S.M

It’s always a challenge in a World Cup summer but #NFFC having clarity two weeks early should at least help solidify transfer plans and empower them to move quickly. The financial situation will be interesting, after heavy investment last summer and significant turnover in coaching staff there may still be a gap to fill in PSR/SCR before the end of June, the European run will definitely have helped with that, alongside over ninety percent of our games being televised, so maybe it’s a gap that can be filled with fringe player sales. If they can move on a couple of players early like John, Morato, Carmo, Jota or Awoniyi then that should allow them to seek maximum post World Cup value for Anderson, easier said than done, but this extra time gives them more of a chance. I’ve had a feeling for a while that it may be two of the star players leaving this summer, their valuations will still need to be met but there’s just too much interest from top clubs in Gibbs-White and Murillo and you can’t hold on to these players forever, if managed correctly we can continue to progress but it’s going to need to be handled carefully. Murillo leaving would be a challenge, and you’re never going to replace him like for like, but with Jair Cunha developing into a very promising player and central defenders generally being easier to recruit for it is doable. Gibbs-White would require something different, it helps that McAtee is already at the club but it’s a big ask for him to replicate what Morgan gives the team, and it might be better to use the opportunity if he did leave to restructure the midfield and move away from playing with a ten. In terms of incomings there does need to be more of a balance towards players with experience, that can still be younger players to fit the model but Premier League experience will be key, no European football puts the club at a slight disadvantage, but we’ve shown ambition in the past and there are opportunities to come in and challenge straight away for a starting position. This summer is the chance to refresh the midfield and go and find long term successors to Sels and Wood, there’s some natural squad depth strengthening that needs to happen but numbers wise it doesn’t need to be excessive. Release: Ortega, Boly, Richards, Lucca Sell: John, Carmo, Morato, Anderson, Jota, Awoniyi Loan: Abbott, Bindon, Moreira, Sinclair Buy: Trafford, Esteve, Fratessi, Hackney, Delap There may be opportunities to sign another senior full back, and then depending on exits they might want to rebalance certain areas. I’d look at Spence who can challenge Aina and provide cover on both sides and you’d imagine Spurs would allow to move on as they rebuild, Seys is a young option at left back but Netz deserves a preseason so isn’t a priority. If Murillo goes then I’d target Reis at Man City, but there’s an argument to look to add more experience to the group. Then if they are moving to a three in midfield you have space for one more player in there, Fernandes at West Ham would be ambitious as they’ll be bigger clubs looking at him, maybe they go back in for Ayari or Engels, but there’s been talk about interest in Hinshelwood for a while at Brighton, he’d cover a lot of positions, but maybe that level of depth is less of an issue with no European football next season. Whatever happens it won’t be dull, but for the first season in a while we know exactly where we’ll be next season with some extra time to plan properly, if we handle this well then there’s no reason that we can’t be challenging for the top half and going deep in a domestic cup next season with a young exciting squad and a decent manager.