01 May 2026 07:50:36
If we have 100 coin to spend in summer. No fringe players please. Three signings. Up to 50 on striker. 30 am and 20 on central defender. 3 starters. Shift the loanees although I'd like to keep rams. And the no good to us anymore in squad which amounts to about 5-6 players. Our starting 11 has to be better next season.

1.) 01 May 2026
01 May 2026 12:07:49
Need to splash on a decent keeper too, Aus. I would make that first on the list, get it done early doors. The imponderable, of course, is the World Cup. Doubtless there will be a frenzy to sign players that shine, but it's late in the off season to do that and prices will be inflated, and what if you sign before and they have a stinker or get injured? I would hope we already have our targets and are working on it.

2.) 01 May 2026
01 May 2026 12:27:42
Nothing wrong with Darlow, Vid. Personally, would strengthen in other areas!
Carnt see us getting Trafford, too many clubs after him!

3.) 01 May 2026
01 May 2026 13:09:23
Yeah. I'd give Darlow bit longer. He has been able.
Think we should have our targets before the World Cup, vid. All I ask. Make an offer. Put a deadline on it of maybe a week and move on. Once clubs see us move on, they will be more likely to say yes or no. Not maybe.

4.) 01 May 2026
01 May 2026 13:30:20
No problem with Darlow, Aus, but we need another good calibre keeper, which it seems Perri is not. Would you want to go a season with him as the only alternative?

5.) 01 May 2026
01 May 2026 15:14:04
Strange as though it may be, Dubravka has been outstanding this season according to my Burnley mate. He's 39? But maybe a good no. 2.

6.) 01 May 2026
01 May 2026 15:19:01
I.e., I think Darlow has done ok.

7.) 01 May 2026
01 May 2026 16:36:33
This is by no means an exhaustive list, but the first thing I do as the end of the season approaches is scour the contract expirations list.

I judge it by: what could be realistic (ie Lewandowski out of contract, but impossible) , and what we could use or need. It doesn't mean I think we should shop there exclusively, but if we can find what we need without a fee, it just means we can redirect the finances to other areas. I've come up with a few names. I basically use Transfrmarkt so if some of the players listed have agreements more or less sown up with other teams and not reflected there, apologies.

Danilo Doekhi - he's been linked for a long while, out of contract, and everything we seem to hear about him sounds like an upgrade on Bornauw.

Eric Martel - a giant defensive minded midfielder at Koln - would compliment alongside Stach and could backup Ampadu for injury/suspension or positional rotation. A likely upgrade on Gruev, Longstaff and Tanaka.

Rico Henry/Andrew Robertson/Ben Davies - Gabby is the No.1 choice and yes Justin can fill in there. But he isn't left-sided. Henry is still sort of finding himself after rough injury years, and Robbo in the twilight with good experience and the system with three at the back could hide his declining pace. One or the other to backup Gabby would be a nice shout. Davies is really getting on now but decent back up to Gabby, you get the sense he wouldn't complain about it and could cover CB in a pinch too. Think Byram +10% and could be great with the Welsh lads.

Harry Wilson would be nice, but with a superb season I don't see it now unless the Welsh lads have a bigger sway than I thought. Part of me thinks he's overachieved this yr and based on his career to date that form isn't sustainable.

Jonas Wind - 6'3 Target man type. Perfect for our set pieces and the Amps long throws. Has had a bit of a stop start season with injury, but played 35+ games in the two seasons before this one, 20 goals across those two years.

Wildcards - Myron Boadu - young prodigy who never hit predicted heights, Ross Barkley - age beginning to show but some flair there, Nabil Fekir - was extremely talented but been in Saudi or similar so question marks on how high his level remains. But a flair player certainly in his prime.

Recognisable names I WOULDN'T touch: Vincent Janssen (31, strk formerly of Spurs) , Allan Saint Maximin (formerly Newcastle) , Raheem Sterling (should remember) , Stones (too old, would command too much money for decline and too injured) . Adam Webster (similar to Stones) . Patson Daka (Leicester) .

Things could change. If we sold Bornauw and a too good offer for Struijk for example came in, then trials for Webster or Stones if they wanted a chance to prove their fitness, Stones especially probably wouldn't do that, then fair enough.

If I could choose two players from the list I provided, I think Wind is the player that could help us position/depth wise the most despite the fitness question mark. He wouldn't backup DCL and Nmecha I think he competes directly with them, maybe winning the starting job. I think Martel is the best-quality player there. Other higher quality players like Julian Brandt and Bernardo Silva obviously out of contract, but fell into the category of not realistic for us.

Looking at goalkeepers, its a real thin market there especially this yr.

8.) 02 May 2026
02 May 2026 07:15:27
Another excellent post, Ealing!