Cyle Larin

[Luke SkyWalker-Peters]

On 08/04/2026 at 15:54, Lighthouse said:

If we’re in the PL I think we’re going to need a bit better than a 31 year old who has only ever once scored double figures on this side of the Atlantic, and that was in Turkey six years ago. He’s adding a valuable contribution on loan in the Championship but let’s not let our erections get too hard about him.

 

29 minutes ago, CheshireSaint said:

Whilst you raise a valid point, has he ever been this fit in his career? I've no idea but it could be that he is at the pinnacle of his career fitness, having played previously for Orlando City, Besiktas, Club Brugge, Real Valladolid, RCD Mallorca and Feyenoord. None of which i'd imagine call for fitness levels akin to those required for the Championship. I recall Jordy Clasie playing full 90 mins in Belgium or Holland after blowing out his hoop for Saints (albeit in the Premier) by the 60 minute mark. Perhaps the comparisons between a fitter than ever Larin against a pre Saints Larin, are not completely like for like. Perhaps this is a Larin never seen before....... Worth a punt should we go up anyway. As a consequence of his playing career thus far perhaps, I doubt wages are too much of a sticking point.    

I did some looking last night as he is clearly much better than other fans were telling us and looked on highlights.

He is about to turn 31 in 2 days, but has never had a serious injury according to Transfermarkt (they seem to have a data error that thinks he has been injured since he left Feyenoord when he actually came here). Nothing to suggest he will have any issues that slow him down prematurely.

On the contrary, he has been healthy yet playing very few minutes since the 20/21 season in Turkey. He hasn't played 2,000 minutes in a season since then. He has only played over 3,000 minutes in a season a couple of times in his career, which is the minimum you'd expect for a starter (equivalent of 33 full matches).

All the data on him would suggest that he isn't going to physically decline for a while - no previous major injuries and not many minutes in his legs for his age.

I doubt this is the fittest he has been, as he was getting good minutes for Mallorca just a couple of years ago, but this very well could be the first time he has played in a side that knows how to use his skillset properly. It isn't uncommon for Spanish teams to not know how to play with a target man properly. He also has quality creative players around him here.

Similarly as Archer was a goal machine for Boro in the Champ a couple of seasons ago, but has struggled with us, some strikers just need the right system to flourish. Tonda and the rest of the team might just be getting the best out of him in a way that other teams in less physical leagues couldn't.

Assuming the reported *option for him is cheap, I'd sign him, but on the condition that we would still need another no.9 next season whilst retaining Stewart (I'm not considering Archer a 9 for Tonda). 3 strikers is a lot, but Stewart is unreliable due to his injury history. If we get promoted, at worst he has proven to be a hardworking, physical player that could give our team a much needed outlet if we are hanging onto a result. If we stay in the Champ, he has demonstrated that he can play as a complete no.9 at this level.

* According to Transfermarkt, Mallorca bought him for £6.5m (their site uses Euros). Teams getting rid of players will usually be happy to take just over the amortised purchase cost that is remaining. He signed a 5 year contract and has 2 years left, at the end of the season. So, (£6.5/5)x2 = £2.6m. My guess would be that the option for him is around £3m.
 

[CheshireSaint]

I think my point more relates to the physicality required to play in the American, Turkish, Belgian, Spanish and Dutch leagues wouldn't necessarily be the same as that required in the Championship. I'd think you may be able to get away with 80 / 90% fitness whereas not so in the Championship. If he hasn't been pushed to be in optimal condition, there may be a correlation with fitness and ability.  

[S-Clarke]

I really like him, adds such a different dimension to us. He's so strong, full of energy and elusively quick. We've not had someone like him for a while.

Our January transfer window was brilliant, the 3 adds (if you include Bree) have been transformational.

[ally_uk]

Thing is do we stick or twist ?

If we get promoted, he has all the attributes of the ideal striker we need, but should we be targeting a higher caliber player? 

[AlexLaw76]

1 minute ago, ally_uk said:

Thing is do we stick or twist ?

If we get promoted, he has all the attributes of the ideal striker we need, but should we be targeting a higher caliber player? 

if we go up, we need a much stronger spine. Peretz (or Ramsdale) fix the keeper problem, Charles may grow into the CM role, but we need a much better striker.

Sunderland went up and brought some monsters..we bought BBD last time!