New Right Winger signing klaxon!
We are set to complete the initial loan signing of Yunus Akgun from Galatasaray. Confirmed by Romano and several Turkish media outlets.
There is an obligation to buy for 10 million Euros if he plays 25 games or more AND we earn promotion - this is reduced by 1 million if we don't go up. A good opportunity to see what he is about before we commit to purchase - a rare W from Rudkin?
Let's be honest, only the football hipsters know if this guy is good or not. His stats, like Mavididi's, are not the best, but, also like Mavididi, he seems to have plenty of potential and could shine under the right coach. Apparently, he has come highly recommended by a former coach who worked with Maresca, so it looks like another example of Maresca getting the type of player he wants and needs. Let's hope he is better than the RW's we have had since Mahrez left....
In other news, looks like Castagne is heading to Fulham on a permanent deal and, perhaps more surprisingly, Kristiansen is going to Bologna on loan.
Yunus Akgun
posted on 25/8/23
He’s had a mixed reaction from the Galatasary fans. They basically said that he has a lot of quality on the ball but his end product is lacking and composure in particular is an issue. He hasn’t been able to get a decent run in the Galatasary side however because the way they play means they need wingers who are going to track back - which this guy doesn’t (as Barnes didn’t)
I would rather have gone for a loan option with an option to buy but we are fishing in very shallow waters at the moment due to the clubs pisss poor management last season - so Galatasary held most of the cards here.
As with Mavididi - it’s a signing that wouldn’t have happened had we not been relegated BUT it could come good. Whether he’s a Mahrez or Rachid Ghezzal is anyone’s guess - somewhere in between would be fine with me
posted on 25/8/23
Great news Castagne is going - one of the biggest frauds I’ve seen play at the club. Even Trent Alexander Arnold can defend better than him - absolutely culpable alongside Amartey for some of the worst defending I’ve ever seen.
Kristiansen was a pretty poor signing - not what we needed when bang in trouble in Jan but it’s unlikely we’ll be able to sell anytime soon
posted on 25/8/23
when Castange signed for us he said Leicester is a great club to sign for if you want to play for a champions leauge club later on. Fulham really.
posted on 25/8/23
Yeah - problem with some of the players that are leaving is they evidently thought they were far better than they actually are. Apart from Maddison - who looks class for Spurs, the rest of them will be bit part players for mid table PL clubs. Castagne is one of those - could run up and down the pitch all day but couldn’t defend a ball if his life depended on it.
posted on 25/8/23
Daka set to join Bournemouth for £25m. Good signing for them. If they use him properly (which we never bothered to do) then he will score goals - good finisher and was a real prospect before Rodgers absolutely ruined him. Deserves a chance at a decent club
posted on 26/8/23
Excellent news all round. Getting rid of more deadwood and bringing in some desperately needed strengthening. Still more to do in the rapidly closing window of opportunity. Some progress being made but far too slowly by our (mostly) useless DoF. Why have we still got Ian (presumably on stellar wages) instead of Piroe for example? Fortunately this has somehow not made an impact (yet) on our start to the season.
I liked Kristiansen so am sad to see him go. Also liked Daka but if you're not going to use a player properly then he's better off somewhere else; it doesn't seem that he fits in well with Maresca's philosophy.
Castagne's attitude embodies one of the reasons why we are now playing at this level instead of where we should be, I'm not going to be shedding any tears at his departure for sure. One of the most pleasing aspects to this season has seen him being confined to the subs bench.
posted on 26/8/23
There also seem to be some rumors about Man City being interested in KDH.
Is there the slightest shred of truth in this, it almost had me checking to see if April 1st had come round? KDH looks like a decent player at Championship level, although not brilliant for the Enzo style. In no way can he be considered suitable for a Pep team.
posted on 26/8/23
Not sure about another wide forward without too much end product. We seem to have a lot of that! I’d quite like one with end product!
But it’s another signing in a position we need so hopefully it comes good.
The outgoings are fine. Daka is a good player if he can find his confidence in a team that plays to his strengths. Castagne is decent but his form was horrific last season. Kristiansen is a strange one - I would have thought he could have worked in Maresca’s system, but overlapping full backs aren’t getting a look in so if he’s simply not going to play we need to ship them out. Maresca said in his presser that we have too many players and he doesn’t want negative influences around the squad and we need to offload players. This sounds like the strong leadership that is absolutely needed so we have to trust in the process atm and hopefully it comes good.
The clubs that these players are going to reveals it all though doesn’t it. Basically poor premier league teams with ambitions to stay in the league is who want to sign them. Only Maddison and Barnes have gone to clubs with any potential. The rest of the egos will hopefully realise the level they really are.