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Sounds like Onana will be off over the weekend and that might kick start some recruitment, but rumours I'm seeing are all focused on wide forwards.

Just reading this Echo article about Tim Iroegbunam and it made me wonder where he fits into the squad.

Onana made 30 league appearances last season, and 33 before, so we did utilise him a fair bit. I'd be surprised if Iroegbunam is considered a direct replacement though, even if his profile is very similar:

"His teammates are just starting to learn about a player who can play as a six or an eight and likes to drive forward with the ball."

Idrissa Gana Gueye always struck me as a very effective 8 who roves around the midfield regaining possession, but needs someone to sit a bit deeper to take the ball off defence and to cover space defensively. There's an argument that as he gets older he'll transition into that deeper role, and I think he played there a few times last season, but he always makes me nervous when receiving the ball. For me his best role is coming off the bench when we're leading, but that's probably a luxury we can't afford.

The reason I liked us being linked to Ndidi is I think he's a classic 6 who will just sit and protect, and allow the more box to box midfielders to cover more areas of the pitch.

With Ndiaye and more forwards on the way I'm assuming we'll see Doucoure playing more as a 8 than a 10. And Garner seems to me to be an 8 (provided he's not been asked to fill in ar right back or right midfield).

So assuming that Dyche retains the same system I'm wondering what the plan is for central midfield?

Does he want someone to sit and someone to rove?

Or two box to box that alternative?

Out of Gueye, Garner, Iroegbunam, Doucoure we have 4 players for 2 positions, and it's not obvious we'd need an upgrade in there given other areas of the pitch that need investment.

Based on current personnel I expect:

Pickford
Coleman - Tarks - Branthwaite - Myko
-- Garner - Gana
Harrison - Ndiaye - McNeil
DCL

With Doucoure and Iroegbunam as options.

Do we need another squad filler there or a first team starter, and if so who would he replace?