Wes

Very interesting. Monchi has a global reputation in the game, which is certainly well earned. I think he would be quite boom or bust. He had a fantastic trackrecord, before doing horrendously at Roma, his first job outside of Sevilla. He's an interesting character. As long as Emery is still driving the wheel, and Monchi is mostly supporting, then that's great. If Monchi is after more power.. I'd perhaps be a little concerned. His contact list will be largely unmatched though, and if Emery wants it then we should make it happen. A couple of years ago I watched his series of presentations he did on being a Director of Football on Youtube for Sevilla. Highlights his key philosophies in the role. They're all still up here if you're interested. There are 13 chapters, each 13 minutes long, in Spanish, but with English subtitles. Note: I guarantee someone will be reading this thread and post bits from these presentations in articles over the next couple of days.You're welcome, journos! Chapters: The Luck Factor - Explains the key to developing his work, a world-renowned example in sporting management, and will show off his tried and tested model. The Basic Pillars - Analyses the foundations of sporting management. Gross Tracking - The first type of tracking that a professional club carries out on potential transfer targets. Net Tracking - Monchi shows us the second type of tracking that a professional club carries out on potential transfer targets. Fine Tuning and The Finishing Touches - Delving deeper into his methods, namely the idea of perfecting the search for player profiles, which are then later discussed with the manager. Player Profiles - Explains his the "lamp and table theory" to explain the role of the manager in the process of shaping the squad. The Negotiation - Once the list of priorities has been compiled, now it’s time to negotiate for the footballer in question. Big Data - The application of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence in the world of football. The Settling In - Once the documents are signed, it's time to forget about the ball and go to the heart and head of the person. Simple Soft Skills (Part 1) - Focuses on listing different tips that, based on his experience, are essential for optimal group management. The Academy - Philosopher's Stone (Part 1) - Speaks about the philosopher’s stone on which Sevilla FC has grown historically, sometimes through obligation, but the majority of the time through devotion and belief. The Academy - Philosopher's Stone (Part 2) - Continued. Simply soft Skills - continue analysing different tips that, based on his experience, are key for optimal group management and strengthening the positive process of both individual and collective growth. Resolving Issues - Q and A

So PSG have matched our offer from the sounds of it. So be it if that's his preference. Practically a guaranteed cup win and CL football! We tried, we move on.

Absolutely can be happy with either. There are many positivies to Foyth I agree - you could happily drop him in the starting XI from Day 1. AWBs home grown status and likely slightly cheaper fee just shades it between the two for me - but he might not even be available. Depends what United decide to do. I also like Arnau Martinez, I know @sne and @thabucks have mentioned him before. His release clause is very tempting, but he is perhaps not as Day 1 ready as Foyth or AWB. He exhibits the right traits, just needs to be developed more.

Been thinking about the Right Back situtation following the Ashley Young news. Caveat: this is based purely on my opinion of what I think Emery is looking for in that RB position, mainly: - Someone who can play "on an island". That is, they can be trusted in 1v1 situations. - Defensive attributes and ball retention is more important than attacking output. And some club transfer requirements we've seen over past few years. - Top division experience. - European experience preferred. - If large fee required, not close to 30 in age. Also, these are all external options. I think Cash can absolutely still play there for us. I think Konsa could play there. Kessler... might be too soon for him. Also, there are more options out there for sure, these are just ones I've highlighted (for fun). The Best Option Aaron Wan Bissaka - 25 - Manchester United - £25-£35m One of the best 1v1 full backs in the Premier League. Has one year left on his contract so fee would not be outlanding. Dalot has today just got a new long-term contract and United are also looking at Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkeusen, as Ten Hag opts for more attacking output from this position. The Familiar Option Juan Foyth - 25 - Villarreal - £46m release clause No longer the young player who had a rough time at Spurs in his first experience in the Premier League, Foyth played for Emery at Villarreal, in this system, so knows exactly what is required of the role. Has all the physical and technical attributes needed. Villarreal have said they wont negotiate below his release clause this summer. A La Liga Option Arnau Martinez - 20 - Girona - £17m release clause At 19 he was a starter for Girona in their promotion year last year, and has continued to play there this year in La Liga where Girona have played great - challenging for a European spot. Well rounded athlete. Converted from a centre back - has good defensive instincts. Definitely more defensive minded than offensive, but still more than capable of a clever progressive pass or good cross. In the Spain U-21 squad for this summer's Euros which could affect any potential transfer timing (Starts June 21st). A Project Option Lutsharel Geertruida - 22 - Feyenoord - est. £15-£25m Much like Wan-Bissaka, Geertruida is very good in 1v1 situations. His tackle win% is very high. He's got the raw pace and strength to match up well against opponents. Comfortable in possession without ever being truly dynamic. He's a CB still converting to RB, or rather could play there - he's played for Feyernoord at both positions recently. Still has plenty of room to develop in the full back role. The potential is there. A Cheaper Option Devyne Rensch - 20 - Ajax - est. £10m+ Coming through the youth ranks of Ajax you can see that he is very technically capable. Demonstrates a good awareness of the game, taking up good positions defensively. Has versatility too. Can play left back or even centre back (despite his stature). Has only been a more full time starter this season. You have to do a bit more projecting with him going forward, more of a gamble project than Geertruida in my opinion. A Wonderkid Option Amar Dedic - 20 - RB Salzburg - est. £10-£20m As well as being tremendous defensively, he is fantastic going forward. Whilst perhaps not the out and out defensive type I think we're looking for, this is the type of player Brighton would sign this summer, then sell to City for £75m within 24 months.

Real Madrid's last game of the season is at home this weekend. Doubt we hear anything prior to that, except that he is definitely leaving the club, which is pretty much confirmed at this point anyway.

Sad news. Think he really wanted to come back, obviously played a huge part on the pitch and also just as a person in the squad. He'll be missed. Hopefully at some point in the future he does come back to play some role within the club.

For context, £130k a week is close to what we were paying Danny Ings. Also I believe the early rumour suggested he would get a £10m signing bonus if he joined us. So you could say West Ham have funded this chance for us.

Not at all. Asensio would come here to play the second striker/right sided forward position. That's what he wants to play, and also where he best fits Emery's current system he puts out. Alongside the money and almost guaranteed gametime, it's probably why we have such a good chance of getting him over PSG etc. Guendouzi can play any of the midfield positions. Central and wide. One does not preclude the other. Similiarly, signing Asensio does not mean we wouldn't still be in for Williams, Goncalves, Barnes and others talked about for other forward minded positions.

I don't think this precludes signing Nico Williams at all. Williams could play in that second striker/right sided striker or winger role. I don't think Asensio is as plausible an option on the wing as he's not so good 1v1 and I have questions about his defensive contribution which that wide midfield role is required to put in. You could line up like this quite easily: -------------------- Watkins ----------- Asensio -------------------- Ramsey ------- D. Luiz ----------- Kamara ------- Williams NOTE: This is just an example, I'm not saying this should be our starting XI, or our best XI, or anything like that - it's just an example! Whether we have the budget and so forth to achieve all that is another matter. They may have other targets in mind, such as a Luiz Henrique.

What I put in the Summer Transfer Thread last night: If he does come, he's coming to increase the number of goals we score. That's his best attribute, his shot. Technically very very good, favours his left foot a fair bit. For me, he's not a winger. He's a 10 or a forward. Don't expect him to take on a player one on one and win via physical ability. He is much better at progressing the ball through technical craft, but he is good with the ball at his feet. He's very good retaining the ball and moving it around with a neat pass - got to think Emery likes the sound of this a lot. He's had some difficulties to deal with before, be it nailing down a consistent position in the Madrid team or coming back from a really bad ACL injury. He now progresses the ball better with his vision and weight of pass than by beating a player. I have some questions about how "involved" he would get in the defensive phases of play. As much as Villa are a project, so is Asensio. Got to believe that's what Emery sees too. A lump of clay, with some magic about it, that Emery can mold in to his system that he wants to play. Similarly, from all reports, Asensio could benefit from going to a place where he is going to be given a chance to be a main attraction rather than just another star in a team of many (which Madrid is). I think he needs that kind of devotion and focus, being taken under the wing of someone respected, to get the best out of him now. For us, I would expect him to play the right sided forward alongside Watkins, but would typically drop deeper more regularly and wider too to link up play. He would immediately go in to our starting line-up for sure. You add all the other recruitment analysis stuff on top like he would be on a free, all his CL experience and so on, there's not a lot to dislike here.

"People Use Statistics as a Drunk Uses a Lamppost — For Support Rather Than Illumination"

If he does come, he's coming to increase the number of goals we score. That's his best attribute, his shot. Technically very very good, favours his left foot a fair bit. For me, he's not a winger. He's a 10 or a forward. Don't expect him to take on a player one on one and win via physical ability. He is much better at progressing the ball through technical craft, but he is good with the ball at his feet. He's very good retaining the ball and moving it around with a neat pass - got to think Emery likes the sound of this a lot. He's had some difficulties to deal with before, be it nailing down a consistent position in the Madrid team or coming back from a really bad ACL injury. He now progresses the ball better with his vision and weight of pass than by beating a player. I have some questions about how "involved" he would get in the defensive phases of play. As much as Villa are a project, so is Asensio. Got to believe that's what Emery sees too. A lump of clay, with some magic about it, that Emery can mold in to his system that he wants to play. Similarly, from all reports, Asensio could benefit from going to a place where he is going to be given a chance to be a main attraction rather than just another star in a team of many (which Madrid is). I think he needs that kind of devotion and focus, being taken under the wing of someone respected, to get the best out of him now. For us, I would expect him to play the right sided forward alongside Watkins, but would typically drop deeper more regularly and wider too to link up play. He would immediately go in to our starting line-up for sure. You add all the other recruitment analysis stuff on top like he would be on a free, all his CL experience and so on, there's not a lot to dislike here.

Marca simply says: "Emery wants Marco Asensio at Aston Villa. The technician has called the Spaniard to be part of the project. He is thinking about it." They also report they've offered Ceballos a contract extension but with Bellingham coming in he knows he'll have less chance to play, so he hasn't made a decision yet.

Remember though that La Liga and Ligue Un season doesn't finish until next weekend, so wont hear about any confirmed signings from teams in those leagues until at least the following week.

As for the play-offs, I'm not sure.

Thought he played well today, as did the whole team. Well done Leon.

Expect the Guendouzi talk to pick up again over the next two weeks. Looks like he played his last home game for them last night. Their last league game is away next weekend so maybe we'll hear murmurings before, but more likely after next Saturday.

Van Der Boomen, who was linked to us within the last couple of weeks, is going to Ajax. So that's one off the list.

If I had to choose based purely on your list, and those we've been linked to: 1. Matteo Guendouzi - Want above all else. I don't think there's a better squad fit of a player out there right now. Just increases the options and quality of squad depth in 3 different positions with 1 signing. 2. Nico Williams - Not even 21 yet. Could, could, become elite. Think he has all the attributes to thrive in the Premier League. Could play either the right sided midfield or withdrawn/right sided striker role. 3. Aaron Wan Bissaka - The "island" right back that I believe Emery wants in his system. Entrust him in 1v1 situations which he will be a lot of the time with the players in front of him on the right side being. I feel this is slightly harsh on Cash though. It'll be interesting to see what happens at this position in the summer. 4. Lee Kang-In. This could've been Goncalves or Alberto Moleiro. Just another forward minded player who is good at progressing the ball either via passing or dribbling, who still has room to develop.

Just a small note to say that both La Liga and Ligue 1 have their final weekend of the season a week after the Premier League finishes. We've been linked to players from both. It's unlikely we hear any signings confirmed from either league, especially pending free agents like Moussa Dembélé, until after the 4th June.

Feels like we're focusing up the right hand side to try and get Watkins isolated 1v1 on the left. Really liking this move of McGinn as the withdrawn forward. His arse just holds the ball better than Buendia.

Haven't seen confirmation but I expect that includes this weekend's fixture against Villa.

Guendouzi provides legit starting XI competition for: Douglas Luiz's Left Sided DM spot Kamara's Right Sided DM spot McGinn's Right Midfield spot *all based on most recent run outs when all fit. He loves playing for Emery. He fits the right age profile. Has Premier League experience. Has top level European Competition competition. Has experience playing alongside Kamara. Adds top level competition and cover for a number of positions in Emery's system. It would just be a really sensible signing on a number of levels.

That's not only bad on Luiz, but on everyone around him not giving him a shout.