Liam 'Next Big Thing' Delap and Tom Cannon (tell him he's fired, etc).