We would be in huge trouble if we had to start moving Jakub Kiwior out of position to #6. It’s just not the doomsday scenario people are painting it.
I would have liked Partey to stay on for this season as well for all of the reasons stated already in this thread, but equally, if a player does not want to play for the club, then that’s that.
I would have also liked a younger alternative. You would need to convince a player, the likes of an Agoume (who I was not aware of since the links) to play bit-part to the current set up and then expect them to sort us out in a matter of crisis too. What then?
True. I just would’ve thought we’d be after ‘bar raisers’ this summer; targets that are WC or have the potential to be. Maybe Zubi is one of them.
I guess with Partey he’s proved over years that he can perform to that level, and Jorgi too before his legs gave out.
All in all I hope to be proven wrong.
Regarding the Partey situation, if the issue was his pay; then we should’ve just paid up the money. If it’s due to circumstances outside of football or he doesn’t want to be here, then I understand his departure. The club did have an entire year or so to address the situation and didn’t manage to.
Going into next season with CDMs of Partey, Zubi, Norgaard I would feel much more confident with.
Hopefully their plan works out, it’d be a shame to solve our problems up top only to create new ones at the back.
The big guns aren’t coming in until July, it’s not exactly been a secret. This transfer along with Kepa are simply housekeeping, replacing outgoings for not much money.
Everyone and I mean everyone, needs to calm down. If we’re no closer to signing attacking players this time next month, feel free to start panicking.
Without having any idea what negotiations were like and if any or both sides involved were being difficult but this pisses me off a bit.
Absolutely did not want to get rid for several reasons and would give him a decent salary and 2 years, maybe 3 if he wanted it, my guess is whatever salary he asked for - it’s negligible at this point, you need a head in the squad anyways and spltting the difference for the additional cost on an extra year of a contract wouldn’t have cost more than a few million quid which is nothing in 2025 and easily worth it for the experience.
I can’t help but think there were some concerns around the investigation stuff. It just seems weird to let him go and then pay 10m for a replacement of a similar age.
If it turns out that it was anything other than this, it seems like a shit move from us.
Only reason it makes sense in my eyes. Can’t wrap my head around this transfer unless there were some serious concerns about Partey.
But then by all accounts we offered him a contract he just wasn’t happy with the terms so I’m more inclined to believe the club just didn’t wanna pay Partey what he wanted
If we’re gonna do guesswork I think we offered him the classic 1+1 deal on close to or the the same wages as he’s on currently.
With the season he’s had and the fact he is a free agent, I have no doubt he has received offers that guarantee him more money.
I can’t really blame him and his agent if they’re focusing on the best financial deal they can get.
I’d be doing the exact same thing at his age and with the injury issues he’s had before.
Which makes no sense if we then go and soend 10m on a fee for an inferior player. We will probably never know but unless it’s a legal issue, it’s a shit move to let Partey go for free.