Since January (though, to be fair, back to Marcelo Bielsa’s days), we’ve been linked with a move for Emiliano Buendia.
And, I really don’t get it (I might end up eating my words if we sign him and he excels), but for me, he just seems like an underwhelming buy.
Obviously, Bielsa had great judgement when it came to players – more or less – and Daniel Farke will know how to get through best out of him having managed the Argentine at Norwich City, though, I don’t really get it.
Unai Emery is no mug and, I would have thought that if he was Premier League quality, the Spaniard would know how to use him.
Xabi Alonso took a punt on him in January, taking him to Bayer Leverkusen on loan and he didn’t really seem to do much.
For the price as well – £25 million for someone who now has a decent amount of experience at the highest level and in his late twenties, I just don’t get it and think there are much better options out there for the number 10 role.
I’m not even sure he would be better than what we already have in Brenden Aaronson who was decent for us last season. Admittedly his first time around in the top flight wasn’t great – he looked lightweight – but, he knows what to expect now, his time in the Championship will have toughened him up and he’ll be a solid rotation option for us next term.
Who Are Our Other Options?
This is a position where we definitely need to upgrade (in addition to central striker), though we seem to be having trouble identifying someone.
Knowing us, we will bring someone in from left-field who hasn’t yet been linked. Gustavo Hamer isn’t someone who fills me with confidence either. He’s a class Championship player but he proved with Sheffield United, he can’t cut it (maybe not yet), in the Premier League.
We were linked with an ambitious move for Bayer Leverkusen’s Adam Hlozek last summer and this is the calibre of player I think we should be aiming for.
At 22, he’s the right age and he appears to be one for the future for the Czech Republic. He’s also starting to get on the scoresheet for his country.
He’d probably command a price of between £25-£30 million (potentially with add-ons), which I think is about right and I think he’s worth a gamble.
Compared to Buendia who would command a price-tag of around the same, as I mentioned above, Hlozek has age on his side and looks like a future star. I reckon he’d jump at the chance to play for us in the top-flight, especially based on our ambition and the calibre of players we can obviously attract.
He’s also technically gifted, has an eye for a pass, is tricky between the lines and can also score.
The One That We Should Go For
Now, the one that I really like and who I think we should pull out all the stops for is Oscar Gloukh.
For me, he would be a Raphina-like signing in terms of impact and the fact he plays for Red Bull Salzburg could work in our favour given our links with the drinks brand.
At 21 he already looks like the real deal, has an eye for a pass, can score and is hard to mark. I wouldn’t be surprised if we are looking at him actually and he could definitely come straight in and excel.
In terms of ability he is head and shoulders above Buendia and Hamer and is exactly the type of blockbuster signing that would get fans onside.
He’s also within budget. I think a deal could easily be done for in the region of £25 million and, let’s not forget that RBS have a great reputation when it comes to their production line.
Interestingly, like Manor Solomon (who’s future appears to be up in the air), who spent last season on loan with us, he’s also Israeli.
Gloukh, though, appears to be a cut above and, his potential is significant.
We should pull out all the stops to bring him in and the fact that we have Red Bull as an investor could help to sweeten the deal.
