12 Jun 2026 15:14:29
Picking up on another thread, does anyone have interest in Fabinho on a free?
I haven't followed him in the Saudi League so have no idea of his fitness, but he's 32, on a free, and he knows the mentality monster mentality.
As ED001 has said, we are building a very young squad - great as that's what Iraola needs - but we have lost a lot of experience with Hendo, Milner & Fabs a couple of years ago, and Salah and Robbo just now.
If you would favour, what would you pay as a salary? He was on £180k when he left us, and on c£230k in his last contract in Saudi.
Personally, I would bring him back on a free (if he was interested and fit) on a 2 year contract with an option of 1 year and pay him mid-£100ks so maybe £150k.
Another poster was right, we should use more of the free transfer market, especially to bring in older experienced heads.
For the same reason, I would be in favour of Darwin - the passion and terrier-ness will make space for others even if his finishing is no better!
Just as we shouldn't squad fill with lots of mediocre players who don't have a high ceiling and have no affinity for the club, we equally shouldn't rely entirely on our academy - it's a balancing act, probably skewed MORE towards academy prospects if we have the potential there who are ready, but there is always space for older heads when we have lost so many leaders in the past few seasons.
12 Jun 2026 15:39:12
Watched him against Egypt the other day, he played 20-25 minutes. Don't think he has the legs for the PL anymore, sadly.
12 Jun 2026 15:43:04
I love Fabinho as a player, but his legs are shot. He looked like he was running in treacle in his last season with us, and I don't think he'd fare much better now. I agree that we should utilise the free market more, but we should still be selective of the players we bring in.
Nunez is a good shout, but I don't see anyone else bringing in the same value as him.
12 Jun 2026 15:45:45
I love Fabinho but we broke him. He's absolutely what we need but the Fabinho of 6
years ago.
12 Jun 2026 15:50:37
The man ran himself into the ground for us - great player for us, but probably underrated given the strength of the squad and, for me anyway, a case of not realising what we had until he was gone.
12 Jun 2026 16:02:34
Legs are gone. We need the next Fabinho, not the washed up 32 year old Fabinho.
12 Jun 2026 16:27:51
I agree that his legs are gone, but to call him washed up is a bit harsh,
the man was brilliant for us in midfield, let's give him a bit more credit.
12 Jun 2026 16:46:10
I love Fabinho to pieces and was a truly world class who could defend, pass it, score and assist. Brilliant player.
However, if his legs were gone 3 years ago, what has happened to rejuvenate him, esp. since he is 3 years older? Serious question.
12 Jun 2026 16:47:11
Kop that, It's not disrespectful to say he's washed up, there is nothing left in the tank. It's just a matter of plain fact. He'd not be up to the Premier League right now. He was a fol class player, but he isn't any more.
12 Jun 2026 16:50:43
Yet another ex people want back.
12 Jun 2026 17:53:54
@Fat, did you take the opportunity to look at what has been written in this thread? If you did, virtually everybody, if not all, recognise that the lad has had his time.
12 Jun 2026 18:08:21
Did his legs grow back? Perhaps he is part-axolotl.