O'Neil: We're Trying to Sign a Couple More
Sunday, 30th Aug 2026 20:01

Blues manager Gary O’Neil says Town are trying to make two more signings before the transfer window closes on Tuesday.

One is certain to be a centre-forward with a deal understood to have been agreed with Aston Villa for the loan of Tammy Abraham but with the player still to confirm that he wants to make the switch.

“We’re trying to do a couple of bits if we can,” O’Neil said after the Manchester United match. “No confirmation from me on positions, but we are trying to do a couple more if we can. Let’s see how the next couple of days unfold, but we are trying.”

Earlier today, there was a report which claimed Anis Mehmeti has opted against moving to the Championship on loan with the likes of Wrexham and Birmingham understood to be interested.

 Quizzed on the Albania international’s situation, O’Neil added: “I think all the players at this football club, they’re all welcome to stay. Anis is a great lad, works his socks off, has quality, so there’s nothing really from me on Anis or anyone else.

“If they stay at the football club, we’ll use them and we’ll get the very best out of them. That’s the same with Anis.”

Photo: TWTD

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jas0999 added 20:20 - Aug 30 Need three. Can’t believe we haven’t signed our main striker yet. Essential now. Right back and centre back needed.
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blueoutlook added 20:21 - Aug 30 We need more than 2 just in defence. RB, LCB and LB. Then a right sided player to challenge Fatawu,we are so weak down the right hand side. We need a striker badly. Bet Abraham doesn’t want to know after that performance. All that money spent on the midfield and it looked blo0dy awful. More should have been spent on defence and strikers as well.
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Jazzy71 added 20:46 - Aug 30 I agree we need 2, but we also need to shift some out too. Going to be a busy few days
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BlueNomad added 20:57 - Aug 30 Blueoutlook - we have enough good midfielders. Need a cf, cb and rw. Today was disappointing for 45 minutes but it doesn’t define what the season is going to be like.
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tetchris added 21:05 - Aug 30 Two strikers and another defender required. No point in Mehmeti staying he needs to go along with Ogbene and possibly Taylor.
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Carberry added 22:21 - Aug 30 He's not in control of any of this. Strange thing to say that everyone is welcome to stay, surely that's not the plan. Chaotic.
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TomCruise added 22:48 - Aug 30

I think/hope we can read “a couple” a little more loosely rather than necessarily taking it completely literally.

Abraham (or another first-choice striker) is obviously essential. I would imagine we’ll definitely bring in a defender and I’d hope for, at the very least, another right-sided attacking player.

Hopefully the club are active on deadline day as well and ready to move if a good opportunity presents itself.

As for Mehmeti, I think it’s somewhat asinine to suggest that O’Neil isn’t in control, there are no plans and the situation is chaotic.

O’Neil will have made perfectly clear to the players whether they’re in his plans and what their game time is likely to be. If Mehmeti wants to stay and fight for his place, fine, but he’ll presumably be aware that he may end up not playing very much.

I think there will be lots of movement in and out over the next couple of days and the status of many players (including Mehmeti) is likely to change over the course of transfer deadline day.

bobble added 03:46 - Aug 31 Mostly we just need time for the new players ,old players to adjust to the new managers style....last season it took nearly half the year before we started gelling as a team with all the new players...
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PhuketPete added 04:39 - Aug 31

Although technically Kipre counts as a signing, the truth is of 11 actual new signings only two are defenders and one of those is more of a development project. And yet entering the window, it was clear from last season (somewhat repeated thru pre season) that Defence could be our Achilles heel at the top level. Excellent additions in midfield have certainly helped but i find it strange that we paid so little attention to the back line. That said, we may still have run out winners had it not been for two incredible pieces of bad luck that turned the entire game. So no panic but if we can strengthen the centre back spaces then that would be good imho.

Deemoid added 06:17 - Aug 31

Emerson could be as good a signing as Delap... And anyway, you don't necessarily need a 20 goal a season striker... When Hirst had a good season it was as much about his running and link up play as anything so I suspect Maeda would be decent as it would let JC or JP in on the left (assuming JP is
staying!) Note that Palacios didn't come on until late on to replace Nunez who is an experiment as an additional pivot.... Nunez doesn't have the legs to disrupt a dynamic MUTD with the wind behind them.... He's more a player to help boss a home game.... Definitely no need to panic and enough bright spots to make me think we'll surprise a few good teams this season.

runningout added 07:37 - Aug 31 Palacios was best player on pitch when he came on. Hard to be critical of players that have done us very well recently, although some decision making was not good
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Bazza8564 added 08:26 - Aug 31 I think the priorities for me are 9 and LCB, and use Greaves to deputise for Lief. We had enough yesterday to convince me against sides outside the top 6 (of which MU will be one) we will be competitive. We mustnt forget Abdul O can play as a RWB so whilst I get the need to get quality up to back up Abdul F, we have enough. 2 in, 5-6 out
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trevski_s added 10:17 - Aug 31

Def think we could do with at least 2 more in. Another more experienced striker and another LCB who can maybe also play LB/LWB if needed. Currently only at 4 CBs and might get a bit tight if we get any injuries or suspensions and need to go 3 at the back in some games. Luckily a lot of our defenders are very versatile and can play a 2nd position if needed:
Furlong - RB and LB
Greaves - LCB and LB
Dara - RCB and RB (I know he ain't keen on this position)
Outtara - LB and RB (be interesting to see which side he plays normally)
Humphreys - CM and LB
Matusiwa - CM and RB

Then we even saw Kasey at RWB in pre-season who looked pretty good in that spot and im sure Kipre was another who could play anywhere across the back line. So to me the left side of defence seems a little bit more like it needs the addition

Carberry added 10:22 - Aug 31 So it's just you and the rest of us O'Neil is taking for fools by saying he'd be happy to keep all the players currently at the club? When have you ever heard a manager say that? Just like McKenna, O'Neill is not the arbiter of who's in and out, that's Ashton and his team.
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rjm added 12:56 - Aug 31 Need another striker, attacker RW/CAM hybrid, and a new LCB. Perfect would be: Zian Flemming, Ethan Nwaneri (Loan) and Alexsandro from Lille. I would even take Tuanzebe back as an extra CB, he’s currently going for a free.
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Linkboy13 added 07:36 - Sep 1 What's the point in taking someone back who spends most of the time on the treatment table. He's going for free for a reason.
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