[Albion] Another forward signing in the summer?

[WATFORD zero]

I think that if we make a 'name' signing, then it's almost like admitting our main plan has failed. Welbeck and Lallana are allowed as we were signing 'experience'

Keep Welbeck and extend Maupay and one of the youngsters will step up.

 

[b.w.2.]

With Undav arriving for pre-season, surely the club won’t be spending any more cash on a 1st team striker?

Annoyingly, the one player I think we really need is a similar player to Welbeck who has surely done enough to get himself another one or two year deal. Welbeck should be good for at least 50% of our matches but it’s when he is injured or not playing you see the need for a player with a physical presence in the box who can score the kind of header he has buried against Leicester twice the season.

However, despite my preference for Canda’s record scorer, Cyle Larin (who’ll be on a free in the summer), I don’t think the club will be splashing out, and maybe they shouldn’t?

Our forward line will probably consist of these four (with perhaps three of them down to a year on their contracts):

Trossard
Welbeck
Maupay
Undav

But I think we need two more to supplement that group and it’s pretty obvious where they’ll be coming from. We’ll be promoting from within.

As far as another striker goes, we really need some power up front and players like Sima, Ferguson and Tolaj offer this, but their lack of experience might mean they are sent out on more loans. Andone is surely set to sign permanently for Cadiz and Connolly is slowly making his way onto Boro’s bench, he might be done in the EPL. That leaves Zeqiri, if he has a good end to the season in Germany, he could be a 1st team player (again) next season.

Strikers:

Sima
Ferguson
Tolaj
Zeqiri
Connolly
Andone

And then there is the Trossard role which Mac can happily play but I think Potter will want someone with the ability to dribble and run at pace with the ball like Tross, Mac is more playmaker. We have three excellent prospects along with Arce. They all seem to have pace, confidence and an eye for goal. Sarmiento holds the shirt at present despite his current injury, his whacking great four year deal tells you exactly what Potter thinks of him (along with his start against West Ham), but don’t rule out Mitoma making an impact. We then have young Khadra who is showing that the Championship is probably below his level somewhat as he’s really impressing at Blackburn.

Wingers/No.10s:

Khadra
Mitoma
Arce
Sarmiento

Lot’s of options to consider, but I doubt our recruitment team will be looking beyond what we’ve already got to supplement Welbz, Maups, Undav and Tross next season.

Brilliant post and I believe you are 100% correct in your ‘no new forwards signed in the summer’ (assuming Welbs gets a new contract). My ‘we need to sign a striker’ job here is finally done.

 

[peterward]

I expect that getting Locadia and Andone off the wage bill provides some wriggle room in terms of salary and that an extension for Maupay will be one priority.
Wellbeck is an interesting one, no issues with the quality all the concerns are with the quantity. I suspect he will be back next season, if we fail to land our main targets.

Of the rest I am not bothered about Zeqiri and suspect that he may move on, if a reasonable offer comes in. Connolly will likely be back, if he finishes the season well he will be welcomed back, if he does nothing the offers won't come flooding in. It is very much on our interests for him to succeed. Ferguson shouldn't be rushed and I think Tolaj could do with a Championship level loan for next season. After a long lay off, I think Tolaj has had a good season or I did up until the Man Utd game, when I felt he had a stinker. He is the same age as Ulrick Ella, who hasn't exactly pulled up any trees.

I think a number of players many would class as wingers, may well be considered for a second striker role. If you have the likes of Sarmiento and Khadra providing options alongside Trossard, we may have more than enough forwards already. this is why I think we may just be in the market for incremental upgrades.

Zeqiri/Sima look tailor made for a season on loan at USG.

 

[um bongo molongo]

I think it’s better to think of a ‘front 3’ rather than strikers. In that sense, I’m expecting us to go with the following (assuming we can persuade everyone to sign contract extensions):

Maupay
Welbeck
Undav
Trossard
Mitoma
Sarmiento

Expect Sima, Tolaj, Ferguson, Khadra, Zeqiri to be on loan (Zeqiri maybe / maybe not depending on his progression).

 

[b.w.2.]

With Undav arriving for pre-season, surely the club won’t be spending any more cash on a 1st team striker?

Annoyingly, the one player I think we really need is a similar player to Welbeck who has surely done enough to get himself another one or two year deal. Welbeck should be good for at least 50% of our matches but it’s when he is injured or not playing you see the need for a player with a physical presence in the box who can score the kind of header he has buried against Leicester twice the season.

However, despite my preference for Canda’s record scorer, Cyle Larin (who’ll be on a free in the summer), I don’t think the club will be splashing out, and maybe they shouldn’t?

Our forward line will probably consist of these four (with perhaps three of them down to a year on their contracts):

Trossard
Welbeck
Maupay
Undav

But I think we need two more to supplement that group and it’s pretty obvious where they’ll be coming from. We’ll be promoting from within.

As far as another striker goes, we really need some power up front and players like Sima, Ferguson and Tolaj offer this, but their lack of experience might mean they are sent out on more loans. Andone is surely set to sign permanently for Cadiz and Connolly is slowly making his way onto Boro’s bench, he might be done in the EPL. That leaves Zeqiri, if he has a good end to the season in Germany, he could be a 1st team player (again) next season.

Strikers:

Sima
Ferguson
Tolaj
Zeqiri
Connolly
Andone

And then there is the Trossard role which Mac can happily play but I think Potter will want someone with the ability to dribble and run at pace with the ball like Tross, Mac is more playmaker. We have three excellent prospects along with Arce. They all seem to have pace, confidence and an eye for goal. Sarmiento holds the shirt at present despite his current injury, his whacking great four year deal tells you exactly what Potter thinks of him (along with his start against West Ham), but don’t rule out Mitoma making an impact. We then have young Khadra who is showing that the Championship is probably below his level somewhat as he’s really impressing at Blackburn.

Wingers/No.10s:

Khadra
Mitoma
Arce
Sarmiento

Lot’s of options to consider, but I doubt our recruitment team will be looking beyond what we’ve already got to supplement Welbz, Maups, Undav and Tross next season.

Brilliant post and I believe you are 100% correct in your ‘no new forwards signed in the summer’ (assuming Welbs gets a new contract). My ‘we need to sign a striker’ job here is finally done.

 

[JBizzle]

Brilliant post and I believe you are 100% correct in your ‘no new forwards signed in the summer’ (assuming Welbs gets a new contract). My ‘we need to sign a striker’ job here is finally done.

I tend to agree, I wouldn't be surprised to see some incomings (maybe 1 in the c£15m zone similar to Cucurella), but unless Nunez suddenly decides the south coast of England is for him and Benfica knock off £20m from his asking price we'll rightly be sticking to the strategy that's served us well.

On our strikers not scoring, I still maintain that this is a distraction from the issue that no-one else does. Maupay, Welbeck, Mac Allister have outperformed their xG this season (if that stat is useful for you). Whereas the other 15 1st team regulars have under performed on xG. It's never been about our strikers missing their chances, more that no-one else scores reliably enough.

 

[Silverhatch]

I can't believe that Maupay won't sign an extension.

We are the ideal club for him, IMO.

We are (currently) a top 10 - ambitious - Premier league side playing good football under an excellent coach. We are an excellent club for ANY - ambitious - footballer.

 

[CaptainDaveUK]

I can't believe that Maupay won't sign an extension.

We are the ideal club for him, IMO.

Yes in terms of a signing another striker in the summer, surely it will be a Maupay extension and if not then presumably he goes and then we get someone new. Depends a lot on whether or not any current Albion players raise their game between now and the summer. UTA.

 

[CheeseRolls]

Zeqiri/Sima look tailor made for a season on loan at USG.

I haven't seen anything of Sima or for that matter Van Hecke. We have a lot of options and if we do get the opportunity to make any big signings in the summer, not everyone is going to make the squad. These are interesting times.

 

[BBassic]

I tend to agree, I wouldn't be surprised to see some incomings (maybe 1 in the c£15m zone similar to Cucurella), but unless Nunez suddenly decides the south coast of England is for him and Benfica knock off £20m from his asking price we'll rightly be sticking to the strategy that's served us well.

On our strikers not scoring, I still maintain that this is a distraction from the issue that no-one else does. Maupay, Welbeck, Mac Allister have outperformed their xG this season (if that stat is useful for you). Whereas the other 15 1st team regulars have under performed on xG. It's never been about our strikers missing their chances, more that no-one else scores reliably enough.

Yep, could not agree more.

 

[Perkino]

I can't believe that Maupay won't sign an extension.

We are the ideal club for him, IMO.

It is nice having a squad that only a top side could poach from. We have no need to sell any of our players and can set appropriate values for any such negotiations meaning a fabulous deal for us or keeping an excellent player.

I'm very comfortable to see our best player sold each transfer window for a large fee knowing that an understudy has been developed ready to take their chance when called upon. We seem to be ready in central midfield and possibly central defence to accommodate such a departure but Trossard & Maupay may soon become our most important players and we could do with holding onto both for a few more years

 

[goldstone]

Very good to read such intelligent posts. Thank you!

 

[Here'sWally]

I would be amazed if we don't bring Mitoma over for next season.

He looks ready to me.

 

[Perkino]

Players like Sarmiento, Mitoma, Khadra who can beat a man with the ball at their feet could prove invaluable to unlocking goals.

 

[southstandandy]

What does everyone think about what will happen with Sima for next season?

We spent a tidy £8m on him this summer and due to injury issues never really got a run with Stoke in his loan period. Do we reckon he is likely to be loaned out again next season for UK experience (if so, it seems a lot to have spent on a striker who may not play for us until his third season with us) or do you think he will be considered a possible first team squad player for next season?

I suppose it depends on how he looks in training over the next few months and pre-season, but I was hoping that Sima, Mitoma, Ferguson and now Undav will supplement what we currently have in Maupay (and possibly a 3rd year for Welbeck) meaning we don't need go big on another forward in the summer.

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

I'd be happy with the 3 - Undav, Welbeck and Maupay.

But Welbeck is out of contract ( perhaps we can sign him up for a year or 2 before the season ends ! ).

And Maupay will be into the last year so may even be sold.


But, as said, the least painful transfer window striker solution is the 3 above.

Apparently "both sides" have an option on Welbeck's contract.

I assume that means either side can extend it a further year ?

Anyway it looks like he's staying which I think is good news.

 

[HastingsSeagull]

If Welbeck stays I can’t see it. We might get another Trossard hybrid type but money likely only to be spent on replacing anyone who leaves or extending contracts I suspect. We’ve done well holding onto who we want the past few seasons but expect we’ll be tested more now after White and Burn.

 

[JBizzle]

If Welbeck stays I can’t see it. We might get another Trossard hybrid type but money likely only to be spent on replacing anyone who leaves or extending contracts I suspect. We’ve done well holding onto who we want the past few seasons but expect we’ll be tested more now after White and Burn.

We may get a Trossard type, unless Sarmiento is being groomed in that role? I actually think we may surprise everyone with a new central defender

 

[Stumpy Tim]

I suspect Trossard will be sold (along with Bissouma) and potentially Maupay if he doesn't sign a contract. There will be a minor rebuild, especially in the forward positions. I suspect Undav and Sima will join the first team squad along with Welbs and Maupay if he's still with us.

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

Slightly disappointed with the Welbeck news if it means we aren't adding to the foreward line to be honest but hey ho

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