18 Jul 2026 19:31:14
Hi all,
As you have most likely seen by now, the Morgan Rogers deal has been hijacked by Chelsea. I’m not sure how this affects the Barcola deal, but it almost certainly brings Arsenal back into the fold.
I will update you all as and when I can.
18 Jul 2026 20:09:56
Cheers pal, though I reckon Barcola would pick us over playing LWB in Arsenal's 6-3-1 formation. Rogers picked Chelsea over them and they've got no European football at all.
Arsenal are a horrible club to be at right now if you want to play football as an attacker.
18 Jul 2026 20:13:43
I asked this in another post, then checked again and 10 other people have asked the same. ? Thanks for the update. We hopefully have our eyes on some alternatives if we miss out on Barcola, maybe some cheaper, hidden gem alternatives.
18 Jul 2026 20:14:38
Barcola going Arsenal.
He'll choose us over them.
18 Jul 2026 20:15:24
Chelsea were the only club that had a bid accepted, so not sure that counts as Rogers choosing them over Arsenal.
18 Jul 2026 20:15:45
I recall one of the itk saying that Barcola prefers us over Arsenal, so hopefully that doesn't complicate things. I am most hoping for Rayan, I think this kid could be special!
18 Jul 2026 20:19:57
Kind of obvious. Let's see.
18 Jul 2026 20:22:46
Get Estevao!
18 Jul 2026 20:24:22
We need to start moving fast if we're going to sign Barcola.
18 Jul 2026 20:24:58
Oh, I know how this script goes. Our dithering lets Arsenal in to sign Barcola. We then fanny about in desperation, and either overpay for someone not very good, or we don't sign anyone and then there's a James Pearce article along the lines that "...having explored all the options, the club felt there was no value in the market and with the additional game time available, it was also felt that Elliott would be like a new signing...".
18 Jul 2026 20:26:45
It goes to show no one sits still in this league. Apparently Chelsea are interested in Wharton as well.
I'm not convinced he's right for us, but if we hover around waiting for Curtis to move, rather than acting decisively, another target could be missed.
Without CL football, they can concentrate on the league and could be a threat to our top 5 ambitions this season.
Villa are keeping active, and both Manc outfits, Arsenal stronger squad wise anyway, so it's going to be a lively season.
18 Jul 2026 20:28:36
That's who I'd love FPF.
18 Jul 2026 20:31:17
Honestly FPF, Estevao is not worth considering. He had a grade 4 hamstring tear, which is the worst of the worst. He is absolutely finished at the top.
18 Jul 2026 20:32:49
Rumours this evening that Arsenal are close to securing Alvarez. It's hotting up out there, good job Richard H is keeping cool under pressure.
18 Jul 2026 20:37:38
Barcola going Arsenal already agreed personal terms with them. Let's see how much influence Iraola actually has regarding the Rayan file. Still think we end up with Pedro Neto, unfortunately.
18 Jul 2026 20:47:49
I'd absolutely hope we don't go for Neto, absolutely crap him. Nothing footballer and has had some horrendous injury issues.
18 Jul 2026 20:52:05
Hope you're wrong, VV, but that has been our playbook from time to time. There are already noises coming from somewhere that we aren't pursuing any right backs, despite ITKs saying we were at the beginning of the window, and also now more noise about selling Curtis before we buy anyone for midfield, which is a new one all round.
Funnily enough, when we departed from the playbook last summer, our recruitment decision making didn't prove to be great, so perhaps it's better not to let RH have too much money to spend before he heads off to Saudi. Maybe let Iraola bed in, sort the wheat from the chaff, and then do some business in Jan.
18 Jul 2026 21:23:56
We will probably wait until the last day of the window, try and nab him cheaper, and he will go to the other club... like Guehi and Semenyo.
18 Jul 2026 21:05:58
VV - is there a legitimate source for that grade 4 hammy for Estevao? He seems to be participating in preseason when you'd expect surgery and at least 4 months out, if not more.
18 Jul 2026 21:30:10
Vik, it's not Monopoly money. If Iraola wants to review the squad before spending more money, then so be it.
If we want Barcola and he wants us, then I don't see an issue. He's still in the US after all.
18 Jul 2026 21:31:48
Like every other window, Rogers goes to Chelsea, and soon Barcolla will sign for Arsenal as a cheaper option than Rogers. LFC will miss out on filling the RW position, end up over paying for Wharton out of desperation.
We play Chiesa and Frimpong on RW for rest of the season and the saga continues. The last time we did a smarter business with signings of Salah, Mane, VVD was when Klopp had full control as a manager on transfer decisions.
18 Jul 2026 21:38:04
Another team signing someone else's target sends us into meltdown.
18 Jul 2026 21:39:26
Was in The Athletic. He's not worth consideration. Any sprint is going to be a risk, he'll be compromised any time he stretches himself the same way Owen was. He might appear to have made a recovery and be in training, but an injury that severe can never be fully recovered from. Very, very hard pass.
18 Jul 2026 21:50:00
Create a shortlist, find out if the player wants to join, make an offer, and if we can't agree on fee and contract, walk away!! I don't want any player that isn't ? wanting to sign for us. I'd rather player number 5 on the list that wants us and us only.
18 Jul 2026 22:03:54
I'm not too bothered about Rogers going to Chelsea, but you've got to admit they always seem to have that pull when it comes to signing top players. Arsenal missing out probably means they'll go even harder for a winger or another attacking player now. Could make the rest of the window pretty interesting for us.
The English tax is still alive.
18 Jul 2026 22:05:13
Just get Rayan, forget about Barcola, Rio is a few months away from being first choice LW anyway.
18 Jul 2026 22:58:48
Arsenal was willing to pay 105/110 million for Rogers & Chelsea knew this, so went in higher, knowing Arsenal wouldn't go higher. Rice, Saka, Eze & Noni have all been in his ear during the camp, but it's the Chelsea boys who are laughing. Apparently, this could see Palmer or Enzo being sold.
19 Jul 2026 00:04:13
Owen still wasn't a bad player after his big hamstring pop. Might never have had the absolutely electric pace he had beforehand, but was still ours and England's main man for years. Managed to grab a Ballon D'Or.
19 Jul 2026 00:12:42
Chelsea winger Estevao suffered a severe grade four hamstring tear during a match against Manchester United on April 18, 2026. Despite initial fears and medical recommendations for surgery from Chelsea, he avoided an operation and underwent conservative rehabilitation in his native Brazil, eyeing an early August return to action. New York Times.
18 Jul 2026 23:08:51
My god Vik you are tediously negative aren't you? I normally just scroll past your posts but this one caught my attention.
The doomsday predictions are so bloody boring. I bet you're a real hit at dinner parties.
19 Jul 2026 00:41:15
That's very unfair, Rio.. I often read Victor's posts multiple times when I need my day brightened up.
19 Jul 2026 01:33:39
VV, I can always sign for LFC, get Hughes to call my agent.
19 Jul 2026 00:49:24
Owen was as good as useless after his hamstring went. As Estevao will be. He's finished as a footballer before his career has begun, grade 4 is the absolute worst and by all accounts his hamstring was hanging by threads. Why anyone would seriously want someone who'd been through that kind of injury beggars belief.
Barcola will end up at Arsenal as we've been twiddling our thumbs and they won't want to lose out twice. Normal service resumed.
As for you Riosstepover, just because you lack the capacity for critical thought, don't assume others are at your exceptionally low bar. And don't act like this has not happened before. Because it has, multiple times. We are very likely to either sign someone woeful (like Neto) in desperation or sign no one citing "no value in the market" and writing off another season.
Personally I've very low expectations from Hughes at this point as he's got one foot out the door. I feel for Iraola as it feels he's being set up to fail by lack of suppprt by those above him.
19 Jul 2026 02:47:55
111 goals in 5 seasons after his hamstring injury, and was still only 24 when he left for Madrid. Bloody useless.
{Ed078's Note - sat next to him on a flight to Hong Kong in 2018. Was very generous with his time. At one point an attendant asked if it was OK for a kid to come upstairs and say hello. He got up and went downstairs to meet the kid and his family. I reckon he was gone for a good hour or more (I finished off his Chateau Briand, it shouldn't air for too long as we all know). I asked what kept him so long? He said he was playing fifa with the kid on his console.
19 Jul 2026 07:01:05
What you didn't see, ed78, is that he beat the kid 12 nil an laughed in his face after every goal ? but in all seriousness, that was a nice gesture and something that kid will remember forever.
{Ed078's Note - :)