He is 30 now so his availability / avoidance of injuries isn't likely to improve -

He's injured not due back for a while we need someone now. Perhaps in the summer, yes.

Edited by Badger11 (02 Jan 2023 10.41am)

One more point

I understand what you are saying but over the last five EPL seasons are transfer dealings are purchased 161.5m Sold 105.3m nett spend 56.2m giving an average per season of just 11.2m per season. Only Burnley/Sheff U/Soton/Norwich have a worser record. investing in the academy sounds good in talk but the reality is that statistically only 0.5% actually make it to Professional level and only 0.018% of children who enter at 9 years make it to pro level. Therefore those who think the academy is going to solve our problems in future are being misled. You only have to look at the top teams in EPL to see how few are actually homegrown talent. Owners or investors in a football club who do not invest in players will eventually lose out as the money is really only in EPL,failure to invest in players will eventually catch up with you and the championship awaits, which means not only lost revenue but also had an adverse effect on the clubs value as an investment. Recent examples have been Sheff utd/Burnley/Norwich and it looks like Soton are heading that way as well.The win at Bournemouth although very welcome will make some believe that this win will put us on course to a top six finish, one swallow does not make a summer. The team is woefully short of Premier League quality and in some positions and loans have been proven not solve the problem as has been demonstrated in the recent past for example Bamford/Batshuayi/Remy/Sanojo to name a few. Gallagher was great for use but look at the hole he has left in our team, his joining us for that season was just a sticking plaster over the continuing lack of investment in the team.

Yes, it was a failure but who knows who should take responsibility.

And it isn't replacing him once he's gone that counts, it's succession planning far earlier. We should have had an understudy for him, ready to go well before we lost Conor.

If we buy Gallagher it will ruin Eze, PV will go back to his 4-3.3, with Gallagher, Eze and Doucoure, stay at 4-2-3-1 like last time, 2DMs one we need, and Wilf, Eze and Olise in midfield, get rid of Edouard to Textors O-Lyon and buy a new one.

“That’s a joke son, I say, that’s a joke.” “Nice boy, but he’s sharp as a throw pillow.” “He’s so dumb he thinks a Mexican border pays rent” “ “Son… I say, son, some people are so narrow minded they can look through a keyhole with both eyes.”__ Forhorn Leghorn

I know he is injured but Kouyate would solve some of our problems.