I'm very unsure how our squad will cope with Ismael's vision for how he wants to play.
First, how do we fit Diangana, Grant and Robinson into a 3-4-3? Will Ismael move to another system, or look to convert Diangana to a 10 and play a 3-4-1-2?
Second, can you see a world where Livermore and Sawyers transform into high pressing midfielders? I can't. Maybe Valerian can shape Harper into something if he hasn't been transferred out yet, but the fact remains we have the same central midfield from two years ago and it did get overrun by teams then, so I would expect it to happen again.
As Stan has said, we would need a left footed centre back to play on the left of the back three. I would imagine that could spell the end of Bartley unless he's happy being on the bench. The reason I say that is because I feel you need Ajayi's pace if you're playing a high line, and I feel that O'Shea is the more natural player on the right hand side of a three - his ball playing is not great but if we're going a bit more direct then maybe that's fine. Bartley being right footed cuts down some of the passing lanes, and we know he isn't great when asked to do more than be a stopper in a low block. Maybe if Ismael doesn't have us building from the back then maybe gets ahead of O'Shea?
I think that Townsend and Furlong are probably safe bets at the wing back positions, though you might want a speedier version of Townsend...what's Bradley Garmston up to these days? I kid, I kid.
Up front maybe you can have Robinson and Grant as the wide forwards but that means we're left with Zohore through the middle, so I would hope there's someone better on the way in if that's the route we go down.
If we go for more of a 3-4-1-2 then assuming Pereira leaves, you could push Sawyers into the 10 role, but his lack of intensity without the ball will be more of a hindrance than anything else. As I said, maybe Diangana can learn to be a 10, but I don't know if he has the vision and progressive passing to play there - it would be a different kind of style and role if he did.
All in all, it's very exciting if Ismael comes, but not necessarily because I think good things will happen, more because I want to see how the club tries to support the change of style.
Or maybe we don't get Valerian at all