18 Nov 2025 13:26:09
Hi Diddly Ho, rumourinos
To reiterate what Carra has said - we will be trying to bring Semenyo in January, my personal opinion is that it’ll be done before the window even opens.
Guehi is still being considered in January however CP are currently asking for what we offered in the summer - could be another saga.
I’ve seen a couple of people on other forums and community’s suggest Salah will go in the summer - debunking this now, he is happy and settled and the club are not looking to move him on, despite his ‘lack’ of form this season. The club doesn’t view players like a lot of the internet fans out there, they actually work with the players day in day out.
And lastly, I’ve heard a couple of quiet hints pointing toward another defensive minded addition the club have checked in on. Could fizzle out, could ramp up fast. If it turns into anything more than background chatter, I’ll drop the update straight away. Not one of the usual names that does the rounds - speculate at your will but once I hear more concrete I’ll be sure to let you all know.
Diddly Out.
18 Nov 2025 14:44:30
Come on Ned, give us the name of the defender. I will not be diddled!
18 Nov 2025 14:50:24
Thank you, neighbour.
The hint is in "defensive minded" - which is implies it is not a defender, but most probably a defensive midfielder.
Not the usual names - so you can rule out Baleba, Anderson and Wharton.
So, time to speculate :)
18 Nov 2025 15:15:18
Another £100m+ in January, wow. Hopefully the right players this time round.
18 Nov 2025 15:19:23
Lavia?
18 Nov 2025 15:35:31
Thanks for telling us what the tea leaves have portended.
18 Nov 2025 15:41:41
Joel Ordóñez.
Ta.
18 Nov 2025 15:58:23
FPF, I'm not sure how many top class DM's are realistic options this January. I mean quickly looking through all the starting DM's in the Premier League I can only really see Sander Berge, Tyler Adams, Ethan Ampadu, Boubacar Kamara and Joao Gomes as legitimate options, if we're also looking to sign Semenyo and Guehi who will already be close to £100m in terms of layout. Are any of them good enough? Adams is probably the best there but Bournemouth must be sick of the sight of us by now.
Wharton, Anderson, Baleba etc are all going to cost close to £80m i would guess. Guimaraes, Paulinha, Rodri, Zubimendi, Caicedo, Casemiro etc all play for our rivals and will not be sold to us for any cost.
If we really fancy a gamble then Matts Wieffer at Brighton is a player Slot knows very well, but he's been playing RB for them this season and is unproven as a DM in the Premier League. But Slot's Feyenoord team was very much built around him as the anchor.
Otherwise I suppose we'd look abroad, but I think if we do business in January it's because we're desperate for whoever we sign to hit the ground running and therefore should be targeting players who won't need an adjustment period or pre-season to adapt to the tempo of the Premier League. Hence the serious interest in Semenyo and Guehi.
18 Nov 2025 17:55:45
Stiller?
Ederson (Atalanta) ? Or if a defender then Ordonez or Ait Boudial.
18 Nov 2025 18:34:36
Much appreciated, pass on my best wishes to Rod and Todd.
18 Nov 2025 18:31:12
If i remember correctly, Gomes was a player Ed001 wanted us to sign back in the summer of ‘24.
Would he still be on your list Ed?
{Ed001's Note - Joao Gomes from Wolves? I would like him defo, very good player or his partner in midfield there, Andre. Either/or.}
18 Nov 2025 19:11:46
Ed, Has Gomes kicked on? Are he or Andre suitably defensive?
{Ed001's Note - kicked on? In what way? He has been excellent for Wolves, him and Andre by far and away their best players which is why Pereira ended up getting the tin tack for moronically dropping them. They are both a little too defensive together for the way they play, but that was down to idiotic tactics. As a pair they are very good defensively, Andre often used to play in central defence.}
18 Nov 2025 22:12:52
All of Sander Berge, Tyler Adams, Ethan Ampadu, Boubacar Kamara are dreadful for one reason or another. Far rather give Bajcetic a chance than waste money on dross like that.
18 Nov 2025 22:48:51
I'm quite sad actually, on how more people started calling for Salah to be moved on.
19 Nov 2025 07:17:08
Ed, would Andre or Gomes solve our problems? How would they improve upon Alexis/ Jones?
{Ed001's Note - they can defend for starters but nothing can fix the problems of tactics, except changing them.}
19 Nov 2025 07:37:36
Joel Ordoñez is an exciting young defender with excellent reading of the game, strong man-marking, and elite long passing. His defensive instincts are well-developed, but he needs to refine his decision-making in certain scenarios, particularly out of possession, when facing quick attackers or when stepping up into midfield areas. Improving his aerial ability and ball control would also make him a more complete defender.
While Ordoñez has the potential to establish himself at a high level in European football, his physical profile (standing at 185 cm / 6’1″) could impose certain limitations. He lacks the standout physical attributes needed to fully compensate for his height. He doesn’t have the pace for a wide centre back or the aerial ability for a central centre back.
Given his composure on the ball and strong distribution, a move to Spain or France would likely suit him better than the Premier League, allowing him to maximize his strengths in a league that values technical ability over physicality.
19 Nov 2025 08:08:48
This is the first time I've seen someone who is 188cm described as not being tall enough. But I took a look and you're right. If he joined, he'd be the joint shortest CB we have, tied with Gomez. Even if Quansah was around, he'd still be the shortest.
Guehi is shorter at 181cm though but he is PL tested and has proven to have the physical attributes. Ordonez is from the less physical Belgian league so he'd be in for a rude shock when coming up against strikers like Woltemade or Haaland.
19 Nov 2025 08:12:01
For once, I agree Victor. I just don't see a viable DM option for the January window. I'd be patient and look to Wharton or Anderson next summer. Bajcetic may even come good. At one stage he was very highly thought of by our entire fanbase.
19 Nov 2025 09:06:45
João gomes is a brilliant player, I'd be very happy if we got him in. It doesn't seem like we're interested in him though, which is a shame.
19 Nov 2025 09:37:18
Ederson, Angelo Stiller, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Djaoui Cisse, Luciene Agoume, Chema Andres, Mandela Keita.
19 Nov 2025 11:56:36
Asking Grav to push up and score more looked like a master-stroke only a few weeks ago.
I hope Baj steps up and proves a few wrong. He was brilliant that one very poor season, but as people have said, there doesn't appear to be any quick fixes, and this really will be our transitional season.
19 Nov 2025 13:05:18
Quinten Timber, played for Slot at Feyenoord and free in the summer. Good all round midfielder.
19 Nov 2025 15:28:29
Carra and Ned: if Ordonez is our Jan target, are we still looking a the profile of a Guehi (not the tallest, but a good player of the ball out of the back) on a free or at a lower cost addition at CB, with Konate and Gomez likely to be moved on with our options in the summer Guehi/ VVD as the first choice with Ordonez and Leoni as the backup pairing?