05 Jan 2023 10:17:07
Morning all. Trying to get back into work life after Xmas break but bit bored so Ed's quick question, you've probably answered this before and I can see the posts around players you think would suit etc but if you had to pick 3 realistic potentially available midfielders (I know we can never be sure who is actually available) to replace our current first choice 3 of Henderson, Thiago and Fabs who would you go for? Interested to hear everyone's opinions. Have a great day all.

{Ed001's Note - it is impossible to say what is realistic, but 3 that would be available to buy for the right price and should be willing to join would be Bellingham, Caicedo and Enzo. No way we could afford the 3 of them at once though. Personally I would be willing to take a chance on Rabiot on a free - he has said in the past he supports Liverpool and on his day he is a brilliant player. Maybe McKennie and Dewsbury-Hall could be options.}

1.) 05 Jan 2023
05 Jan 2023 11:08:49
Glad to see someone else who rates Rabiot. ?.

2.) 05 Jan 2023
05 Jan 2023 11:18:31
Cam1
Why are asking the Eds? Surely VictorVVV is the one to ask.

3.) 05 Jan 2023
05 Jan 2023 11:22:43
I thought it was all quiet on the Weston front?

4.) 05 Jan 2023
05 Jan 2023 11:32:51
Dewsbury-Hall be a nice signing!

{Ed025's Note - the way its going Bmena you might be signing fork-hall mate.. :)

5.) 05 Jan 2023
05 Jan 2023 11:37:32
Bellingham, Caicedo and Enzo is a dream midfield. Clearly all three have been on the club's radar for a long time. We should be getting these types of players in much earlier. As soon as they join a Dortmund, Benfica or Brighton they become difficult to attain in our model.

I have made no secret of that fact that Kouadio Kone could be a good alternative to Moises Caicedo.

Enzo is unique.
Bellingham is unique.

6.) 05 Jan 2023
05 Jan 2023 11:06:41
Do you see Bajcetic being good enough to become part of a midfield 3 for us going forward Ed? I think he can become a good player for us.

{Ed001's Note - he is certainly good enough to become a player for us, not sure what position he will end up in though.}

7.) 05 Jan 2023
05 Jan 2023 11:28:49
Thanks Ed001. I think I speak in behalf of everyone that those 3 coming in would be a dream. In regards to Rabiot do you think salary demands would be too high for us? Also if (in dream land) 3 new midfielders did come in who would you expect to make way. Reading comments on here it’s believed Ox, Milner, Arthur, potentially Keita will all leave end of season. Would you expect Henderson to step back and take the Milner role within the squad? Thanks for your opinion. It’s getting me through the day ?.

{Ed001's Note - the issue with Rabiot is his family not money. I think you have it right on who is likely to leave. That is also what I expect with regards to Henderson, to gradually be faded out of the first team.

Would everyone be happy with Rabiot? It would be a risk.}

8.) 05 Jan 2023
05 Jan 2023 12:09:26
FlyPelicanFly and Eds - I haven’t seen much of Kouadio Kone but he does look like a strong athletic all round midfielder. Does anyone know much about the lad and whether there is any interest from us or other clubs in him? Interesting to see where we end up in January and summer with the squad.

{Ed002's Note - Manu Kouadio Kone (CM/DM/AM) Prior interest of Milan has gone. Newcastle did approach Borussia Muenchegladbach but they will resist a sale and try and agree a new deal. Watched by a number of Premier League sides including West Ham, Chelsea, Liverpool and Brighton. A wildcard maybe PSG. Way down the list for Chelsea but Vivell may push for him - which could spell the end for Loftus Cheek.}

9.) 05 Jan 2023
05 Jan 2023 12:15:31
I wouldn’t mind taking a risk on rabiot Ed, just as long as he wasn’t the only midfield signing. If he was to come in alongside someone like caicedo then I wouldn’t mind taking the risk.

10.) 05 Jan 2023
05 Jan 2023 12:16:40
If it’s Rabiot or no one then Rabiot it is. The powers that be have known about our midfield issue for a long long time, like other posters I don’t understand how we can’t find a midfield player good enough at £30m. As you say we can’t afford the 3 on the list, I doubt we can afford 2, but I live in hope. We have to get top 4 so whatever makes that more likely.

11.) 05 Jan 2023
05 Jan 2023 12:17:54
Ed25 ????.

12.) 05 Jan 2023
05 Jan 2023 12:31:16
Adding Kone to Fabs in the summer would be cool. They'd take some licking.

13.) 05 Jan 2023
05 Jan 2023 12:44:29
For me, Kone has all the attributes that Tchouameni and Caicedo have so it would make sense for us. It would immediately give us some pace and power in the middle and he could play in any of the midfield positions, whether we go 433 or a midfield two.

Plus, it would be nice to get a French buddy for Big Ibou :)

While I have no idea what the club intend to do, perhaps they intend to do the dance with Brighton throughout January to bring the Caicedo price down. My preference would be to move onto Kone in January and try to save the season but knowing us, we'll wait for the preferred option and write the current season off.

14.) 05 Jan 2023
05 Jan 2023 12:53:56
Rabiot on a free Ed? , yes, mainly because we are desperate and he is real quality, he comes with potential problems, at the moment I believe he'd improve the starting 11. If you'd asked that question two years ago it would've been a firm no .

15.) 05 Jan 2023
05 Jan 2023 12:56:33
Nunes is missing from this list Ed.

{Ed001's Note - by choice, he can't play for us this season as he has played for 2 teams already.}

16.) 05 Jan 2023
05 Jan 2023 13:00:47
With Nunes looking like first one through the door, and Caicedo close, things are going to feel quite different by the end of this window.
Nunes was brilliant vs Villa.

17.) 05 Jan 2023
05 Jan 2023 13:28:21
spaceman- I don't think anything is close yet. Certainly not for January.

18.) 05 Jan 2023
05 Jan 2023 13:36:29
Ed, not sure about Rabiot, man. Good player and would add balance to the midfield as he is left footed and has goals in him. His ma is a real piece of work so not sure if anyone wants to deal with that.

{Ed001's Note - she can't be worse than a Scouse ma, let's be honest. I would rather deal with anyone else's ma than mine or any of her sisters!!}

19.) 05 Jan 2023
05 Jan 2023 13:40:36
Nunes cannot play for any other team until the 23/ 24 season spaceman.

He will NOT be moving in this transfer window to us or any other club.

20.) 05 Jan 2023
05 Jan 2023 13:42:05
McAllister would be another good option in my opinion.

21.) 05 Jan 2023
05 Jan 2023 13:46:21
You will be disappointed spaceman when neither arrives in January.

22.) 05 Jan 2023
05 Jan 2023 13:46:53
Spaceman where are you hearing that Caicedo is close mate?

23.) 05 Jan 2023
05 Jan 2023 14:04:45
Ed1. Question for you if you’re about. Is Matheus Nunes having an agreement to sign for us in the summer an actual thing? Talented player. Also, with on you in the 3 midfielders that would transform our midfield (Caicedo, Bellingham and Enzo) . Interesting that you brought up Rabiot because I have watched him a fair few times this season including the World Cup and I had no idea how good he actually is. Impressed every time I have seen him play. Just know him more for his infamous mum.

{Ed001's Note - not that I am aware of, I have never heard of such a thing happening before and would make no sense for any party. We would have just signed him and loaned him out if the plan was to give him a year to acclimatise.

I always wanted to sign Rabiot before he moved to Italy, he is a truly great player on his day. Just a shame he has become known for having an overbearing mother rather than for his quality.}

24.) 05 Jan 2023
05 Jan 2023 15:30:34
Technically, OMM, Caicedo is close is so much as he is as on Merseyside when Brighton pumped Everton for four the other night. So he was close to Anfield at that point. And that’s probably as close as he’ll get for the rest of the season.

25.) 05 Jan 2023
05 Jan 2023 16:13:17
Nice one, Ed. That was funny. Unlike Rabiot too so we’ll see.

26.) 05 Jan 2023
05 Jan 2023 17:15:45
Speaking of ma's we should probably steer well clear of Gio Reyna, the ultimate helicopter mom.

27.) 05 Jan 2023
05 Jan 2023 18:56:05
Why don't we sign Rabiot and his mother. If she's that bad she could add a bit of steel to the midfield.
I'd love to see her take her rolling pin to the likes is Rodri, Silva and de Bruyne.
She might even whip Keita into shape.

28.) 05 Jan 2023
05 Jan 2023 20:57:23
Rigsby by all accounts if you sign Rabiot, you get his na as well. It’s baked into the deal, apparently. Yeah, don’t ask me why. It’s complicated, lol.

29.) 05 Jan 2023
05 Jan 2023 22:45:36
Mum's the word, Oli.

30.) 06 Jan 2023
05 Jan 2023 23:22:16
How do you make out Caicedo is close spaceman?