We have a good squad with a good mix of youth, prime age range, and experienced heads in the group. The task for the summer needs to be:
1. Extend the contracts of TAA, VVD, and Mo. If any of them don't want to extend, then sell now to cash in and replace.
2. Replace Thiago and Matip in the squad. Quansah already stepped up to fill the void left by Joel's injury last season, and it sounds like Sepp had a very positive season on loan. Maybe he can return to round out the CB depth chart? Same logic applies for Tyler Morton and Stef Bajcetic -- it shouldn't be hard to fill Thiago's place in the squad as he barely kicked a ball these last 2 seasons.
3. Add quality to the starting 11. This could be 1 big time signing, or a couple of less expensive signings. It may also need to be done as a 1-out and 1-in situation, like replacing Gakpo, or Diaz, or Jones, etc with a significantly improved option. To be candid, I have been underwhelmed by most of the names we've been linked with like Dani Olmo, Ollie Watkins, etc. Hopefully Edwards is working on a piece of magic in the bbackground!! If we can get that 1 world class star to round out this group, I think we can really push for the title again next season.
Pretty much what I'm thinking. For all the fact we are thinking about who might come in, renewing the contracts of Virgil, Mo n Trent is probably the biggest priority this summer. If any of them don't sign, then sell and spend the money.
Your point 2 basically amounts to - just replace Thiago n Joel from within the existing squad. Which I agree with.
And then, yeah, ideally buy a top class forward, with 1 of Diaz, Darwin n Cody going ( although fu**ed if I can make my mind up which one).
Only extra I would add is a good DM, or an all round midfielder (Douglas Luiz type player) - mainly a DM but who can also play right AM if needed. Might not be necessary if Bajcetic is fully fit again but, from the outside, can't be sure about that and don't want to be over-reliant on Endo.
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