Summer Window 2026 - Rumours and Discussion

The squad is going to be a pretty big revamp, nearly all of our January signings will be gone, then big questions over some of the players out on-loan. 

For me, the biggest areas we need to target are the wingback areas - we need more strength and dept in this area. Middle of the Park. Massively need more quality in midfield, I would say 2 players in a minimum. And we will need number 9. I would like us to sign Dykes, but I think we could find a more mobile, younger version in Europe.

I think we will see around 12 players in our current squad not be here next season as well.

DubaiCAFC said:

Bostonaddick said:

killerandflash said:

We need a better central midfield. Players who still give a sold defensive shield, and work as hard as Coventry and Doc, but who are better on the ball, as we create so little from midfield. I'm not expecting massive flair there, but we do need something a bit better. 

Indeed that's where I would have spent some money last summer. 

If Oxford were to be relegated,  I wonder if they would be tempted to sell Brannigan.  May be too much for our budget but would be a definite step up in quality.

He is a good player, but similar to what we have, and not that much of a step up in quality. And he wouldn't be cheap. I think we can get better.

Either underestimating how good Brannagan is or overestimating how incredibly average our midfield is, from a defensive physical side they’re alright but from a technical side L1 at best 

Chris_from_Sidcup said:

Brannagan is 30 in a few weeks, so not only would he not be cheap, he doesn't fit the profile we're likely to be after at all.

Yeah I think he’d definitely be a good signing and an upgrade on what we have. But we won’t pay that kind of fee for a player that age and that’s probably the right call

I think January proved a point that you need to bring in experienced Championship players. Our January business probably rescued our season. The introduction of Dykes, Coady and Clarke very much steadied a rocky ship. I’m all for getting in younger players and some unknown quantities from abroad but the key to our business surely has to be around some very experienced heads sprinkled with some hopefully good younger blood. 

fenaddick said:

ShootersHillGuru said:

I think January proved a point that you need to bring in experienced Championship players. Our January business probably rescued our season. The introduction of Dykes, Coady and Clarke very much steadied a rocky ship. I’m all for getting in younger players and some unknown quantities from abroad but the key to our business surely has to be around some very experienced heads sprinkled with some hopefully good younger blood. 

I think it showed another thing too, we're now in a position where players with Championship experience are willing to come to us. I just have this hunch that lots of players really weren't sure how well equipped we'd be for survival and so turned us down in the summer

I agree, this summer we probably are a more genuine option for the likes of Galbraith, Fields etc - players who are proven Championship quality and would actually improve the squad. I genuinely don't think we need to make a dozen plus signings to improve quite drastically... if we sign the RIGHT players. Then we can look to sign younger prospects and take a few gambles on players to add depth and numbers.

Also wouldn't be wasting transfer & wage budget on a keeper. We are like 6th in the league for goals conceded, it isn't our issue at all. We need to drastically improve the midfield first and foremost

Pelling1993 said:

I'm interested to see what we do with Kanu. 1 more season long loan in League 1 maybe?

It’s either new contract and league 1 loan, or we sell him to league 1 

Pelling1993 said:

I'm interested to see what we do with Kanu. 1 more season long loan in League 1 maybe?

New deal and loaned to AFC Wimbledon with Jacko would be my guess. 

shine166 said:

fenaddick said:

ShootersHillGuru said:

I think January proved a point that you need to bring in experienced Championship players. Our January business probably rescued our season. The introduction of Dykes, Coady and Clarke very much steadied a rocky ship. I’m all for getting in younger players and some unknown quantities from abroad but the key to our business surely has to be around some very experienced heads sprinkled with some hopefully good younger blood. 

I think it showed another thing too, we're now in a position where players with Championship experience are willing to come to us. I just have this hunch that lots of players really weren't sure how well equipped we'd be for survival and so turned us down in the summer

We were in awful form in January, we didnt suddenly become a good option for players, we had a complete change of approach to the market.

We were in awful form due to injuries but we were out of the relegation zone which is what matters in this context

CH4RLTON said:

So I’ve heard from two people now that are not particularly in the know but totally separately that we were one of the teams who had a bid rejected for Tyreese Shade in January and we going to be in running again for the highly rated winger/foward. I have to say he ticks all the boxes of what we are looking for and looks basically like a Tyreese Campbell clone but with more end product.

More end product in League One? Because Shade has never played above that level.