As we now appear safe, it is time to look at who will be retained and who jettisoned next year.
Out of contract at the end of the season are:
Haidara, Gamez and Good
On loan and maybe destined to be sold are:
Sels, Colback, Findlay and Lazaar
Other loanees include:
Mitrovic, Aarons, Woodman, Sterry, Toney and Arma
That leaves 19 grown up squad players.
Who else is tradeable?
By my reckoning:
Elliott, Clark, Mbemba, Manquillo and Joselu, with other probables including Gayle
It would be nice to think we can sign Kennedy and Dubravka, maybe even Slimani.
It might be safe to assume that some will be retained as squad/development players:
Atsu, Hayden, Perez, Merino, Murphy, Darlow,
Also some certainties that we shall want to keep:
Lascelles, Yedlin, Shelvey, Lejeune, Dummett, Diame (on current form), likewise Ritchie who could be becoming the new Dirk Kuyt
Rafa definitely has to put together a shopping list, full backs on both side, back up central defenders, strikers at 9 and 10.
It will certainly need a chunk of cash, I make it on average about £10m per player to be brought in being available (after sales), some of which will be loans and Rafa is well placed for out of contract players elsewhere. Having said that, we shall find out quickly whether Ashley (if he is still here) will do enough to keep Rafa.
Any thoughts?
Out of contract at the end of the season are:
Haidara, Gamez and Good
On loan and maybe destined to be sold are:
Sels, Colback, Findlay and Lazaar
Other loanees include:
Mitrovic, Aarons, Woodman, Sterry, Toney and Arma
That leaves 19 grown up squad players.
Who else is tradeable?
By my reckoning:
Elliott, Clark, Mbemba, Manquillo and Joselu, with other probables including Gayle
It would be nice to think we can sign Kennedy and Dubravka, maybe even Slimani.
It might be safe to assume that some will be retained as squad/development players:
Atsu, Hayden, Perez, Merino, Murphy, Darlow,
Also some certainties that we shall want to keep:
Lascelles, Yedlin, Shelvey, Lejeune, Dummett, Diame (on current form), likewise Ritchie who could be becoming the new Dirk Kuyt
Rafa definitely has to put together a shopping list, full backs on both side, back up central defenders, strikers at 9 and 10.
It will certainly need a chunk of cash, I make it on average about £10m per player to be brought in being available (after sales), some of which will be loans and Rafa is well placed for out of contract players elsewhere. Having said that, we shall find out quickly whether Ashley (if he is still here) will do enough to keep Rafa.
Any thoughts?