| Summer transfer rumours 2026 07:49 - Mar 19 with 694434 views | Tonto |
Yes they have started already so here we go;
Exhibit A: https://www.footballfancast.co
Scottish goalkeeper Jon McCraken |  |
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| Summer transfer rumours 2026 on 20:36 - Jul 8 with 5724 views | KensalT |
| Summer transfer rumours 2026 on 20:18 - Jul 8 by Hunterhoop |
That’s fair. FWIW, I didn’t rate Walsh, and am unsure on Murphy.
But I just think we undervalue pre-season and don’t want to be heading out there with just Salamon. Pre-season is so important to hit the ground running, and maximise your points total.
Yes, it’s tough to get everyone in before pre-season, especially with players not being released until 30th June. And I know full well the market is in flux well into August and even when the Prem sides name their 25.
The club did a good job to get The Boy Kemper in.
But going to Austria potentially with just Salamon in the keeping stocks is far from ideal. It could well impact training drills, let alone lose out on the relationship building across the squad.
Ultimately, whilst it’s hard, if you can get most of your business done early and really maximise your pre-season with the group you’ll run with for the year, it’ll provide a serious competitive advantage in the opening months of the season, against the clubs that have not.
And I want us to hit the ground running. We could/should be top 6 going into the West Ham game, looking at our fixture list.
Let’s hope Pierre Charles or someone else comes in soon. |
Goalkeeper is part of the "spine of the team".
One of the key positions.
We will struggle to hit the ground running with a big part of our spine missing.
I still think Nourry will pull a rabbit out of the hat at the last minute, before our first pre-season game.
But if he doesn't or can't then he needs to front up and explain himself. [Post edited 8 Jul 20:43]
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| Summer transfer rumours 2026 on 20:51 - Jul 8 with 5558 views | BazzaInTheLoft |
Genuine question.
Who was the last keeper we had that didn't have to look over their shoulder constantly?
We need to pick one and stick with it. |  | | |
| Summer transfer rumours 2026 on 20:52 - Jul 8 with 5563 views | Tonto |
Dieng | |
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| Summer transfer rumours 2026 on 21:12 - Jul 8 with 5437 views | QPRJill |
I`m of the opinion that the goalkeepers shouldnt neccessarily need to fit the club`s sellable asset model. Not the main one at least. The job between the sticks is too much of a "here and now" position in the team. |  | | |
| Summer transfer rumours 2026 on 22:36 - Jul 8 with 5095 views | ozexile |
| Summer transfer rumours 2026 on 20:24 - Jul 8 by 1JD |
In the case of Cooper, he’s reached a level where he is both a marketable asset and a first team contender. That is a successful development model.
That we don’t choose to keep him as a number two is actually a smart business decision. If he is to be #2 his value is worthless not playing, sitting on the bench and getting older. We can get a 30 year old to sit on the bench for #2 duties.
Perhaps Cooper doesn’t fit the goalkeeper profile, e.g. his skills in playing out. So he’s sold for money, while we pocket the funds, and look for a superior keeper profile who does fit the stated possession-style game model.
We’ve essentially fattened a pig up for market, using other clubs time and effort, and made money - all without disrupting the existing squad (assuming we bring in a cheap #2). We also did this with Kelman.
Note: this is actually how you develop a scalable player trading model. You don’t just limit your development players / promising sellable assets to the 11 in your first team, you send several prospects out on loan and hope they develop also. So you have 15 assets not 11.
I’ve got a number of issues with Nourry, but this isn’t one. It’s absolutely the right business model, and they should be doing a lot more of it. That is, if it’s a conscious strategy in the first place, which I am less sure about. Because it should be. Perhaps a good fans forum question. |
Very good points which I agree with. However I don't trust the club to get someone in who his actually better than him. So that 500,000 we're gonna get isn't worth it as we'll have to spend more on a downgrade. | | | |
| Summer transfer rumours 2026 on 08:11 - Jul 9 with 4556 views | TK1 |
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| Summer transfer rumours 2026 on 08:12 - Jul 9 with 4545 views | Beckenhamhoop |
| Summer transfer rumours 2026 on 22:36 - Jul 8 by ozexile |
Very good points which I agree with. However I don't trust the club to get someone in who his actually better than him. So that 500,000 we're gonna get isn't worth it as we'll have to spend more on a downgrade. |
A reliable Twitter account is saying we’ve signed Callum Ward from Motherwell and we’re still in for Pierce Charles.
Edit: Beat me to it. See above [Post edited 9 Jul 8:12]
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| Summer transfer rumours 2026 on 09:08 - Jul 9 with 4303 views | wombat |
| Summer transfer rumours 2026 on 08:12 - Jul 9 by Beckenhamhoop |
A reliable Twitter account is saying we’ve signed Callum Ward from Motherwell and we’re still in for Pierce Charles.
Edit: Beat me to it. See above [Post edited 9 Jul 8:12]
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hes not that reliable , rears his head every window
walsh officially gone to wigan oin years loan [Post edited 9 Jul 9:28]
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| Summer transfer rumours 2026 on 09:51 - Jul 9 with 4059 views | nadera78 |
| Summer transfer rumours 2026 on 08:12 - Jul 9 by Beckenhamhoop |
A reliable Twitter account is saying we’ve signed Callum Ward from Motherwell and we’re still in for Pierce Charles.
Edit: Beat me to it. See above [Post edited 9 Jul 8:12]
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Reliable! lol | | | |
| Summer transfer rumours 2026 on 09:52 - Jul 9 with 4058 views | dmm |
Ward's stats look okay. I don't think he was one in the rumour mill before this. |  | | |
| Summer transfer rumours 2026 on 11:04 - Jul 9 with 3749 views | TheChef |
Going back to the OP.
Are we still signing Jon McCraken?
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| Summer transfer rumours 2026 on 11:50 - Jul 9 with 3502 views | TK1 |
Before season ended, I thought we must address:
1/ Left back
2/ Goal keeper
3/ Central midfielder
4/ Right back (less urgent)
If we are really working through this in this order, then credit where it is due. It appears we may be serious. | | | |
| Summer transfer rumours 2026 on 11:52 - Jul 9 with 3477 views | dmm |
| Summer transfer rumours 2026 on 11:50 - Jul 9 by TK1 |
Before season ended, I thought we must address:
1/ Left back
2/ Goal keeper
3/ Central midfielder
4/ Right back (less urgent)
If we are really working through this in this order, then credit where it is due. It appears we may be serious. |
If this is true, I love it that he's turned down Wrexham to come to us  | | | |
| Summer transfer rumours 2026 on 11:56 - Jul 9 with 3428 views | HammersmithR |
The gk position was arguably the biggest area to address this summer. Unfortunately none of our keepers are good enough for the Championship. Get some money for Cooper. Walsh needs to rebuild his confidence and get a move. Hopefully Charles and the Motherwell keepers are an upgrade. | | | |
| Summer transfer rumours 2026 on 12:18 - Jul 9 with 3224 views | ed_83 |
Don't know much about either of these - Charles is pretty highly rated as a prospect though, right? Either way, it's good that we're getting our business done in key areas as early as possible. Hopefully both keepers will be in the squad in time for Saturday.
One slight note of caution: according to Wikipedia Ward's contract with Motherwell runs to 2027, so we will presumably have paid a fee for him, which wouldn't make sense if he's coming here as backup. At the same time, I can't imagine that Man City or Charles would have agreed to a loan without guarantees that he'll get playing time.
Something about the expectation that both keepers are likely to have, and the risk of us ending up rotating them rather than having a settled number 1, makes me a little bit uneasy. | | | |
| Summer transfer rumours 2026 on 12:20 - Jul 9 with 3197 views | ozexile |
| Summer transfer rumours 2026 on 12:18 - Jul 9 by ed_83 |
Don't know much about either of these - Charles is pretty highly rated as a prospect though, right? Either way, it's good that we're getting our business done in key areas as early as possible. Hopefully both keepers will be in the squad in time for Saturday.
One slight note of caution: according to Wikipedia Ward's contract with Motherwell runs to 2027, so we will presumably have paid a fee for him, which wouldn't make sense if he's coming here as backup. At the same time, I can't imagine that Man City or Charles would have agreed to a loan without guarantees that he'll get playing time.
Something about the expectation that both keepers are likely to have, and the risk of us ending up rotating them rather than having a settled number 1, makes me a little bit uneasy. |
Is it a loan or permanent? | | | |
| Summer transfer rumours 2026 on 12:22 - Jul 9 with 3168 views | QPRSam |
Calum Ward set to be completed as well, as per Sky Sports. Fee 800k
ft. some promising stats from the main man JTSupple
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| Summer transfer rumours 2026 on 12:23 - Jul 9 with 3152 views | DavieQPR |
Callum Ward had 20 clean sheets for Motherwell last season. That's promising if links are correct. |  | | |
| Summer transfer rumours 2026 on 12:29 - Jul 9 with 3073 views | CamberleyR |
| Summer transfer rumours 2026 on 12:23 - Jul 9 by DavieQPR |
Callum Ward had 20 clean sheets for Motherwell last season. That's promising if links are correct. |
Only Hearts conceded fewer goals than Motherwell last season. |  |
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| Summer transfer rumours 2026 on 12:30 - Jul 9 with 3046 views | Hunterhoop |
If they both sign and can head off with the squad to Austria, that’s great news. That solves what I was concerned about. It makes the tour and pre-season so much more effective. Good the club also saw that and want to maximise the pre-season so we can start strong, and not wait until after the season to do our business. Encouraging. Indicates the club have high hopes for this season.
Seems a little odd to sign Ward for £800k as a back up (Pierre Charles surely isn’t coming on loan to sit on the bench!). But if we got £500k for Cooper, then it’s not a huge net outlay. Presumably he’s signed on the promise he’ll be the number 1 next season…and that is good planning if that is the case. |  | | |
| Summer transfer rumours 2026 on 12:41 - Jul 9 with 2921 views | wombat |
| Summer transfer rumours 2026 on 12:30 - Jul 9 by Hunterhoop |
If they both sign and can head off with the squad to Austria, that’s great news. That solves what I was concerned about. It makes the tour and pre-season so much more effective. Good the club also saw that and want to maximise the pre-season so we can start strong, and not wait until after the season to do our business. Encouraging. Indicates the club have high hopes for this season.
Seems a little odd to sign Ward for £800k as a back up (Pierre Charles surely isn’t coming on loan to sit on the bench!). But if we got £500k for Cooper, then it’s not a huge net outlay. Presumably he’s signed on the promise he’ll be the number 1 next season…and that is good planning if that is the case. |
chalres has missed fair chucks of the season due to both shoulders being injured i belive so makes sense to have somebody experienced as back up / first choice .
see joe lumley is now being linked to sheff weds first choice keeper next season | |
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| Summer transfer rumours 2026 on 12:48 - Jul 9 with 2837 views | DevonWhite |
£650k for Ward according to WLS.
Asked a Motherwell based mate about him and was told "very good with his feet.... much less so with his hands. Loves a fumble or a shot going through him" | | | |
| Summer transfer rumours 2026 on 12:58 - Jul 9 with 2730 views | Stainrod |
| Summer transfer rumours 2026 on 12:48 - Jul 9 by DevonWhite |
£650k for Ward according to WLS.
Asked a Motherwell based mate about him and was told "very good with his feet.... much less so with his hands. Loves a fumble or a shot going through him" |
So the greatest catastrophe since the Lisbon Earthquake of 1755 that was the sending out of Joe Walsh on loan to Wigan turns out not to be quite the disaster some feared. Who could possibly have guessed...? | | | |
| Summer transfer rumours 2026 on 13:14 - Jul 9 with 2571 views | TheChef |
| Summer transfer rumours 2026 on 12:48 - Jul 9 by DevonWhite |
£650k for Ward according to WLS.
Asked a Motherwell based mate about him and was told "very good with his feet.... much less so with his hands. Loves a fumble or a shot going through him" |
Fits the bill then!  | |
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| Summer transfer rumours 2026 on 13:18 - Jul 9 with 2529 views | Hunterhoop |
| Summer transfer rumours 2026 on 12:58 - Jul 9 by Stainrod |
So the greatest catastrophe since the Lisbon Earthquake of 1755 that was the sending out of Joe Walsh on loan to Wigan turns out not to be quite the disaster some feared. Who could possibly have guessed...? |
Jeez. I feel like I’m talking a foreign language.
Said it would be sub-optimal to go on the pre-season tour without any keepers. Club clearly agree because they have acted and signed two just in time. Great. Well done. Does not make the original point wrong though. In fact, it suggests strongly the club share that view (because it’s common sense).
Criticised the club for not telling us about Walsh even after he was pictured at a fun run in Wigan with their squad. I stand by that. It was poor. They have now communicated it, before they have confirmed any signings themselves. I don’t think we should normalise not being informed about coming and goings when they happen.
As I have repeatedly said, I didn’t rate Walsh. Glad to change the keeper pool up. These two seem decent additions. Well done the club.
One can think all those things. It’s not unreasonable. More than one thing can be true at once. My whole original point was merely saying it would be sub-optimal to go on tour and into pre season with no keepers. It doesn’t need people having a pop at people for making any of those points above. I had no issue with the club letting Walsh go (loan or perm). There is some nuance here being deliberately ignored, which is annoying. | | | |
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