It is widely rumoured that Guehi won't sign a new contract. Add this to the report that we took out a loan rumoured to be for the purpose of buying players without first selling any AND that such loan is secured against future player sales, it is likely that Guehi will be the first one out the door with Riad comung in to replace him.

Is the right answer.

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

While i agree our fully fit first choice team is a good premier league side now, I think to say we’re the best team in the division has you up there with Brendon Rodgers and Erik Ten Hag in delusional thinking

quote=Ginger Pubic Wig;3877002]

I honestly believe our best 11, fully fit, is the best team bar none in the division. Which isn't to say we will win the league or qualify for the Champions League because that would require insane luck with injuries.

But if we strengthen this summer, then the sky may be the limit.

The entire staff need to be got together by Harris (not Parish, not Textor) and told this. He's the real money man here.

Do we actually have to sell anyone? I don't think we do. If they all get told we are going for it, maybe we have a historic achievement to tell our grandchildren about.

Footballers are in it for a combination of money and achievement. We can deliver them both.

Optimism is fine but I think this is pushing it. Our best 11 can compete with anyone on any given day but everyone has injuries (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cq55wy2qx21o) and we simply do not have the strength in depth of many other teams and really can’t change that in one window. How far up the table we can push depends on: who if anyone we lose this summer; how successful any new signings are; and a great deal of luck with injuries.

Edited by dg1937 (30 May 2024 5.55pm)

You have to remember that Reidewald and Tompkins were on decent money (certainly higher than their pitch contributions warranted) and now they have departed there may be scope to offer Guehi more. Having said that, I think he is the most likely of our players to leave, with Olise the next most likely. Although it would not be ideal to lose both I believe they are replaceable, certainly more so than Eze and Wharton.

I wouldn't write off Bayern after just one bad season, although things aren't looking good for next season. If Kompany messes up the start, things will quickly get uncomfortable there.

But for me there are other reasons why Wharton won't move. He has only had one season in the top league. And as impressive as that has been so far, at Bayern he would have to line up behind established players as a new signing. He would have to prove himself there first. And at Bayern many promising young players have languished on the bench in the past, simply because the core team was set.

Of course, moving to another country with a different language etc. would not make things any easier. So it would be much wiser for Wharton to continue to gain experience and regular playing time at Palace, where he is valued and has a fixed place in the first 11.