January And Summer Improvements

Afternoon all.

It was a good week for us, lets hope we can build on this as we need to start winning matches consistently. Fingers crossed we can put on a good winning run from now until January, while others drop points. Interesting winter fixtures coming up.

It is clear for all to see that we desperately need reinforcements. I really don't like January windows but we seemed to have messed up in our last one.

I understand Van Dijk is the CB that we will likely go in for, should we go into the market for a CB. This one signing should improve our back line and make us a lot stronger. Add in Clyne to return back from injury and Moreno looking solid, our defence should look decent with this signing. I'd expect improvements. Questions marks still arise with Mignolet. I don't think he's good enough to be number 1 and he should definitely be part of our summer exodus. For now, we will have to stick with him.

Realistically, I think this would be the only signing for January. I expect 55-60m bid being accepted for him. I can see him pushing again for the move. Hopefully this move will help us make top 4.

Moving on to the summer, with Keita incoming. I would expect atleast 3-4 more signings.

The positions that would need strengthening are clear imo; GK, CB, CM, ST.

The players I believe we should go for.

GK - Sergio Rico
My dream signing would be Jan Oblak, but can't see that happening, although you never know. Another mention would be Bernd Leno. But I quite like Sergio Rico and he reminds me a bit of Lloris but Rico looks like he has better distribution and can become one of the top keepers in the world. He is still only 24. I think this signing would cost 15-25 million.

CB - Stefan De Vrij
He might be injury prone of late, but he seems a very good defender. I think he would form a good partnership with VVD. It would be great to have them both. My dream signing would be Jose Maria Gimenez. He is an absolute animal who loves to defend, and was superb against us in pre-season. Both these defenders I've mentioned have their contracts run out in the summer. I think we can go for either but it would most likely be De Vrij.


CM - Jorginho
With Can looking likely to leave the club, Keita would be his replacement. But we also need someone else in the middle of the park who is adept at both creating and defending. I would love us to sign Kovacic he'd be immense. I would also say Goretzka but can see him joining Barca on a free, yet another play who is available for free in the summer.


ST - Belotti/Werner

I would absolutely love it if we can sign Belotti. He is absolutely immense. Potential to be world class. Goalscoring machine who can play that lone striker role. I would change our formation to 4-2-3-1 and let him lead the line imo. Werner is also another player who is brilliant and can play on the wing too. But for me, Belotti is the man we should go for if we were to choose one. Even if we have to pay 60-70m. I think he is worth it. For someone like him to play for a midtable side in Italy and have a goalscoring record like he has. Quite phenomenal.

I would also like to add, Martin Kelly is available in the summer too. I would like us to sign him for free. He's a local lad, loves the club and is versatile.

Our starting XI


......................Rico..........................
....Clyne, De Vrij, Van Dijk, Moreno
..............Jorginho Keita................
............Salah Firmino Mane...........
.....................Belotti...........................

Subs: Karius, Gomez, Matip, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Lallana, Werner.
Reserve: Ward, Trent-Arnold, Kelly, Klavan, Milner, Grujic, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Woodburn, Solanke.

Both windows

In - Sergio Rico, De Vrij,Van Dijk, Kelly, Keita, Jorginho, Werner, Belotti.

Out - Mignolet, Lovren?, Can, Coutinho, Sturridge?, Flanagan, Origi, Markovic

What do you guys think?