It seems clear we will sign
a high quality Goalkeeper, with Roberts as cover, plus a home grown young un?
Lenihan is a powerful dominant CB, Fry isn't. Lenihan will surely play at CB?
McNair would be better suited to playing RCB, but
Dijksteel is our best defender and should stay in place?
We need - and will sign
a damned good LCB, with Bola and McNair able to cover.
Howson has not been retained just as cover, but I still wouldn't be surprised to see us go for
John Lundstram from Rangers. He was Wilder's man at Sheff U and he wanted him in January. Another captain/leader. Big fee, but massive driver. He can also drop to play RCB.
Jones and
Giles seem nailed on starters at RWB and LWB. Bola offers cover at LWB, but we lack RWB cover?
Tavernier and McGree currently compete for a spot, Crooks and Payero for another? Boyd- Munce offers cover, Watmore too.
The crucial signings then up front.
Gyokeres will offer pace, mobility, energy, control/technical ability, aerial threat, presence and goal scoring.
It seems clear that we will bring in
Armstrong and
Gayle on loan for goals and pace. I think Armstrong would be the likely starter. Gayle would be an excellent if expensive option from the bench. Watmore also offers cover here and potentially in midfield.
Greedily I'd love to bring in either
Riis, (or Joao) to cover for Gyokeres (similar attributes) and the young lad
Tyreece Simpson from Ipswich (even if to loan out), also allowing Coburn a season out on loan at perhaps Plymouth.
Gyokeres, Lundstram and Riis would cost more than the Spence fee obviously, so might one of Fry, McNair or Tavernier be sacrificed to cover the cost? I would.
New GK. (Roberts, Brynn/James)
Dijksteel, Lenihan, New LCB. (McNair, Fry, Bola)
Jones, Crooks, Lundstrom, Tavernier, Giles (Payero, Howson, McGree, Boyd Munce)
Gyokeres, Armstrong (Riis, Gayle, Watmore)
23 man squad right there, with plenty of match time for all.
Coburn and Simpson loaned out for a season to mature and be ready when Armstrong and Gayle loans end.
Assumes Daniels, Hall, Fisher, Ikpeazu, Akpom, Coulson and Spence all leave.
All IMHO, but hey if Newy can have 50 goes a day, surely I can have one a month?