Summer 26 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc.

[Dave]

Think they're going to need to do that anyway. Problem is, who are those players who will generate hefty fees? Palmer / Caicedo / Joao Pedro / Fernandez / maybe Cucurella?

Sell three of them and you've probably got £200m back, but does Rogers (or equivalent) now want to join a team that has just sold its most creative assets and isn't playing in Europe?

[cdbearsfan]

I'd imagine still yes. There seem to have been whisperings of this potential move for months now. Realistically, the rules still mean that they are more likely to be long-term challengers than us. We are doing brilliantly to keep doing so well despite the restrictions.

[Sexual Ealing]

Players don't really think about the long-term though. If he signs for six years and it takes them three to get back competing, he'll be in his late-20s and will have risked being overtaken by all manner of youngsters in the meantime.

[Dave]

I'd imagine still yes. There seem to have been whisperings of this potential move for months now. Realistically, the rules still mean that they are more likely to be long-term challengers than us. We are doing brilliantly to keep doing so well despite the restrictions.

"Months" ago when these stories were being "whispered", Chelsea were still seen as likely candidates to qualify for the Champions League, and while they would still have been a complete basket-case, they wouldn't be quite so financially screwed as they are now.

There was talk last Spring that Rashford would join us permanently. Then we had to deal with the £100m hole in our accounts instead.