Wasn’t the dude like 21 ?
Wouldn’t be the first player to flop at a big club with making the move and that age but end up being successful. Unfortunately for Zaha though this is all hypothetical.
Agree with both of you @Aussiegooner and @Flexo
I was averse to the suggestion of signing Zaha given the fact he was so poor at a big club.
However, had we signed Zaha instead of Pepe, he’d have seen more game time and we’d probably have seen better results overall.
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Not sure if I’ve mentioned this before but I’m a Zaha fan. We are in a title race at the moment and haven’t been in the Champions League in six seasons. We have a nice lead, but haven’t secured top four yet. At the very least, bringing in Zaha in January guarantees Champions League. We should do it even if it costs 25 million.
Being 30 isn’t a disease. The best two widemen in the league are around 30 or over in Son and Salah.
Danilo sounds like an exciting prospect but we can’t be blooding him in if we’re serious about a title challenge. I want him but he’d be an El Nenny replacement for next season. Tielemans is such a no brainer - young, knows the league and cheap. He’s got a goal in him as well.
BIG teams are ruthless. I’d get Zaha, Tielemans and Danilo in January. Zaha is an Arsenal fan, he’d be buzzing at the opportunity to play here. If it didn’t work out - sell him in 18 months. Ditto for Tielemanns.
Not working out means being back in the CL by the way but neither prove to be better then what we have.
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The alternative view could be that he’s the perfect age as he can give us 3 quality seasons and not block the path of our young forwards. Buy him now for 25m,his value wouldn’t tank over the next two years.
Resale is less important when the fee is low. I mean do we give Reiss Nelson 8m sign on fee and 80k a week? Or is 8m sign on for free transfer and infinitely more talented Zaha on 150k a week a better signing for the club?
30 is not a disease.
Sadly, I can see Chelsea going in heavy for him or Trossard. Zaha and Sterling on the wings is electric potentially.
I’m one who has advocated for this adjustment but have continually been told everything is age profile as part pf of the process.
Just don’t see Zaha as the guy to break that mould with.
I don’t feel he would technically suit this system as he hasn’t been part of teams who play this style of football.
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How many players will we sign in January?
We need at least two.
- 0
- 1
- 2
- more than 2
0 voters
Hope 2 but expect 1
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Sadly, I think we’ll get in one. ESR will be back which gives us midfield and attacking cover. One of or both of Lokonga or Nelson will be trusted more.
As mentioned though, we need two. Outside of a winger and central midfielder, I think we need better than Holding as centre back cover, but Tomi could play there or Tierney in a back three I suppose.
We’ve had time to identify targets so unlike last year where we put all of our chips in the Vlahovic space, we should have numerous attainable targets.
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Whoever we buy, it’ll probably a squad rotation player and then we’ll go for decent quality players at the end of the season, when clubs are more likely to sell.
But because of our good form, we have the advantage over rival clubs for the best players so maybe Arteta and Edu will push the board to take advantage of the situation.
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I’m not even too upset with the idea of steady rotation players on loan or otherwise. I quite like the idea of Douglas Luiz a couple of months back. I can stomach El Nenny now as long as touch wood, Partey is available for tough away days and games against our rivals as much as possible.
A loan option outwide might not be the end of the world either - we need a more reliable Pepe. It would be amazing if we could luck out and bring in the equivalent of Bentancur and Kuli in.
I would happily go a level below the signings of Jesus and Partey in January though if it means we go all out for the title. For example I’d love a run at Bellingham, Savic or Rice in the summer, but I’d take Tielemans now instead.
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Suarez to be released by Gremio.
Snap him up for 6 months?
The club needs to really make the most of our current position. Any long-term transfer plans need to be brought forward.
I don’t think we’ll get a better chance to challenge for a title. City sometimes have a down season but then they spend £200m and become a juggernaut again. This is a small window where we have a chance.
A high quality CM and a high quality forward might give us the variety and impetus to maintain this form.
I remember when we signed Arshavin years ago, he absolutely rejuvenated the squad. Think we were like 8th and miles behind Villa who were 4th at the time. A signing of that level will potentially lift us even further. Have to take this opportunity, I just think so much is going right and it feels right to push on at all costs right now.
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Exactly.
We haven’t been an attractive club for potential players for far too long and we have to take full advantage of being top of the PL, with the youngest team in the league, playing great football.
Sign a top CM and Maddison after the World Cup and we could really challenge for the title. 
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Would remind me of something Ferguson would do
Didnt he bring in Owen on a free? Hargreaves? Anything to give him an edge going into the 2nd part of the season
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Owen and Hargreaves were summer signings. Evra and Vidic stand out as prominent January purchases during the 05/06 season, but Chelsea did go on to win the league that year, with Man U winning the league in the following season.
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We also went full YOLO and signed Aubameyang to try and get top 4 6 months after spending £50m on Lacazette in 2018
Need another Auba like signing
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yep, very much agree. but we might need maybe two SMS+Gakpo level signings? Idno it’s hard to predict how the squad will do but I expect City to do well all season long.
Gakpo’s numbers are absolutely insane this season.
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Luis Diaz is only January signing in recent years that i remember making an immediate impact
Wasn’t VVD a January signing to Liverpool?
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