Getting in a good midfielder to help this team should NOT be difficult! I don't understand what the hold up is. We need 1 extra player to supplement Ntcham and Brown. Bitton is injured but would be back-up to Broony. Kouassi is still learning, could probably do with going on loan to get regular first team football for even 6 months but again he's there to fill Brown's role in the team. We don't have another player who can come into midfield, pick the ball up and move with it, someone who has the skill and speed to break the opposition lines. Ntcham is great, I really like him but he doesn't run with the ball enough, he wants to be on the ball trying to make things happen and that's fine because we need that too. But if we can get someone else to help change games round when that's not working then we should be getting him in.
Yann Bodiger - 23 year old former French U21 international playing for Toulouse (a mid-table French side these days). We were apparently interested in him last summer before we signed Ntcham. He's described as a box to box midfielder.....sounds like what we need if you ask me. He's also got a pretty sweet left foot! Not much footage of him other than a few goals he's scored but if we were interested before, why not now? Current value is £2.7m and 2 years left on his contract.
Mikkel Duelund - turned 21 in the summer, he's an almost 6ft Danish U21 international. He is down as being a left winger who can also play on the right or an attacking midfield role but looking at the footage, he's like another Calmac! Looks to be one of the best young Danish talents coming through. Happy to come deep and received the ball, can run and play out wide on the wings, good shot and creative. Valued at £1.35m, he has 3 years left on his contract.
Angelo Fulgini - 21 year old French U21 international. Plays for SCO Angers in Ligue 1. He's an international team-mate of Ntcham, Dembele and probably knows Edouard too. He's a 6ft tall midfielder who can basically play anywhere; CM, DM, RM, LM, on the wing, AM.....could probably fill in as a striker too. He's quick, strong, a bit of skill, an eye for a pass, can finish.....Valued at £3.5m and 3 years left on his contract so he would cost a fair bit of cash but it should still be possible.
Jaoa Gamboa - almost 22 year old Portuguese U21 international playing for Maritimo in Portugal. He previously played for Braga, mainly the Braga B team and U19s but spent most of his younger years coming through the Benfica youth academy. He's a bit more of a defensive midfielder, he's a little more like Ntcham in that he likes to get on the ball and make the passes but I really like him. I think he could be very good for our team. He's comfortable taking the ball in and is quick enough both with his feet and with his mind to get out of trouble if the opposition press him. That's something we could really do with as we struggle when the press comes on us in midfield but this guy has the ability to break that press, on occasion even when 2 or even 3 players are after him. He can break forward as well though and doesn't mind a shot from distance. Valued at £1.35m and 3 years left on his contract but I think no more than £3-3.5m should be enough to get him.
Now if I can find these 4, all of whom should be possible to go and get, why can't our scouting network and why aren't we making deals for these sorts of players happen?