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All I see is a sense of drift at the top, and yet another window of nothing happening.

Amazing to think that anyone could just wander into the training ground and watch the full session, practice games, set pieces etc

Valid concern, but I don't think it necessarily follows we haven't done our homework. It wouldn't be the first time that we've tried (and failed) in the Premier League market first, before moving onto other targets. Or it might just be the club has struggled to identify value abroad. It just feels that they might face less competition and hold more bargaining power. We can only speculate, but it'll be interesting to see how it plays out over the next few weeks.

I think it’s 50/50 whether they stay up they won’t be as outmatched as some think and I think their recruitment is smart, think Mayenda will be a handful and the new lad has pace and physicality. Think Wolves and Brentford could join promoted sides in peril this season.

His wages at least. Which is a major factor in the overall cost of the transfer.

The bedwetting because we haven't bought one player is hilarious.

Should Pedro end up going to Chelsea it’ll be interesting to see how we pivot and whether someone like Xavi Simons becomes a more realistic option now. We’ve been linked with Simons in both 2023 and 2024, so he’s clearly someone the club has followed closely. Young, technical, versatile, and able to play that link role between midfield and attack that Pedro seemed targeted for. He’s not a direct striker option, but he ticks a lot of the same boxes: comfortable as a 10, wide forward, or drifting centrally. High work rate, great in transition, and very much the type Howe could develop into something special. What Pedro offered that Simons doesn’t is cover for Isak. And with clear budget constraints, if we can’t stretch to both an attacking mid and a striker, then the right-sided forward we bring in might need to be able to cover centrally, even if that’s not their ideal role. That could limit our options unless a smart deal emerges. If we do go for someone like Simons and a specialist wide player, then we might still need to roll the dice on a low-cost or free striker. Forum favourite DCL just entered the chat…😬

Increasingly I’m agreeing with this. I’ve said this in another thread. ‘Whose baby is this?’ Who is staying up at night with NUFC top of their thoughts? Yasir to me is like the other geezer at Spurs. He’s the main money man. But it’s Levy’s baby. Levy drives it. Chelsea was always Romans baby. But Marina was his underboss/consigliere. Atm it does feel like a rudderless ship.

Doesn't seem to have driven up his asking price mind, been 60 million all summer.

Nah, the Super League will be a closed Premier League. The Saudi’s will be asked to buy the Champions League TV rights for a step above what they go for now, in exchange for a club or 2 of theirs being invited to the competition each year.

Yep - not often I’d paraphrase Trevor Francis, but I remember him talking about how the hardest thing in management isn’t improving poor sides, but trying to improve a really good one - you have to spend big money and be absolutely confident that the player you’re buying is likely to improve the side - and that getting a team from 7th to 6th is almost as hard as getting a team from 17th to 7th (he finished 3rd, 7th, 7th with Sheff Wed before it fell apart - which is what he was referring to). Far too many are giving it the ‘just buy cheap players from abroad’ patter. Great - but that’s adding to the pot luck element. Who we buy at this point needs to be really thought out - you don’t just gamble on some bloke from a midtable Portuguese side because you saw a YouTube video of him doing loads of pedaladas.

It’s not overpaying. It’s the going rate. Value is only what people are prepared to pay. There’s not a catalogue with prices in. It’s becoming a bit frustrating this. There’s now a decent length list of targets that are going elsewhere and a couple of low ball bids for Trafford and Elanga to clubs who don’t need to sell. I’d be far more confident if we hadn’t had the Guehi shambles last summer (another on our target list this summer going elsewhere). From the outside, there doesn’t seem to be much homework done and it doesn’t inspire much confidence if we end up scrambling around for players who know they’re well down our list of targets.

Romano sell tweets for clubs and agents. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s just saying that on behalf on either Brighton or the players agent in order to try and put pressure on us to either offer more for him to Brighton, or more in wages.

Said this for ages we are trying to spread a limited budget to thinly across multiple needs. Mitchell may not be popular but he’s right our transfer policy isn’t fit for purpose. Yes it’s got us so far but now we’ve had 3 windows where we can’t spend and from the targets where after I just see rinse and repeat. We’ve acquired some blue chip players but you’re correct they all had question marks, including Isak who’s goal record was atrocious for Sociedad in his last season.

Have the people on here who fancy them to stay up really factored in that they were fourth in a very poor league last season, 24 points off automatic promotion, looked very unconvincing in the play off games and had the fans shouting for the manager's head even after they'd reached the playoffs ? Additionally they've lost one of their most important (albeit very limited) players and the only one I saw who looked like he truly had PL potential (Watson). Similar levels of optimism applied to ourselves will have us nailed on to win the Champions League.

Demand from others does drive the price up though. This one in particular is Chelsea moving mad.

My prediction/conspiracy theory is that there will be a Saudi led European Super League within 5 years and these clubs are already in bed with them. That’s a realistic goal for them and it’s far bigger than Newcastle. As far as Newcastle is concerned, the club was sold to them by Staveley and I think everything needs to be pushed forward by a non-PIF person. They’re there to invest if someone sells it to them, but otherwise we’ll be a forgotten relatively minor investment.

My only issue is, surely the club should have known exactly what to expect regarding prices, wages etc. We have had 18 months to get ready for this window. Being quoted massive fees should not come as a surprise.

I’m not negative about it. But we are likely looking at losing out on 4 of our main targets by the start of July. That is pretty shitty.

Aye this. Was always a great move for him. At 35m it looked a good deal for us at first. A £10m overpay at the low end. Then at £15m when you consider Vlad it was a great coup for them at the time. But now it’s a complete steal.

Not overly concerned with this transfer. Zenden chose Chelsea. Jeffers chose Arsenal. We got Robert and Bellamy instead. Brill.

There's been reports they have.

In recent transfer windows, as we sit and watch the likes of Chelsea and Man United spend money unchecked as though they operate outside of the restraints we're chained by, the frustration bordering on apathy turns to pure admiration for Eddie and what he's been able to achieve. He really is the king. Chelsea can take Pedro, Man United can take Mbeumo, neither of them have a manager who is anywhere near the level of Eddie Howe, nor will they get one any time soon.

Chelsea haven't even bid for him have they?