27 Jul 2026 13:23:19
Over on the Chelsea page they are talking about how two days we enquired for Neto. Perhaps keeping options open if main targets fail. Italian media also saying we have gone in for Conceicao from Juve. Again possibly getting prices if other deals fail.
27 Jul 2026 13:41:47
Conceicao and Neto are two wingers I very much like. I look at it from the perspective of finding the right balance. They're not necessarily flashy big name signings, but I think they're purpose built for playing on the wing in the style Iraola looks to play.
Likewise with Minteh. They all seem like good to compliment Isak and Barcola.
I trust VictorGoddam, though, so I think we'll be going after Rayan next.
27 Jul 2026 13:54:49
MK Scouser Neto looks nice, but when you look at his stats (goals and assists), you realise he is pretty ineffective. I haven’t really seen Conceicao, but I think Rayan would be perfect for this team. Strong, fast and powerful, has a very high ceiling but gives this team something it lacks, which is pace and directness up top.
27 Jul 2026 13:55:58
Seem to recall that nearly everyone on these boards was going ecstatic over Wirtz signing last season. Look how that turned out: 17 PL games to score his first PL goal, 5 goals total for the PL 25-26.
Barcola will be just the same. If Munoz hits his straps, Barcola will be on the subs bench. I would much prefer a player who plays for the team, not himself. And Andoni likewise, hopefully.
27 Jul 2026 15:10:13
These potential signings, Barcola and Rayan, look potentially very expensive and difficult to assess as fans. Barcola is in and out of the PSG team, in a lesser league by some distance to the Prem, and Rayan is unproven. They both have pace, though, which is a key ingredient for success out wide, and something we've been lacking. Let's hope they succeed if we get them.
Like others, my only concern on the fees is because they're very inflated, we may need to compromise on right back / centre back and centre mid, which I think are equally important to bringing in a left winger. I guess we'll make it work by selling Cody and Macca or Curtis. I hope these are Iraola buys, not RH.
27 Jul 2026 16:14:36
007, Barcola already plays in a tough and physical league though. The Bundesliga is soft, and everyone tries to play pretty football, which makes attackers look better than they are. In France they have some absolute physical monsters, and the majority of players are fast. Ligue 1 is a similar tempo to the English game as well. The French league is under rated. If you look at the players in recent years who came from Ligue 1 vs those who came from the Bundesliga, you'll see my point.
Ligue 1 Successes in the last 5 years: Bruno Guimaraes, Rayan Cherki, William Saliba, Bryan Mbeumo, Jeremy Doku, Nordi Mukiele, Boubacar Kamara, Adrien Truffert, Eli Kroupi Jr, Ismaila Sarr, Carlos Baleba, Lenny Yoro, Bafode Diakite, Habib Diarra, Matz Sels etc.
Bundesliga Successes in the last 5 years: Haaland, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Ekitike, Endo.
Maybe someone else can help me out with another player who came from the Bundesliga in the last 5 years and actually reached or exceeded expectations? Even Gravenberch feels like a bit of a reach given he played about 250 minutes in the Bundesliga and was developed by the Dutch. Ekitike actually learned his trade in Ligue 1 and only came to the Premier League via a short stop in Germany. Can I include Endo? He had one good season under Klopp and was fairly cheap. I'm struggling here.
I can think of a lot of very expensive Bundesliga players who didn't justify their price tags in the last 5 years (Havertz, Wirtz, Frimpong, Gvardiol, Werner, Nkunku, Sesko, Marmoush, Sancho etc.).
Long story short, shop in France, not in Germany. German clubs are mugging the Premier League off big time of late.
27 Jul 2026 16:30:37
MKS, you like Neto? Minteh?
27 Jul 2026 18:26:58
Oli, I do mate, yeah. Neto is further down the line in his development and added goals/assists to his game last season. It's his sheer volume of chance creation that impresses me most. He is always playing with his head up, and he crosses towards team mates, not just areas. I think he's very under rated.
Minteh, at 22 years old, is a lot more of a punt based on potential, but he is a real talent. Power and aggression, combined with blistering pace. I think, based on what Iraola did for Semenyo, he could really improve Minteh. He's still young enough to be moulded and coached into a more refined player. Again, it's his crossing quality that impresses me most. Every time I've watched him, I come away amazed that he doesn't have 2 or 3 assists due to his team mates missing absolute sitters.
Conceicao is also of that ilk though. Another who is just so natural beating his man and getting crosses into the box. His drop of the shoulder and body feints make up for being slightly slower than Neto and Minteh.
I really do like him though. So exciting to watch and still very young.
I am just so frustrated that we signed Isak for £125m and then failed to recruit any wingers with a good delivery. Gakpo never crosses the ball, and Salah had a howler last season. Chiesa also doesn't typically put in good crosses, and Rio is just a kid. Isak was doomed from the get go, in hindsight. If you watch his Newcastle clips, so many of his goals came from Murphy or Gordon constantly looking to get crosses into him.
You can keep your Vini Jr's or your Morgan Rogers. We went big on signing one of the best poachers in the game and then failed totally to make sure he had a supply line from wide areas. Barcola is a great acquisition if we pull it off because he is very good with his delivery from the left. If we do go after another winger to play on the right though, yes, I do like Minteh, Neto and Conceicao.