Transfer Window Summer 2025 Transfer Window Build-Up Thread

[Jaboysmith]

Transfer Rumours In
​

Player​	Current Club​	Link or Source​
Thierry Small​	Charlton Athletic​	Football World Article​
Kasey Palmer​	Hull City​	YF ITK​
Ethan Erhahon​	Lincoln City​	Football World Article​
Onel Hernandez​	Norwich City​	Instragram Post​
Davis Keillor-Dunn​	Barnsley​	Football World Article​
COD​	Cardiff​	Scotchegg​
James Dornelly​	Peterborough​	Football League World​

Transfer Rumours Out​

Player​	Interested Club​	Link or Source​
Tyler Goodrham​	Burnley, Southampton, Middlesbrough, Coventry​	Football World Article, Bigboy​
Stuart Findlay​	Hearts, Kilmarnock​	Daily Record​

Transfer Window Dates
​

Opens​	Closes​	Re-Opens​
Sunday 1 June to Tuesday 10 June (19:00)​	Tuesday 10 June (19:00:01) to Monday 16 June (00:01)​	Monday 16 June to Monday 1 September (19:00)​

 

[southcoastyellow]

I don’t think that’s the problem, it’s the fact he isn’t giving up what we pay him for what Kilmarnock would pay him. He will go on loan there (or somewhere else in Scotland) and they will pay us a few quid towards his 4-5k a week.

Another gift from KR that keeps on giving…

 

[TheDukeOfBanburyshire]

Maybe Kilmarnock will take him on loan, contribute £100 a week towards his wages.

The Stuart Findlay model.

 

[oldabingdonian]

Does anyone know for sure what the financial implications are for a decision about a player like Phillips? Clearly, we could keep him and pay him; loan him out if anyone would take him; or sell him, if any one would take him who could match his wages. None of these seem attractive or likely options. If we 'pay up his contract', do we have to pay all the wages we would have paid him over his contract term? Or is there some compromise?

There are a few players who are clearly unlikely to be with us next season, such as Bennett and McEachran. However, with more we are in the Phillips position, perhaps not really wanting them but needing to find takers - Dale, Goodwin, Sibley, El Mizouni, ?Kioso. The latter three have only been with us for a season, so presumably have quite a long time left on their contracts.

Is Thorniley ooc?

 

[NorthWestOx]

From the already relegated clubs in this division I would take Ryan Hardie (striker) , Mustapha Bundu (left of a front 3) and Odowda (lb/lw) .

Bundu has to be a top target, he's just the type of player we need.

 

[Bornyellow]

Bundu has to be a top target, he's just the type of player we need.

Been scoring a fair few recently, but where has he been for the rest of the season. Only a few weeks ago I saw Plymouth fans calling him their worst signing in years.

 

[Northernyellow]

Does anyone know for sure what the financial implications are for a decision about a player like Phillips? Clearly, we could keep him and pay him; loan him out if anyone would take him; or sell him, if any one would take him who could match his wages. None of these seem attractive or likely options. If we 'pay up his contract', do we have to pay all the wages we would have paid him over his contract term? Or is there some compromise?

There are a few players who are clearly unlikely to be with us next season, such as Bennett and McEachran. However, with more we are in the Phillips position, perhaps not really wanting them but needing to find takers - Dale, Goodwin, Sibley, El Mizouni, ?Kioso. The latter three have only been with us for a season, so presumably have quite a long time left on their contracts.

Is Thorniley ooc?

It'll be up to the player, I'm afraid. Phillips has got one year left on his contract and he's (apparently) on a very healthy wage. We've got no chance of another Championship club taking him on. Phillips won't take a pay cut, so we would have to pay him the differential if he got an offer from L1 club on lower wages. His legs have obviously gone, but Rowett seems to quite like him, and he'll make quite a few sub appearances etc next season. We're probably stuck with him for another 12 months. Most of the others you named can probably be moved on. El Miz, for example, isn't a bad player at all. But probably not quite Championship level. We'd get a fee for him. L1 clubs will also be interested in Thorniley, Dale and Sibley. We'd probably get a small fee for Dale. Not sure if we'll be able to offload Goodwin. Kioso is an odd one. Good athlete, but appears to struggle positionally. I'd be very surprised if McEachran and Bennett get new contracts. But to answer your question, the player can sit out his contract if he doesn't want to take a pay cut.

 

[Followtheox1]

When does Findlay's contact end?

 

[NorthWestOx]

When does Findlay's contact end?

I'm not sure it does...

 

[tonyw]

The talk is they’ve offered him 17k P/W to join them.

Talk I've seen is 30k.
Regardless, I think we can safely take Poku off the list - we're not competing with Birmingham when it comes to throwing money around.

Unfortunately, I think we can take Nelson off the list as well unless someone like Chelsea comes in for him, and we can persuade them to loan him out to us. Unless Leicester are nuts, if he stays he should be starting at CB for them next year.

Said it before, but I think the crucial thing this summer is quality more than quantity. We only need to bring in half a dozen players (Striker, AM, 2 x Wingers, CM, CB) if they're good and consistent enough to start at Championship level. Add them to our current core (Cumming, Brown, Moore, Helik, Currie, Leigh, Ter Avest, Long, Vaulks, Brannagan, Goodrham, Rodrigues, Placheta, Dembele, Harris and hopefully Matos) and we'll be in good shape.

Problem is finding those half dozen quality players somewhere that we can afford!

 

[pommy80]

Problem is finding those half dozen quality players somewhere that we can afford!

Yep. Won’t be easy, especially with money bags Birmingham and Wrexham coming up.

Will have to break another transfer record this summer I think.

 

[Oufcluke34]

Yep. Won’t be easy, especially with money bags Birmingham and Wrexham coming up.

Will have to break another transfer record this summer I think.

I think we have to break it more than once in the summer

 

[Osleroad]

Much as they make us want to tear what we have of hair out - George (think) made the point on The Dub that most every player had made a crucial contribution at some point whilst we are being generous to the squad. A lot of tough decisions for the players and management team.

 

[WRox]

Realistically we probably have 18-20 of next season’s squad already signed, and that’s with an enormous cull of anyone out of contract or on the fringes.

Matos would be huge with his quality and potential, but also because he wouldn’t count towards the squad limit, so expect to see a big bid in for him.

Then I imagine the shopping list will be: 1) two wingers who carry a threat on the counter, 2) one or two forwards suited to the lone striker role, 3) a well-rounded centre back like Nelson, 4) another midfielder with more creative capability, 5) anything else that comes up - maybe a Dutch-Indonesian or two from the Eredivisie.

I do like the idea of another year or Championship revenue with half as many signings needed as last summer.

 

[Jster]

So who is out of contract now, remind me? Is it just McEachran, Bennett, Eastwood and Knightbridge?

 

[Carlislehotdog]

Most important thing IMO is two wingers who are an upgrade on Dembele and Placheta. Not necessarily faster or more skillful, but people who reliably get the ball and deliver it into the box every time. Let's get Moneyball in this thing.

 

[BarrySpang]

I wonder if we will see Mees Hilgers come in this summer now from FC Twente. Was one of the players spoken about in Jan but was seen as more of a summer option if we stayed up. One year left on his contract.

 

[BicesterU]

These are all based on being able to bring in replacements who immediately lift the quality of the squad.

Players I'd be willing to see leave:

Bennett
Sibley
El Mizouni
McEachran
Dale
Thorniley
Phillips
Goodwin
Bradshaw
Wouldn't be surprised to see PK go too - I think Rowett values flexibility highly, and not sure PK has enough of that.
Obviously there are some pretty hefty caveats attached to some of these - will there be any takers, will they want to potentially drop down a league, etc.
Based on Rowett's comments in January about the squad size, I wouldn't be surprised if we don't fill all 25 places in the squad, and if that's the case I expect to see us prioritise quality over quantity.

Rowett clearly wants the ability change defensive systems, and I think we're not far away from a good 'stable' on that front.

If we can bring in a Nelson replacement (keeping in mind we've been spoiled rotten with him), I don't think the defence requires too much work. Helik and Moore have both shown they're championship players, Brown likewise and he also provides a left back option. Sam Long has barely put a foot wrong and can cover both RB and RCB in a three. Greg Leigh, Jack Currie and Hidde Ter Avest along with Kioso (or perhaps a replacement) is pretty much a defensive unit sorted for my money. Be interesting to see what happens with Negru.

If we can keep Matos and bring in a couple of wingers, that would allow Tyler to play primarily in that central role, and mean we need one more 6/8 to complete the midfield, so three from Cam, Vaulks, Tyler, Matos, Rodrigues and AN Other, with Romney also able to play in that advanced midfield role.

Dembele and Placheta have shown enough in their first seasons that my only questions about them are decision-making and end product. Hopefully some of the other changes to the squad will mean we rely less on them. Mulls has shown glimpses off the bench of the quality he has, and I'd expect him to have a big season next year. Two more wingers to strengthen the wide areas andean we don't have to put round pegs in square holes would be ace. I wonder if these will be more in the O'Dowda/Phillips mould than the shemmy/dembs mold? Solid, reliable, consistent. Loan move for Marcelino, maybe?

We desperately, desperately need another striker but the type may depend on Rowett's plans for the midfield. Is he going to want a big lad we can get crosses in to on the box, or an upgrade on Harris/Bradshaw who drops deep and has runners going past him? I'd really hoped Goodwin would be the man, but his loan at Wigan has only reinforced the concerns about how injury prone he is. I'm excited to see Romeny's second season - he could be a real player, I think. I really liked the big lad Bristol brought on late against us who gave Helik a torrid time. Didn't look technically great, but a big, strong nuisance. Although all of this said, if Harris can turn in performances like he did yesterday 7/8 games out of 10, then...

 

[yellowbow]

Been scoring a fair few recently, but where has he been for the rest of the season. Only a few weeks ago I saw Plymouth fans calling him their worst signing in years.

The new Josh Murphy

 

[OX14]

The new Josh Murphy

Beat me to it

 

[RyanioBirdio]

I wonder if we will see Mees Hilgers come in this summer now from FC Twente. Was one of the players spoken about in Jan but was seen as more of a summer option if we stayed up. One year left on his contract.

Get a load of these @Eric Blair

 

[stu_tay]

I think one thing currently being overlooked is some of the so called bigger championship clubs coming in for our top players, attempting to strengthen their own squads.

 

[OxfordBoy]

I think one thing currently being overlooked is some of the so called bigger championship clubs coming in for our top players, attempting to strengthen their own squads.

Other than Cumming and maybe Brannagan who else would you be worried about losing for a decent fee? I don't think anyone is paying what we'd want for Brown and I don't think there's anyone else we couldnt replace

 

[Oufccraig45]

We are going to have to spend around 10 million if the owners want to keep us in the Championship mid table route that will mean off loading Harris Bradshaw and Phillips to name 3 but there will be more. We will probably go abroad for our signings as get more for the money.
Season Ticket says would probably have to go up quite a bit this year to keep us competitive and if that happens so be it COYY'S

 

[oufc1991]

Has there been any update on Ciaron browns injury he didn’t look to good yesterday so we might also need cover for him and with Nelson going back to Leicester that would be two centre backs need replacing

 

[oldabingdonian]

There is an unusual level of agreement about who should go and who should stay.

Another strategic positive is the fact that we only have two loan players going back. More extensive use of the loan system next season could provide a significant proportion of the players we need.

 

[OX14]

Has there been any update on Ciaron browns injury he didn’t look to good yesterday so we might also need cover for him and with Nelson going back to Leicester that would be two centre backs need replacing

We need two centre backs regardless of Brown's injury once Nelson goes back. Thorniley is out of contract don't forget.

 

[Davox]

Here’s my initial thoughts on selection and recruitment (in order of priority):

1) Forward positions- I personally feel that Mills will be a big player for us next season so more game time needed for him. Also, I feel Goodhram will kick on to the next level. However, we need to target the likes of Bundu from Plymouth and I’d be looking at Richard Kone from Wycombe as it’s crystal clear the forward positions are the biggest priority. I’d love to see Harris still in the squad but can’t be first choice. Romeny similarly is a squad player but I doubt will be first choice when Dembele is available who I feel is also first choice next season and will improve his end product.

2) Midfield area - Not necessarily the most popular opinion but I think there’s a fair amount of work to do in central midfield. Vaulks undoubtedly had some big games but he also had many where he couldn’t pick the forward pass to get us up the pitch and is more suited to a defensive midfield role. We really need someone who can provide the assists in CAM with Rodrigues a good player to bring on as a second choice. Realistically, someone like Jordan Clark from Luton could be a decent option. Has experience and attacking quality from midfield. Of course, signing Matos from Chelsea should be possible as Chelsea must realise he can’t play a role for them and he’s already embedded with us. Whilst we could never replicate what Brannagan offers us, we also could benefit from another player in his mould who can be a box to box player. Possibly a couple of younger athletic players with potential as El Mouzhini and Mchechran aren’t Championship quality and we need to improve the energy levels and bring players on from the bench who can inject energy, especially away from home.

3) Defence - As Nelson is unlikely to be here next season as Leicester will use him, another CB is a must for me as without Nelson coming back we might have been relegated. I think Ter Avest will kick on at Right back and be first choice and left back we’re pretty secure as Leigh and Bennett for me are terrific. Brown and Helik are 100% first choice for me at CB but as well as Moore it’s been proved we need 4 CB’s of sufficient quality to cover potential injuries.

So, so delighted to have been lucky enough to have a season ticket for the last two seasons as what the lads have done is nothing short of phenomenal and it’s slightly annoying all the publicity Wrexham get on Sky Sports when I feel what we’ve done in the last two seasons with our budget and size of club in a bigger league is a bigger achievement and it’s not even being talked about! Some monumental performances which is why for me big changes aren’t needed, just clever additions.

 

[RyanioBirdio]

We need two centre backs regardless of Brown's injury once Nelson goes back. Thorniley is out of contract don't forget.

Highly doubt we will be carrying a fifth/sixth choice centre back like Thorniley again. Especially now that players like Mills and Goodrham count towards the squad cap.

 

[Axol0tlFC]

Personally, I'm not sure why there is no call on here for a new attacking midfielder. As much as I love Ruben there is clear signs that he is only a good league one player and maybe can be a average championship player on his day but sadly that day is three times a season. He is just not worth it to keep, especially if we want to be a midtable side. Someone to go alongside Goodrham such as Geldhart to push each other would be sensational

 

[Eric Blair]

Get a load of these @Eric Blair

View attachment 26822

I never thought the day would come when I would see better teeth than Josh McEachran. What a time to be alive.

Incidentally I did have a quick chat to Josh at the end when he was signing autographs for the fans. He’s a lovely bloke but he smiled at me when I wished him a good summer and his teeth were so bright I was blinded for about 30 minutes