2025 Summer Transfer Thread. 😂

[bluebruce]

On 04/05/2025 at 22:22, booth said:

 

At 27 minutes in they discuss the budget.

An appalling (I was going to say shocking, but these things don't shock anymore) lack of ambition, understanding and vision.

I'm also, like most of us, sick of hearing about building things up gradually. We've been allegedly doing that for about 10 fucking years, and we all know full well it ends up requiring practically an entire reset every summer because everything is horrendously mismanaged. How is it that promotion isn't our objective, when we've had three seasons out of the last four where it was very much on the cards if we hadn't dicked it up in January every time? How are we still talking about slowly building step by step? The only next step is to reach the fucking playoffs, we just missed out by one position. This is a frank admission that the objective is NOT to improve on last season.

Plus, it's galling to hear about trying to push academy minutes, and have an academy player as third choice in every position, with zero mentions of whether those academy players are actually ready to contribute.

But buy more season tickets guys, support the battle for midtable, what's wrong with you ungrateful fans? Get fucked.

Edited yesterday at 16:22 by bluebruce

[B16Rover]

Have we had the inevitable Charlie Savage link yet? Somewhat like for like with Buckley, sacrifice the 'hes a local boy' narrative for 'his dad was a legend for little Blackburn, like Gestede' 

Decent season for Reading

[bluebruce]

3 minutes ago, B16Rover said:

Have we had the inevitable Charlie Savage link yet? Somewhat like for like with Buckley, sacrifice the 'hes a local boy' narrative for 'his dad was a legend for little Blackburn, like Gestede' 

Decent season for Reading

Neither of them were legends for us. Just good players.

[lraC]

13 minutes ago, B16Rover said:

Have we had the inevitable Charlie Savage link yet? Somewhat like for like with Buckley, sacrifice the 'hes a local boy' narrative for 'his dad was a legend for little Blackburn, like Gestede' 

Decent season for Reading

No but Lilly could be on the cards.

[B16Rover]

19 minutes ago, bluebruce said:

Neither of them were legends for us. Just good players.

Put your Waggot hat on

[Roverthechimp]

I am a little concerned that Baath might be offered a better deal by a canny club aiming for promotion. The difference he made to our defence was significant and he showed he can definitely hack it. I'm assuming we will offer him the same as last season and the only question is can he be arsed moving for a few grand extra a week knowing full well that whoever signs him will only give him a 1 year deal (yes i know he only gets a 1 year deal at Rovers but given our amazing transfer record it is a fair bet that another 1 year deal will be offered in 2026 providing he can still walk...)

[Southside Rover]

Maybe even Derby as he came from the Midlands himself if I recall and Eustace will know better than anyone

[chaddyrovers]

5 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

 

Batth obviously we should renew.

Weimann perhaps I would prior to a serious injury especially at his age.

Hedges on performance levels in the season just gone? Really?

I have been very clear on my opinion on renewing Hedges contract and I have clear with yourself, I would renew his contract. Look at the great pass for Ohashi's goal or the part he played for the goal at Sheffield United. I have said he would be squad player next season and having people like Hedges is good for the squad

1 hour ago, Roverthechimp said:

I am a little concerned that Baath might be offered a better deal by a canny club aiming for promotion. The difference he made to our defence was significant and he showed he can definitely hack it. I'm assuming we will offer him the same as last season and the only question is can he be arsed moving for a few grand extra a week knowing full well that whoever signs him will only give him a 1 year deal (yes i know he only gets a 1 year deal at Rovers but given our amazing transfer record it is a fair bet that another 1 year deal will be offered in 2026 providing he can still walk...)

Batth has said he is happy here and wants to stay

[bluebruce]

7 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

 

Batth has said he is happy here and wants to stay

That will mean very little if a promotion chaser offers him more money.

[roversfan99]

So Danny, would you like to stay at the club next season?

No, I couldnt think of anything worse. If anyone offers any more money or a genuine sense of ambition, im off.

Of course he will say he is happy here. And he probably is, plus these days he isnt considered fashionable, in his 30s, not the quickest, not the most elegant and not the best on the ball so other offers might be limited. Very old school but a leader and a proper defender. So I think he will stay, but im not naive enough to think he wouldnt jump at a better offer or by the usual interview spiel.

[simongarnerisgod]

27 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

I have been very clear on my opinion on renewing Hedges contract and I have clear with yourself, I would renew his contract. Look at the great pass for Ohashi's goal or the part he played for the goal at Sheffield United. I have said he would be squad player next season and having people like Hedges is good for the squad

Batth has said he is happy here and wants to stay

depends on how much the club offer him

bearing in mind he`s 34 but mostly always fit,can  likely can do another 2 seasons and he`s  a leader on the pitch,i would say it`s very important to keep him here,certainly more so than hedges ,who is only any use a sub and has a terrible injury record

wether the cupid stunts upstairs see it that way is another matter,that lot are more likely to offer him a pittance and slate him in the press when he ***** off

[sammie]

fully expect a McFadzean situation were it takes 3 months to offer him a contract.. still haven’t got over that shit show 

[Wegerleswiggle]

Angus Gunn anyone? 

[Paul Mani]

Contracts

I think Ismael has asked that we re-sign the four out of contract to keep a level of consistency in the group.

Personally, I would offer Batth and Weimann (once fit) new deals as a priority. I think Forshaw did quite well so a cheap short term deal in addition to someone to push Trav and Sonny would be fine for me also.

Dolan and Hedges, though far superior to many of our other players technically, both needed to go. Because neither of them do the actual job they’re paid to. Hedges goal contributions are horrific and we shouldn’t let Dolan’s mini renaissance cloud the fact that he’s stunk most of his 200 games out with flicks and unnecessary extra touches, combined with a lack of end product. Both are hard working, honest players but forwards are paid to effect the final third. See ya.

Sales

Pears - had his best time for us in the first half of the season and was integral to us being in the top 5. Form tailed off in the new year, won’t wanna play second fiddle.

Buckley / JRC - Time is up. Club an manager made their feelings known

Hyam - may go if they can’t get him to sign. Assuming we have Batth, Carter and Wharton

Pickering - may go, can’t see him wanting to sit behind Ribeiro

Free / £1m

GK, CB, RB, CM and 2x wide forwards. Any gaps will be filled by U21’s

We know from Rudys interview and the last few summers that we will have approx £5m to spend across both windows regardless of what we bring in. So I expect two or three 1m ish fees, a couple of free’s and loans / short term deals.

Im still undecided as to whether I will renew. Be the first time I haven’t since Keans last season. Weirdly, Rudys honesty in that interview has completely killed me because I know now, there’s no flippin hope! It’s formulaic. Zero imagination so no point in dreaming, whilst they put the ticket prices up 🙈

[...]

16 hours ago, Exiled_Rover said:

Besides popping up with the odd goal he was a passenger when on the field. Simply couldn't keep up with play at times.

Clutch goals though 🙌 

[MarkBRFC]

6 hours ago, Wegerleswiggle said:

Angus Gunn anyone? 

No chance.

[KentExile]

6 hours ago, Wegerleswiggle said:

Angus Gunn anyone? 

 

9 minutes ago, MarkBRFC said:

No chance.

Norwich can't afford to keep him as he is on "mega wages" with somebody quoting £35K/week on their forum

Don't think he will get that much with his next contract (unless it is to sit on the bench in the Premier League), but would imagine he will be very much out of Rovers wage structure

Edited 14 hours ago by KentExile

[DutchRover]

Definitely too expensive and also would come in as new starter just as Toth has shown he deserves a chance. 

What I will say is the number of potential free agents this summer is crazy, looking at how many other Championship teams who also have 5-10 out of contract at once. If we are sensible we could pick up some useful players, though our lack of wage competitiveness will hurt.

Edited 13 hours ago by DutchRover

[Exiled_Rover]

7 hours ago, Wegerleswiggle said:

Angus Gunn anyone? 

No thanks. Give Toth the gloves or try to upgrade on him. 

[Exiled_Rover]

3 hours ago, ... said:

Clutch goals though 🙌 

He was a very good player in his time, but his legs have clearly gone. 

He'd be nice as a bench option, but you know they'd be signing him as a regular starter. 

[...]

29 minutes ago, Exiled_Rover said:

He was a very good player in his time, but his legs have clearly gone. 

He'd be nice as a bench option, but you know they'd be signing him as a regular starter. 

I know, I'd take him as an impact player for those gritty games 20/30mins when we need all out attacking play to nab a goal. No denying he has a knackered for those goals. 

[...]

1 hour ago, ... said:

I know, I'd take him as an impact player for those gritty games 20/30mins when we need all out attacking play to nab a goal. No denying he has a knackered for those goals. 

Hahaha I meant knack but I'm leaving the typo 🤣🤣

[Tom]

My view on a few things:

Dolan - would defo keep him if we could but he’s gone

Hedges - let him go

Weimann - review injury maybe keep on a low base salary if possible 

Batth - try and get renewed

Forshaw - no real view, if super cheap maybe keep around as a last option 

Pears - consider offers if received 

Buckley / JRC - accept any offer 

Gueye - I expect him to move on, his usefulness is proven on his day but his day isn’t often enough and seems less so under VI and I could see us breaking even 

Could also see us having to fend off interest for Travis, Brittain and Sonny and by fend off interest I mean have the used car salesman bug them up with the press and agents

I expect a mass exodus at youth levels as well 

[roversfan99]

13 hours ago, Paul Mani said:

Contracts

I think Ismael has asked that we re-sign the four out of contract to keep a level of consistency in the group.

Personally, I would offer Batth and Weimann (once fit) new deals as a priority. I think Forshaw did quite well so a cheap short term deal in addition to someone to push Trav and Sonny would be fine for me also.

Dolan and Hedges, though far superior to many of our other players technically, both needed to go. Because neither of them do the actual job they’re paid to. Hedges goal contributions are horrific and we shouldn’t let Dolan’s mini renaissance cloud the fact that he’s stunk most of his 200 games out with flicks and unnecessary extra touches, combined with a lack of end product. Both are hard working, honest players but forwards are paid to effect the final third. See ya.

Sales

Pears - had his best time for us in the first half of the season and was integral to us being in the top 5. Form tailed off in the new year, won’t wanna play second fiddle.

Buckley / JRC - Time is up. Club an manager made their feelings known

Hyam - may go if they can’t get him to sign. Assuming we have Batth, Carter and Wharton

Pickering - may go, can’t see him wanting to sit behind Ribeiro

Free / £1m

GK, CB, RB, CM and 2x wide forwards. Any gaps will be filled by U21’s

We know from Rudys interview and the last few summers that we will have approx £5m to spend across both windows regardless of what we bring in. So I expect two or three 1m ish fees, a couple of free’s and loans / short term deals.

Im still undecided as to whether I will renew. Be the first time I haven’t since Keans last season. Weirdly, Rudys honesty in that interview has completely killed me because I know now, there’s no flippin hope! It’s formulaic. Zero imagination so no point in dreaming, whilst they put the ticket prices up 🙈

Hedges and Dolan cant be lumped in together. Dolan is far more productive.

We also cant let Pickering go just because he wouldnt necessarily be automatic starter. Although from what I have seen from Ribeiro I would prefer Pickering anyway.

[Bbrovers2288]

Josh windass on a free? Always thought him to be a threat, getting on but these post 30 players can be very handy in the champ. I’d have him