toontownman

Until @HTT II shows us the brochure and dossier to entice Paqueta here I am not believing the hype.

Pretty surprised they didn't apply to jump up the leagues but I expect with so much to do everywhere else at the club a slow methodical build with the Womens team makes sense too. Starting a reserve/youth team is a big step in the right direction. They already have a really young side. They can add higher tier players and have the younger players develop in the reserves. Much like the mens side Becky Langley seems to have a great thing going with developing players and creating a great atmosphere. Doesn't make sense to rip it up or bring in much higher tier players and cause issues within the dressing room. A lot of leagues and years to get through before they reach the top though.

We shall see how it goes the next couple of days. Commendable brass sized balls if we walk away, even though it would be disappointing. This window is so important for future negotiations. There is no doubt that the ownership and Ashworth and co. will be dead set if not desperate to get a marquee signing in this window. Maddison is the type that appeals to our wider fan base and can be a key player for the next 6/7 years. I know we got marquee signings already in Bruno and Sven but the attacking one is always different. It's not only what the fans crave but for public appearances the Ownership will want a big attacking signing for branding. If its not Maddison I think we will go big for someone else. That we are happy to go to 50m with add ons already puts the rumoured Parqueta and Diaby price tags into greater focus...maybe even moves for Sesko or Isak.

https://tbrfootball.com/newcastle-have-some-interest-in-signing-ross-barkley-journalist/ Thankfully Dean Jones has been out to lunch most of the time this summer.

The journos pretty much know as much as the club wants them too. They don't have the inside track unless the club want them too. Wouldn't surprise me to see us still bid big for someone young like Sesko if they are available as well as Maddison. The market is likely changing daily and will get crazier as we get close to the end of the window. We will act if there is someone that improves us at a decent price.

First it was 3 players (striker, winger, mid) now we are only wanting half players? Worrying. Taking Rodgers at his word by the looks of it.

Can't see another team coming in at that price as that position isn't a pressing need for the top 6/7. Fair play if they do, that likely means there is another target in Europe they won't get and we might steal in for and get for a cheaper price than 60m. With FPP, paying the 10m extra might not seem much but that 10m also might be earmarked for being able to pay a bit more for other targets we want. Still think we have plenty of wriggle room if we really wanted. We just have smart and responsible people in charge now that won't dive in.

Depends on the fee they get. Maddison makes more sense as is, last two years of his contract and could wind down and go for nothing or certainly much less with each passing window. That said if Maddison is willing to re-sign then Fofana if they get north of 70/80m for him might be more appealing. Depends who they think is harder to replace and what they would do with the funds.

Fact it's taken this long points towards both parties talking. Feel cautiously optimistic about this. Next step with be meeting in the middle and an undisclosed fee.

Guess we can take Noni Madueke out of the realistic transfer targets list. Seriously injured his ankle in training and will miss the first half of the season. :*( Cheeky bid in January when he is back!

Possible he is on a promise. Might be holding out for a specific club that hasn't pulled the trigger. If the other clubs know he has his heart set elsewhere they might just be sitting waiting to pounce if that doesn't materialize.

The rumour is that it's more about the structure of how we pay the 17.5m isn't it as they want it all up front and we want it in chunks over time? Either way doesn't seem like he is a priority or we would get it done and maybe we still will. Maddison has to take priority. If cornet wants a move to us he could hold out for us.

Possible Spurs or Liverpool could be interested but not convinced. More likely Leicester posturing. Whether 50m is acceptable or not it will be an undisclosed fee if we find an agreement. Fully expect the 2nd bid to be publically rejected by tmrw morning in the press. 3rd and final agreement a few days later with close to an agreement for a day or so somewhere in there. Then the rigamoral with medical/contract and agonizing wait until it's announced. Unveiled at the Forest game possibly or the week after. Can't see him in before though. Fingers crossed either way!

The way this is trending with press comments Leicester will get murdered if they accepted the rumored bid. Lots of factors though. Leicester will want it sorted quickly so they can spend. So for them it's whether Chelsea are really serious or as serious about Fofana as we are Maddison and who is easier to lose and replace. If they weren't needing some funds and other players wanted I could see it drag out until near the end of the window but I think it could be sorted this week or mid next. Makes more sense to sell Maddison given his contract situation. As others mentioned he might not actually fancy re-signing with Leicesters short term future (at least) looking a little bit wobbly. There is no doubt where we are wanting to head and hopefully heading. This is the time to cash in for Leicester.

They brought two players in to play CM, so possible still but less so. Before the Fofana noise and after Percy broke the bid for Maddison it was reported Tielmans would still leave if the right offer came in regardless of Maddison staying or going.

Epic window. Back when this magazine was on the top shelf with all the other porn.

We are in a different world for signings now. So many extra add on clauses. Just little things like champions league appearance bonus or winning the league/cups etc. Up until the takeover no club was cruel enough to suggest even mentioning those things in negotiations, at least not without bursting into laughter... with Charley nervously chuckling along with them not understanding the joke.

I'm all about the Lee Ryder quotes saying "after a weekend of negotiations". If that was accurate then what we have bid has to be very close to what they want. Putting faith in Edwards and Ryder. What a world.

Fully expect this to be rejected by the end of the day but we will surely meet in the middle at this point. 50 plus add ons taking it close to 60m. The fact the press are taking about his replacement is another good sign they expect him to go.

Do public reported bids like this ever get accepted? Always seems when bids are reported they are rejected. Expect it will roll another week and go quiet until an agreement has been reached. We obviously don't want other clubs (chelsea/arsenal) stealing in and getting fofana/tielmans meaning they don't need to sell Maddison.

Latest reports I have seen are that Leipzig seem to have the edge as Chelsea want one of their players and will use Werner as bait. Depends whether you believe the "desperate to stay and prove himseld in the PL" rumours over the going back to where he was tearing it up and playing CL football in a WC season. I'd think they have the edge and if the mirror reports were true we wouldn't have heard about it unless it was almost done.

True. If the edwards news is true. Surely we aren't that far apart on their valuation. If we bid and were told 80m I doubt we would have gone back and certainly only that much higher. 60m is probably what they have said and maybe as @bowlingcroftysays we will meet somewhere between 50-55m to get it done. Looks like a posturing bid and the brinksmanship game.

Given Rodgers comments I'd be astounded if they sell for less than 60m. They probably want more. That said if they did take less maybe we are continuing where we left off with Burnley, destabilizing a direct rival by nabbing one of their best players and causing their manager to be pissed off at the same time.

I think just the fact the bid has been reported by alot of reliable big sources. We have been linked with lots and lots of rumored bids but this is more concrete and feels more real. If we have bid it's likely a) he wants to come b) Leicester are willing to sell and c) we fancy our chances knowing how much they want. Also don't think there are many sides in the UK looking for that type of a player to gazump us. The Warner stuff is more paper talk but this comes down to whether we can meet in the middle and if another club comes in like the ekitike situation. I expect it to drag and not be quick though as the valuation quotes seem wide apart at the moment. Given the reports of other clubs wanting other Leicester players, if we really want him we might need to act a bit quicker. Maybe those leaked Chelsea links and talk of them keeping Maddison if they sell another big player are trying to flush a bigger bid from us though .

Amazing from Scott lol