Snog, Marry, Avoid: Summer 2023 Transfer Window

[officer_dibble]

Layton Orient aren’t taking up Sadlier so he will need shifting. Very quiet on Kieron Lee and Sheehan which could be the way we free up some of the wage bill.

[BWFC_Insane]

Layton Orient aren’t taking up Sadlier so he will need shifting. Very quiet on Kieron Lee and Sheehan which could be the way we free up some of the wage bill.

Says who?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

In terms of stuff I've missed, has anything been mooted regarding new contracts and/or the future of players like Sadlier?

I'm coming back in working on the assumption we have just over a dozen players we actually want under contract. Is that still the case?

Nothing's changed from the last time I updated the Contract Expiry thread.

Lapsing this summer:
Dixon
MJ
Lee
Sheehan
Isgrove
Kachunga
Bodvarsson

JUNE 2024
Gethin
Johnston
John
Dempsey
Sadlier
Jerome

JUNE 2025
Santos
Toal
Iredale
R Williams
Thomason
Morley
Charles

JUNE 2026
Adeboyejo

[GhostoftheBok]

Nothing's changed from the last time I updated the Contract Expiry thread.

So it's still a case of trying to figure out where a couple of the lads will play next season and who might get a new deal. At which point you can try to figure out what we're after.

As I said to Insane in the other thread I think the priorities will be GK, 10, RWB. Cover for the two departing loan stars and the sort out that gaping hole that is "the hole."

Other signings are about making gains, but we have decent players there if moves don't work out. GK, 10 and RWB are the ones where we'll really feel it if we get them wrong.

[The_Gun]

WIGAN
Clearly things are amiss up the road, with wages going unpaid and the chairman a hate figure. God knows how that will all end up but here's the contractual situation over there, as far as I can work out.

Permanent contracts lapsing in summer:
Ryan Nyambe (RB/CB, 25)
Jordan Cousins (CM, 29)
Max Power (CM, 29)
Will Keane (CF, 30)
Tendayi Darikwa (RB, 31)
Curtis Tilt (CB, 31)
Steven Caulker (CB, 31)
Joe Bennett (LB, 33)
Ben Amos (GK, 33)
Jamie Jones (GK, 34)
James McClean (Tw@t, 34)

The name that jumps out of there is Will Keane, who followed up last season's 26 league goals with a dozen in a relegated team; he'll get offers. So will Max Power, for whom age shall not either the comedy of his name – he's on 300 League One games and 88 Champo, which is some rate for someone who doesn't turn 30 till July.

Ryan Nyambe - Namibia-born, Manchester-raised, Blackburn-academied, surprisingly walked out on Rovers last summer - is a six-foot right-sided defender. Not something we desperately need, although 186 Champo games in the tank ain't bad for a 25-year-old, and he seems at home round here. But would we be better for him than him for us?

Wigan will lose their loanees, an eclectic supermarket sweep of names from the familiar – Martin Kelly (RB, 33), Ashley Fletcher (CF, 27) – through the forgot-about-him (Danel Sinani, winger, 26) and the token big-club loanees (Arsenal CB Omar Rekik, 21, and club mate Miguel Azeez, 20) and, er, Christ Tiehi from Slovan Liberec.

The other question is whether they will be in enough financial poop to lose longer-contracted players. They have Josh Magennis, Tom Naylor, Charlie Wyke, Jason Kerr, Tom Pearce and Scott Smith with a year's terms left, plus Jack Whatmough, Anthony Scully and Callum Lang tied down till 2025 and Thelo Aasgaard to 2026. Will they all be around? Who knows?

If Wigan do go into admin, which seems reasonably likely at this point, I guess they'll have to sell off any assets for bargain basement prices. I know Spurs only paid about £300k for Alfie Devine the last time this mob were in trouble, so I wonder whether Aasgaard might become a viable target for us? Perhaps might be contingent on us getting promoted, but a situation to keep on eye on.

[BWFC_Insane]

Nothing's changed from the last time I updated the Contract Expiry thread.

So it's still a case of trying to figure out where a couple of the lads will play next season and who might get a new deal. At which point you can try to figure out what we're after.

As I said to Insane in the other thread I think the priorities will be GK, 10, RWB. Cover for the two departing loan stars and the sort out that gaping hole that is "the hole."

Other signings are about making gains, but we have decent players there if moves don't work out. GK, 10 and RWB are the ones where we'll really feel it if we get them wrong.

I feel we should get a better number 8 who can win us the ball higher. We look a better side with two number 8's than trying to find a mythical number 10. When we play a number 10 we want them to lead the press, run hard, score goals, create goals...I think you're going to struggle.

Lee is the hard runner, clever footballer good presser. But obviously legs going aside isn't the chance creator or goalscorer needed.

I suspect that its impossible to find someone good enough at all those aspects to make a number ten work.

So as per our best performances this season play two number 8's and give them a bit more freedom to get round the pitch with a number 6 behind pulling the strings.

[GhostoftheBok]

I feel we should get a better number 8 who can win us the ball higher. We look a better side with two number 8's than trying to find a mythical number 10. When we play a number 10 we want them to lead the press, run hard, score goals, create goals...I think you're going to struggle.

Lee is the hard runner, clever footballer good presser. But obviously legs going aside isn't the chance creator or goalscorer needed.

I suspect that its impossible to find someone good enough at all those aspects to make a number ten work.

So as per our best performances this season play two number 8's and give them a bit more freedom to get round the pitch with a number 6 behind pulling the strings.

That's one I'd not want to get into the weeds over.

I would like us to get someone like Owen Moxon in the building, so I don't disagree with you all that much.

I do, however, think Evatt's been pretty clear that he wants a proper 10.

My view is that if we are going to get a 10 in and Evatt sees that player as a big deal (which is what he's said previously) then it'd better be a serious player.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Midfielder Albie Morgan heads a list of six players to be released by CHARLTON this summer. Morgan, 23, departs The Valley after making more than 150 appearances and scoring nine goals since coming through the club's academy.

Also leaving the Addicks are Macauley Bonne, Sean Clare, Alex Gilbey, Nathan Harness and Ryan Inniss.

But new contracts have been offered to Michael Hector, Aaron Henry and Terell Thomas, with discussions ongoing.

Macauley Bonne has been mentioned here before: perhaps the only man who fondly remembers Paul Cook's Ipswich - he scored 11 in 19 league games under the Scouser, but only 1 in 21 league appearances under Kieran McKenna. His Jan-to-June deal at Charlton brought 2 goals in 16 games, and his overall record is now 20 in 119 League One, 14 in 75 Champo.

Albie Morgan was literally Charlton's No.10 but tends to play as more of an 8. Just turned 23, he's played 146 games for Charlton (8 goals, 26 assists). Foreshadowing his release, Dean Holden was typically interesting about the Pompey-born lad: " I love him to bits. In terms of personality, he’s the type of guy I can relate to – he’s a winner, wears his heart on his sleeve. At times that can get the better of him but that’s just who is as a footballer. He’s been a bit stop-start - he had this feeling that every time the team got beat, or didn’t play so good, he was the first one out. Certain players and certain personalities try and have the best game they could possibly have in 60 minutes knowing he might get taken off. That can sometimes take away from the performance of the team... He’s shown in the last three performances what a good player he is. He’s a fantastic passer of the ball, can clearly score goals. Defensively he’ll have a go, get stuck in and compete."

[BWFC_Insane]

I feel we should get a better number 8 who can win us the ball higher. We look a better side with two number 8's than trying to find a mythical number 10. When we play a number 10 we want them to lead the press, run hard, score goals, create goals...I think you're going to struggle.

Lee is the hard runner, clever footballer good presser. But obviously legs going aside isn't the chance creator or goalscorer needed.

I suspect that its impossible to find someone good enough at all those aspects to make a number ten work.

So as per our best performances this season play two number 8's and give them a bit more freedom to get round the pitch with a number 6 behind pulling the strings.

That's one I'd not want to get into the weeds over.

I would like us to get someone like Owen Moxon in the building, so I don't disagree with you all that much.

I do, however, think Evatt's been pretty clear that he wants a proper 10.

My view is that if we are going to get a 10 in and Evatt sees that player as a big deal (which is what he's said previously) then it'd better be a serious player.

Evatt is adaptable and I think has more or less abandoned the 10 role - whether he feels he resurrects that or not I think is debatable - he's even taken to bringing Lee on and playing him as an 8....

[Worthy4England]

I'm less sure. I think he was hoping Shortire could fit there, but he struggled to adapt after the first few games..

[sonicthewhite]

I personally feel that despite who we do sign or don't sign that secretly FV are NOT wanting promotion. Privately they'll be wanting to stay in Lge 1 as it would appear that financially this is their ceiling, investmet wise. promotion thsi year, for them, would be a case of too soon. However, if they could attract another investor of much more significant means then of course they would be all for promotion

[BWFC_Insane]

I personally feel that despite who we do sign or don't sign that secretly FV are NOT wanting promotion. Privately they'll be wanting to stay in Lge 1 as it would appear that financially this is their ceiling, investmet wise. promotion thsi year, for them, would be a case of too soon. However, if they could attract another investor of much more significant means then of course they would be all for promotion

They've said beforehand they believe they can take us in to the championship and stabilise us there but after that it would likely need new investment.

So I think you've misread it. FV need us to go up be it this season or next as that's part of their business plan.

They have already received (rumoured to at least) some outside investment and have the club bond ongoing.

The key point is that unless you can get into the championship its unlikely you will receive significant football investment because people who want to do that - do it with the promise of the premiership.

If you are FV you are not wanting to sit and write a 3M cheque season after season to maintain a league one club. That's completely backwards.

[Worthy4England]

I personally feel that despite who we do sign or don't sign that secretly FV are NOT wanting promotion. Privately they'll be wanting to stay in Lge 1 as it would appear that financially this is their ceiling, investmet wise. promotion thsi year, for them, would be a case of too soon. However, if they could attract another investor of much more significant means then of course they would be all for promotion

Not unreasonable. The "bond issue" says we want to stabilize in the Championship. If I was being picky, I'd point to the fact that the "10% Championship bonus" would apply to the 2024/25 season. That would give us this year or next to go up, but also covers the opportunity to go up this and come down next, without having to cough up on it.

[GhostoftheBok]

I'm less sure. I think he was hoping Shortire could fit there, but he struggled to adapt after the first few games..

This is where I am.

Everything Evatt said regarding why we needed that kind of player is still true.

[Prufrock]

I feel we should get a better number 8 who can win us the ball higher. We look a better side with two number 8's than trying to find a mythical number 10. When we play a number 10 we want them to lead the press, run hard, score goals, create goals...I think you're going to struggle.

Lee is the hard runner, clever footballer good presser. But obviously legs going aside isn't the chance creator or goalscorer needed.

I suspect that its impossible to find someone good enough at all those aspects to make a number ten work.

So as per our best performances this season play two number 8's and give them a bit more freedom to get round the pitch with a number 6 behind pulling the strings.

That's one I'd not want to get into the weeds over.

I would like us to get someone like Owen Moxon in the building, so I don't disagree with you all that much.

I do, however, think Evatt's been pretty clear that he wants a proper 10.

My view is that if we are going to get a 10 in and Evatt sees that player as a big deal (which is what he's said previously) then it'd better be a serious player.

Was impressed with Carlisle last night, even though they lost. Moxon would be a good signing, and a hell of a set piece. Was impressed with Jack Armer at LB as well. Only one game but superb delivery. Only 22, local lad.

Depends a lot on what happens with John and Johnstone (and what the plans are for Iredale). But I think Iredale is a centre back rather than a wing back, and I'd be trying to find a home for Declan if possible.

[GhostoftheBok]

Was impressed with Carlisle last night, even though they lost. Moxon would be a good signing, and a hell of a set piece. Was impressed with Jack Armer at LB as well. Only one game but superb delivery. Only 22, local lad.

Depends a lot on what happens with John and Johnstone (and what the plans are for Iredale). But I think Iredale is a centre back rather than a wing back, and I'd be trying to find a home for Declan if possible.

Armer just signed a new deal, if I recall correctly. 3 years signed in March, I think.

[Prufrock]

Ah balls. I'd still personally like to move Dec on and get another LWB.

[Mar]

Ah balls. I'd still personally like to move Dec on and get another LWB.

Careful what you wish for. We might end up with worse. Beck, Moxey, etc.

[GhostoftheBok]

Ah balls. I'd still personally like to move Dec on and get another LWB.

I'd like to see us shake things up everywhere.

That'd men Dec moving on. We have enough of a platform in Williams and Iredale to take the risk in the market.

[The_Gun]

I'd be quite surprised if John is still with us at the start of next season. Evatt clearly doesn't intend for him to be a regular starter, and you think the player would keen to be first choice somewhere at this stage of his career. The main barrier to him leaving could be the wages he's on.