Lots of discussions going on about the pros and cons of various centre forwards we're allegedly interested in. With all of them there are big risks because they will require major investment, which blocks our ability to spend on other players (or another striker), which seriously snookers us for another two or three years if they don't work out. Osimhen and Gyokeres would be on very high wages and would be ~30 when it came to renewing / selling. Ekitike - lots of money and questions about translating his quality to productivity in the PL. It's interesting that a few clubs could do with a centre forward but still haven't pulled the trigger, which suggests everyone is hesitating a bit in the face of risky options.
So I start to wonder whether the most realistic pathway is getting someone on loan. It doesn't solve our long-term issue, but it could be a short-term, low-risk solution. Clearly the market sees the purchase of Osimhen as a difficult deal to do, hence his loan spell in Turkey. Maybe he's beyond our reach as a permanent transfer, but possible as a loan? Napoli are rumoured to be interested in Sancho, which is very hard to see working as a sale. Maybe there's an arrangement to be made there.
If Ekitike is profiled as a promising player, how about a loan with a fee that works for Frankfurt + option to buy next summer? Or what about Goncalo Ramos... a player who isn't getting many minutes at PSG not because he lacks quality but because of the surfeit of quality ahead of him in the squad.
Maybe after a few weeks of Mexican stand-off, the most attractive strikers on the market will be snapped up, with buyers stumping up the cash or selling clubs reluctantly lowering their valuations because buyers see too much risk. Maybe we end up buying Gyokeres for a fee closer to £60m after Arsenal do a deal for Šeško. If not, I'd be glad to see us do a short-term patch-up using the loan market and commit the bulk of the transfer kitty & associated wages to other parts of the team.
Striker on loan?
posted on 18/6/25
Sat Nav, sure, it's going to be less likely a player isn't snapped up at full value the better they are. But Osimhen has already been on a season-long loan, so it's hardly unthinkable. Particularly if it were a loan with an obligation to buy (or very high loan fee that kicks in if option isn't taken up).
As has been widely commented, a lot of clubs (including most of the elite clubs) have pivoted to focusing recruitment on 22-24 year-old players because they've observed you can make your investment go further (buy them before their peak years = lower salary, possibly lower fee) and reduce risk (they'll have resale value). It's starting to look as though this is creating hesitancy about investing in players who will be 30 or above when their next contract ends. In recent years it has been unusual for a player like Osimhen to stay on the market for over a year. Maybe (just speculation) there's an opportunity for us there.
posted on 18/6/25
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 2 hours, 50 minutes ago
Sat Nav, sure, it's going to be less likely a player isn't snapped up at full value the better they are. But Osimhen has already been on a season-long loan, so it's hardly unthinkable. Particularly if it were a loan with an obligation to buy (or very high loan fee that kicks in if option isn't taken up).
As has been widely commented, a lot of clubs (including most of the elite clubs) have pivoted to focusing recruitment on 22-24 year-old players because they've observed you can make your investment go further (buy them before their peak years = lower salary, possibly lower fee) and reduce risk (they'll have resale value). It's starting to look as though this is creating hesitancy about investing in players who will be 30 or above when their next contract ends. In recent years it has been unusual for a player like Osimhen to stay on the market for over a year. Maybe (just speculation) there's an opportunity for us there.
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Didn’t realise he was already on loan lol 😂
If we can make it happen with a proper player then in all for it. We’ve bought too many players and lost an absolute fortune on them. I’d much rather ‘lose’ £10m in a year on loan fees and return fees than a £90m singing that don’t perform and we sell 3 years later for like £20m
posted on 18/6/25
*I’m
posted on 18/6/25
**signing
Ffs 😂
posted on 18/6/25
***doesn’t
Oh dear this heat has ruined me
posted on 18/6/25
posted on 19/6/25
comment by Diafol Coch 77 🏴 JA606 Class Act (U2462)
posted 13 hours, 56 minutes ago
comment by Darren The King Fletcher (U10026)
posted 7 minutes ago
I want to see his magnificent rat face and shiiiithousery in a United shirt to complete his story arc.
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I wouldn't be against this. Like I wouldn't be against getting Martinez in goal. We need more horrible bas***** in the team.
I'm hearing Red Russian is in line for a squad place too having seen his hardline contributions lately...
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Nah fack Martinez. Overrated, annoying Argy priiiick. Vardy’s a national treasure that needs to play for England’s gratest club.
posted on 19/6/25
comment by Darren The King Fletcher (U10026)
posted 6 hours, 59 minutes ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 🏴 JA606 Class Act (U2462)
posted 13 hours, 56 minutes ago
comment by Darren The King Fletcher (U10026)
posted 7 minutes ago
I want to see his magnificent rat face and shiiiithousery in a United shirt to complete his story arc.
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I wouldn't be against this. Like I wouldn't be against getting Martinez in goal. We need more horrible bas***** in the team.
I'm hearing Red Russian is in line for a squad place too having seen his hardline contributions lately...
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Nah fack Martinez. Overrated, annoying Argy priiiick. Vardy’s a national treasure that needs to play for England’s gratest club.
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Agree on Martinez. Also would back me into a corner after I've regularly slated him to my Villa supporting mate
posted on 19/6/25
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 1 hour, 39 minutes ago
comment by Darren The King Fletcher (U10026)
posted 6 hours, 59 minutes ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 🏴 JA606 Class Act (U2462)
posted 13 hours, 56 minutes ago
comment by Darren The King Fletcher (U10026)
posted 7 minutes ago
I want to see his magnificent rat face and shiiiithousery in a United shirt to complete his story arc.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I wouldn't be against this. Like I wouldn't be against getting Martinez in goal. We need more horrible bas***** in the team.
I'm hearing Red Russian is in line for a squad place too having seen his hardline contributions lately...
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nah fack Martinez. Overrated, annoying Argy priiiick. Vardy’s a national treasure that needs to play for England’s gratest club.
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Agree on Martinez. Also would back me into a corner after I've regularly slated him to my Villa supporting mate
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Double down and make into a ‘I told you so’ because you get to watch him even more.
posted on 19/6/25
comment by Darren The King Fletcher (U10026)
posted 7 minutes ago
Double down and make into a ‘I told you so’ because you get to watch him even more.
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That's the only course of action available to me, but I'd much rather he doesn't join. Him getting sent off for GBH against United in his final match, cementing Villa's failure to qualify for the CL, is a much more satisfying bookend to our long-running disagreement.