Summer Window 2026 - Rumours and Discussion (DEADLINE DAY from Page 814)

CB1

TheNotoriousBWP said:

Can definitely see it being us wanting to go down the loan route for him. 

Makes sense. Don’t have to pay all his wages then can get him on a free next summer. 

Sword65pf

CB1 said:

TheNotoriousBWP said:

Can definitely see it being us wanting to go down the loan route for him. 

Makes sense. Don’t have to pay all his wages then can get him on a free next summer. 

If someone else offers a permanent deal for Wrexham’s valuation our potential loan offer probably won’t carry much favour unless Okonkwo wants to keep his options open 🤷🏻‍♂️

CAFCsayer

Would rather get him on a perm... If he does well we will be back to square one again next summer

North Lower Neil

TheNotoriousBWP said:

Can definitely see it being us wanting to go down the loan route for him. 

Agreed, which is a shame when it's definitely a better move as a permanent transfer.

AberystwythAddick

CAFCsayer said:

Would rather get him on a perm... If he does well we will be back to square one again next summer

Prefer a loan if it lands us our first choice rw target 

Bostonaddick

There is some risk with signing him permanently though as well given his inconsistencies.  Listen to Wrexham fans, he either looks like an elite keeper or makes head scratching mistakes depending on the week.

LargeAddick

Can't see why Wrexham would loan him if he's out of contract next summer unless all his wages are covered plus a lumpy loan fee. Would rather sign a permanent keeper.

Valley11

Bostonaddick said:

There is some risk with signing him permanently though as well given his inconsistencies.  Listen to Wrexham fans, he either looks like an elite keeper or makes head scratching mistakes depending on the week.

A large chunk of the latest season of the Wrexham Disney doc focuses on AO. Episode 5. Worth a watch. 

Seems he had a decent season after getting back in ahead of Ward but made a mistake away at Swansea in the Welsh ‘derby’ and his card was marked after that, even though he played well for the rest of the season.
The life of a footballer eh?! 

The Red Robin

CAFCsayer said:

Would rather get him on a perm... If he does well we will be back to square one again next summer

Could also protect us from Wrexham recalling him.

YannTheMann

It sounds like Kaminski throwing a strop wasn't in Jones' plans so I don't mind a loan, where our scouting team has a whole season or if a disaster 6 months to find their man 

SDAddick

LargeAddick said:

Can't see why Wrexham would loan him if he's out of contract next summer unless all his wages are covered plus a lumpy loan fee. Would rather sign a permanent keeper.

At this stage of the window I think a #1 on a permanent deal will come at a real premium in a position I doubt we intended to upgrade on. I think Okonkwo on a loan would be a good deal because:
1. We presumably wouldn't be paying all of his wages, or, at a minimum, probably would only pay a small loan fee
2. We have a season to suss out if he's actually a Championship #1 because I don't think that's been settled by his time at Wrexham

I don't have the depth of knowledge of Premier League yoot teams to know if there are any keepers out there with big potential looking for a first (or even second) loan. But either way, I think the GK is going to be a loan and then if it goes well, hope to try to sign them again next summer.

Exiled_Addick

Bostonaddick said:

There is some risk with signing him permanently though as well given his inconsistencies.  Listen to Wrexham fans, he either looks like an elite keeper or makes head scratching mistakes depending on the week.

That’s my concern with him. He is younger and has potential to improve in the longer term but, if you look at the underlying stats from last season, in the short term I have feeling he could have a lot of the same issues at Kaminski, just maybe a bit more commanding of his area (not harder to be better at that than Kaminski to be fair). 

If he’s a sideways or a diagonal move from Kaminski, and we already feel Mannion is much the same or maybe marginally better than Kaminski, is Okonkwo a clear upgrade on what we already have? We need three keepers and maybe Okonkwo is the best that is realistically available but I don’t know if I’d want to break the bank on him.

So it’s a bit of a weird one. From the perspective of investing in his long term potential a permanent transfer makes most sense, but we know Wrexham pay big salaries to attract players and there’s serious doubt we can, or should try, to match that. So, from a cost perspective, a loan makes sense but puts us in a odd spot because of he does well we likely lose him next summer to a bigger wage payer, and if he doesn’t do well enough to attract other interest next summer, and become affordable to us, we potentially might not want to keep him anyway.

I’d probably go loan and see what happens but perhaps give Mannion a few more games to see if he can settle down, build some confidence, and stake a real claim. I get why we wouldn’t want to rely on Mannion with no credible plan B, but I don’t think it’s outlandish to think he might prove to be good enough for a team like ours with a main aim of survival. 

CB1

Slightly unrelated but just seen that Chetam Ezenwata is leaving the club which is a real shame. Very bright prospect in that LCB role and been capped for England too. Be interesting to see where he ends up, I’d have an outside bet at Chelsea with his brother Chizzy. 

Bod

Put simply Okonkwo is the better keeper. If we get him we will be improved - Kaminski is history as far as we are concerned.

DamoNorthStand

Exiled_Addick said:

Bostonaddick said:

There is some risk with signing him permanently though as well given his inconsistencies.  Listen to Wrexham fans, he either looks like an elite keeper or makes head scratching mistakes depending on the week.

That’s my concern with him. He is younger and has potential to improve in the longer term but, if you look at the underlying stats from last season, in the short term I have feeling he could have a lot of the same issues at Kaminski, just maybe a bit more commanding of his area (not harder to be better at that than Kaminski to be fair). 

If he’s a sideways or a diagonal move from Kaminski, and we already feel Mannion is much the same or maybe marginally better than Kaminski, is Okonkwo a clear upgrade on what we already have? We need three keepers and maybe Okonkwo is the best that is realistically available but I don’t know if I’d want to break the bank on him.

So it’s a bit of a weird one. From the perspective of investing in his long term potential a permanent transfer makes most sense, but we know Wrexham pay big salaries to attract players and there’s serious doubt we can, or should try, to match that. So, from a cost perspective, a loan makes sense but puts us in a odd spot because of he does well we likely lose him next summer to a bigger wage payer, and if he doesn’t do well enough to attract other interest next summer, and become affordable to us, we potentially might not want to keep him anyway.

I’d probably go loan and see what happens but perhaps give Mannion a few more games to see if he can settle down, build some confidence, and stake a real claim. I get why we wouldn’t want to rely on Mannion with no credible plan B, but I don’t think it’s outlandish to think he might prove to be good enough for a team like ours with a main aim of survival. 

Kaminski wants out and needs to go but let’s not rewrite history.

Kaminski was generally performing ok until a couple of mistakes and then Mannion was deservedly given his chance. But he wasn’t good enough, was dropped again, to the point that NJ preferred Kaminski.

So if Kaminski isn’t good enough (which he isn’t) how would Mannion be all of a sudden?

thenewbie

Exiled_Addick said:

If he’s a sideways or a diagonal move from Kaminski, and we already feel Mannion is much the same or maybe marginally better than Kaminski, is Okonkwo a clear upgrade on what we already have? We need three keepers and maybe Okonkwo is the best that is realistically available but I don’t know if I’d want to break the bank on him.

I mean, do we (and by that I mean, does NJ) actually feel that? It doesn't seem like it to me, Kaminski was very much and very clearly the preferred option last season. I don't rate Okwonkwo that highly but I think he would at least be an upgrade on Mannion.

RedRobin

CB1 said:

Slightly unrelated but just seen that Chetam Ezenwata is leaving the club which is a real shame. Very bright prospect in that LCB role and been capped for England too. Be interesting to see where he ends up, I’d have an outside bet at Chelsea with his brother Chizzy. 

What a shame that is, we don’t stand a chance unless we get cat 1! Disappointing that he has decided to leave like his brother. Money talks. 

Scoham

CB1 said:

Slightly unrelated but just seen that Chetam Ezenwata is leaving the club which is a real shame. Very bright prospect in that LCB role and been capped for England too. Be interesting to see where he ends up, I’d have an outside bet at Chelsea with his brother Chizzy. 

Thought this was the case, I mentioned it in the u18s thread the other day after I noticed he wasn't on the u18s squad page on the OS.

Such a shame, I really think he could have made his first team debut in the next couple of years. Big, strong, very composed on the ball, and being left footed will only help him break into first team football. Even has a good engine, he layed LB in a youth cup game, I remember a great run forward late in the game.

Gomez and Konsa level potential, one to keep an eye on in the next few years. Only turned 16 earlier this year.

wolfgang

cafc_se7 said:

Alwaysneil said:

ossie64 said:

MarcusH26 said:

Would absolutely love Twine but you'd have to shift Knibbs to make it happen. 

or Carey

Oh please god make this happen. 

You have clearly never played the game at any level. Such an absurd comment. We would literally be in League One if it wasn’t for Sonny Carey! 

I agree, Mrs Carey. If we had played without him we would have lost most of our games. Teams playing with ten men usually do. On the other hand, had we instead played with a midfielder with a better touch, who could find a team-mate with a simple pass, and knew how to mark and tackle when defending, we might never have been close to relegation in the first place.

Sword65pf

DamoNorthStand said:

Exiled_Addick said:

Bostonaddick said:

There is some risk with signing him permanently though as well given his inconsistencies.  Listen to Wrexham fans, he either looks like an elite keeper or makes head scratching mistakes depending on the week.

That’s my concern with him. He is younger and has potential to improve in the longer term but, if you look at the underlying stats from last season, in the short term I have feeling he could have a lot of the same issues at Kaminski, just maybe a bit more commanding of his area (not harder to be better at that than Kaminski to be fair). 

If he’s a sideways or a diagonal move from Kaminski, and we already feel Mannion is much the same or maybe marginally better than Kaminski, is Okonkwo a clear upgrade on what we already have? We need three keepers and maybe Okonkwo is the best that is realistically available but I don’t know if I’d want to break the bank on him.

So it’s a bit of a weird one. From the perspective of investing in his long term potential a permanent transfer makes most sense, but we know Wrexham pay big salaries to attract players and there’s serious doubt we can, or should try, to match that. So, from a cost perspective, a loan makes sense but puts us in a odd spot because of he does well we likely lose him next summer to a bigger wage payer, and if he doesn’t do well enough to attract other interest next summer, and become affordable to us, we potentially might not want to keep him anyway.

I’d probably go loan and see what happens but perhaps give Mannion a few more games to see if he can settle down, build some confidence, and stake a real claim. I get why we wouldn’t want to rely on Mannion with no credible plan B, but I don’t think it’s outlandish to think he might prove to be good enough for a team like ours with a main aim of survival. 

Kaminski wants out and needs to go but let’s not rewrite history.

Kaminski was generally performing ok until a couple of mistakes and then Mannion was deservedly given his chance. But he wasn’t good enough, was dropped again, to the point that NJ preferred Kaminski.

So if Kaminski isn’t good enough (which he isn’t) how would Mannion be all of a sudden?

Have to say even ignoring the suggested wages, Kaminski with the reputation he came with has for me been a real disappointment, top keepers command all of the box he really does lack in that aspect and makes our defence edgy, someone of his reported calibre should be doing that as a given. If we can get him out for a bit of money we would have done a good job. Just don’t understand or see why he was so highly rated, he lets in plenty of shots from distance so don’t really see the shotstopper excuse for him being good either.

John_Fitzpatrick1

wolfgang said:

cafc_se7 said:

Alwaysneil said:

ossie64 said:

MarcusH26 said:

Would absolutely love Twine but you'd have to shift Knibbs to make it happen. 

or Carey

Oh please god make this happen. 

You have clearly never played the game at any level. Such an absurd comment. We would literally be in League One if it wasn’t for Sonny Carey! 

I agree, Mrs Carey. If we had played without him we would have lost most of our games. Teams playing with ten men usually do. On the other hand, had we instead played with a midfielder with a better touch, who could find a team-mate with a simple pass, and knew how to mark and tackle when defending, we might never have been close to relegation in the first place.

Mr idiot 

cafc_se7

wolfgang said:

cafc_se7 said:

Alwaysneil said:

ossie64 said:

MarcusH26 said:

Would absolutely love Twine but you'd have to shift Knibbs to make it happen. 

or Carey

Oh please god make this happen. 

You have clearly never played the game at any level. Such an absurd comment. We would literally be in League One if it wasn’t for Sonny Carey! 

I agree, Mrs Carey. If we had played without him we would have lost most of our games. Teams playing with ten men usually do. On the other hand, had we instead played with a midfielder with a better touch, who could find a team-mate with a simple pass, and knew how to mark and tackle when defending, we might never have been close to relegation in the first place.

Mrs Carey 🤣 how pathetic! Give your head a wobble! How many 1-0 wins or 1-1 draws did Sonny score in? Do the maths! 

Swisdom

Scoham said:

CB1 said:

Slightly unrelated but just seen that Chetam Ezenwata is leaving the club which is a real shame. Very bright prospect in that LCB role and been capped for England too. Be interesting to see where he ends up, I’d have an outside bet at Chelsea with his brother Chizzy. 

Thought this was the case, I mentioned it in the u18s thread the other day after I noticed he wasn't on the u18s squad page on the OS.

Such a shame, I really think he could have made his first team debut in the next couple of years. Big, strong, very composed on the ball, and being left footed will only help him break into first team football. Even has a good engine, he layed LB in a youth cup game, I remember a great run forward late in the game.

Gomez and Konsa level potential, one to keep an eye on in the next few years. Only turned 16 earlier this year.

Didn’t Chelsea poach his brother from us too…..I dare say that’s the next destination.  

Scoham

Swisdom said:

Scoham said:

CB1 said:

Slightly unrelated but just seen that Chetam Ezenwata is leaving the club which is a real shame. Very bright prospect in that LCB role and been capped for England too. Be interesting to see where he ends up, I’d have an outside bet at Chelsea with his brother Chizzy. 

Thought this was the case, I mentioned it in the u18s thread the other day after I noticed he wasn't on the u18s squad page on the OS.

Such a shame, I really think he could have made his first team debut in the next couple of years. Big, strong, very composed on the ball, and being left footed will only help him break into first team football. Even has a good engine, he layed LB in a youth cup game, I remember a great run forward late in the game.

Gomez and Konsa level potential, one to keep an eye on in the next few years. Only turned 16 earlier this year.

Didn’t Chelsea poach his brother from us too…..I dare say that’s the next destination.  

Yeah a few years ago. Wouldn’t surprise me, had a look at Chizzy’s only about to turn 18 in a few weeks himself, they could play u18 and u21 football together.

WoolwichAddick

I find the whole youth poaching thing so depressing. If we stand no chance of truly elite players coming through it’s never going to be worth the investment 

mart77

Chelsea are so much of what is wrong with football. 

RedRobin

Not listed in the squad on the website so another bites the dust! So frustrating! Hopefully the club get a decent fee but its pittance compared to what we could get if he played first team for a season or two. 

WoolwichAddick

It’s telling that our truly top talents in recent years like Lookman and arguably Aribo actually come in much older. Anyone with international talent gets hoovered. 

TheHerminator

Alwaysneil said:

ossie64 said:

MarcusH26 said:

Would absolutely love Twine but you'd have to shift Knibbs to make it happen. 

or Carey

Oh please god make this happen. 

Pack it in you lemon 

charltonbob

Ferryman said:

I sympathise with Kaminski's family situation, but we spent £750k plus a 3 Yr contract and sounds like he expects us to just cut our losses and let him go one year in - not acceptable. 

What is the situation with his family ?