Similar to the thread on the second page about the squad in general, we have some key decisions to make.
Yokuslu has shown how desperately we needed a proper defensive midfield, and how much better we are when they can also make a pass too. It's unlikely he will stay so we'd need a replacement.
How we set up will depend on a variety of things not least:
Manager
Key players being retained
Summer recruitment and youth promotion (if any)
Manager is one that we can't talk about, nor is it easy to predict what Dowling will do, so we'll leave that.
Key players - mainly Pereira. He's best as a 10, and a lot of fans will say that means he has to play centrally. There's a whole host of quasi-10s doing very well for teams this year - Fernandes at United, Foden at City being two example, with the young lad at Arsenal also doing well (Smith-Rowe?). Beyond that we've seen players like James at Everton who are 10s, but play off a wing. All this says that while a system that gets the best out of Pereira is important, we don't know if he'll be around next season, and actually there are some options available to us.
If we have Pereira as a central 10, then we are building a team around him, because then we can't play 4-3-3. It's most likely to be a 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-1-1. We have plenty of right footed wingers-cum-wide-forwards (Phillips, Grant, Robinson, Edwards), while Diangana and HRK are left footed.
If we stick with Pereira as a 10, we're probably going for a double six pivot. Ideally you'd have two energetic players who can win and play the ball, but I have a bad feeling we may well be seeing Livermore and Sawyers returning to the fold. My hope is we'd upgrade on Livermore, having seen what Yokuslu/Gallagher have brought to the team. It's worth noting I don't think there's any hope of our midfield loanees returning to us in the Championship.
There are other options available if we want to insist on a central 10, like a 4-4-2 diamond, 4-3-1-2 or 3-4-1-2, but assessing if our players suit those systems is a whole other post.
If we did sell Pereira, it at least gives us freedom to play 4-3-3, maybe with Sawyers as a free 8 with less defensive responsibility, seeing as I can't see us bringing in a brand new midfield trio.
Up front, it looks like a sole striker setup, given our plethora of wide attacking options. Part of me would love to see Pereira as a false 9 with Grant and A.N.Other on the left and right, basically playing Guardiola-ball, but something tells me that's unlikely. Diagne has shown the benefits of a target man, but frustrates in front of goal. The clamours will be for Gayle to return, but I hope we resist - I would prefer to go after someone younger.
With Robinson and Grant both having an eye on a central role, we are best going for something a bit different, in my opinion.
Overall, I would be happy with the following, assuming Pereira goes:
Palmer (Assuming Johnstone goes)
Furlong
Ajayi
Bartley
Townsend
New DM
New Box to box
Sawyers
Diangana
New ST
Grant