01 Sep 2026 04:33:28
As someone mentioned before, our non homegrown players are now at 17 excluding Ekitike and Chiesa. So unless we somehow move on some non homegrown players, we are stuck. If we had sold Gakpo and brought in Sarr, we still couldn't bring in a midfielder even on loan.
On a sidenote, whoever comes in as the new sporting director has a big decision on his hands as we need a new lb and RB plus a midfielder or two. Add in the captain and Ali who are out of contract next summer and Rio who needs a new deal.
01 Sep 2026 05:11:51
Could just be wishful thinking, but I still think Iraola can get a tune out of Kerkez... The new SD definitely has his work cut out for him though.
01 Sep 2026 05:20:41
If we got a dm, I would assume Endo wouldn’t make the squad.
01 Sep 2026 05:31:18
We can bring players in, we just can’t register them all for the Champions League group stages.
We have 19, not 17. 2 will miss out unless someone is sold. Probably Ekitike and Leoni.
Becker, Marmadashvili, Kerkez, Tsimikas, Araujo, Van Dijk, Jacquet, Leoni, Endo, MacAllister, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Chiesa, Munoz, Wirtz, Gakpo, Barcola, Ekitike, Isak.
01 Sep 2026 05:51:07
Even though the transfer window for incoming signings is ending today, outgoings in other leagues can still continue in the coming days. I have a feeling Chiesa will leave. Endo will stay unless we sign another MF.
01 Sep 2026 06:11:19
Not really stuck, just means two of the non-HG will be spending a lot of time in the stands.
01 Sep 2026 06:57:15
We are not going to spend £50 mill to replace Endo. Unless one of Grav, Szob, Macca departs, we won't sign in a starting CM.
01 Sep 2026 07:16:05
Ron, if you read what I said it's 17 plus Chiesa and Ekitike, who obviously won't be included. The Premier League squad is 25 players, of which 17 can be non-homegrown. So one of Chiesa or Endo won't be in the Prem squad.
01 Sep 2026 08:00:39
Jacquet and Leoni do not need to be registered as non-Homegrown in the Premier League. They are considered U21s.
In the Champions League they must be registered, as you only qualify for the B-List if you’ve spent 2 years at the club and are 16-21 years old.
Basically we’ll just leave Ekitike and one of Chiesa or Endo out of the CL squad until January and go from there. They can all play in the Premier League though.
01 Sep 2026 08:04:04
Don’t rule out a Marmar loan/sale.
As was always the case, Endo and Chiesa are dispensable.
We might not like it, but this is Richard Hughes who has given ZF this summer.
01 Sep 2026 08:42:17
There goes our CL hopes if Chiesa and Endo can't play.
01 Sep 2026 09:06:10
This has been covered many times. Ekitike obviously won't be registered, as he can't play. Most likely Leoni won't be either, as he's still going to miss at least 2 months of proper football. Endo and Chiesa are fodder and should be replaced by Koumas and Nyoni, so that's potentially 4 less than everybody is twisting their knickers over, meaning we could easily have 2 spare non-HG spots right now without selling anyone.
There's no issue.
01 Sep 2026 10:03:54
Kerkez really improved by the end of last season. Hopefully Ai can bring him back to his Bournemouth form. A right winger who works hard tracking back will help the rb slot. I really think Ai will sort it out, just might take a few more games.