The College Dropout

I think this is likely to be rejected but Leicester will come to the table properly and negotiate. I've said £50m is the floor for what would seriously be considered.

£50m all in - now we are seriously negotiating. I think if we get this to £50m as a base + add-ons, he's ours.

Potentially a good piece of business

He's the last piece of the puzzle. and arguably doesn't start if everyone's fit. First choice would be Walker and Cancelo imo. Top clubs find it easier because they are more willing to pay the price or keep their paint dry. Priority 1 - Striker - got him. Priority 2 - Fernandinho replacement - got him. Pep has said - he likes his squad. If no more bodies, he's happy (that's a lie). Howe can't even lie. He's said he's been frustrated by the market.

Aye but he's naturally a 10. I like him at RAM/RF but he's not giving the athleticism or work rate you might want from that role (which you get from Raph, Richarlison). At RCM, it's defensively vulnerable. He's such ability he can do a lot but I think it brings its headaches tactically unless it's 10.

Then go and get him. Look at the best run clubs. They go after their priority targets. If they fail. They move on to the next - decisively. The best run clubs have done 90% of their business - we haven't sorted the priority positions. We are moving like it's FM. Linked here, there and everywhere. Seemingly - not close to an agreement for anyone. Not a shot at you. But I can say a simple thing like "well run clubs do their transfer business early. Are often decisive in their targets - move on or get transfers sealed". And someone will pop up and suggest it's perfectly normal to have a dozen targets for 2 positions in the side and to take time with 4 days until the season starts and 4 weeks until the window closes. Yet turn around and laugh at Chelsea - who are doing a similar thing except actually making serious bids.

That will mean meeting other clubs valuation of players. It's something we've not been to good at this season.

I would've preferred a Raph type. Out and out wide player. Can play a really intense style of football. I love that and I think it suits us. I like JM a lot but he's a bit of a luxury player and presents a tactical headache IMO.

It's looking like we'll do a lot of business in the last few weeks of the window at least.§

We are already not well prepared for the season. That's my core frustration. It's already not in a good place and some on here have their heads in the sand. Howe has used the same word. Yes - it does look like we are "exploring options" but I prefer a more decisive transfer approach. Still links to Harrison but things seem to be progressing slowly if at all. Cornet - yeh we're measuring it up etc.

How much media do Leeds get in Barcelona? I genuinely think there's a Brazilian tax akin to an English tax. How do you know this? We've already been interested and bid for players and not met the asking price and walked away. The reports are suggesting that's another possibility here.

Aye. Terrible.

It's 1st August. When the Raphinha and Richarlison news broke. The transfer fees were close to what was eventually agreed. Same with Botman and Etikite.

It's not like Everton. Everton's issue is just FFP. Their owner would put in more of their own money if they could. Leicester are (becoming) self sustaining. They don't have masses of revenue and have sold for lots of money consistently until recently. Not with us. In the short-term all we can offer over Leicester is higher wages. His focus will be going to the WC and he can do that with us or Leicester. A year from now, he will be far more attractive to a genuine top 6 team. I don't see him going on strike or kicking up a massive storm to come and join us.

Still frustrated with our transfer approach. Cornet - really good fee for a problem position. We want to play funny buggers with how the deal is structured. Maddison - £10m-£25m away from agreeing a fee.

Man Utd having a proper coach will make a world of difference. Everton aye. Anything is possible with Frank.

I never insult people on here. Can you please offer me the same courtesy? Also Richarlison had 2 years left on his contract. Richarlison £60m. 25. 2 years left on his contract. Regular Brazilian international. 32 PL G/A last 2 seasons. Raphinha £50m. 25. 2 years left on his contract. Emerging Brazilian international. Bidding war. 31 PL G/A last 2 seasons. Maddison. £45m??????. 25. 2 years left on his contract. English. 33 PL G/A last 2 seasons. Are there other "behind the scenes" factors - sure. But I think most people in English football would be surprised if he was sold this summer for a penny less than £50m.

What makes you say that? Also Richarlison went for £60m. Not a dissimilar profile (age, performance, years left on contract). If I was a Leicester fan I would expect a fee between Richarlison (always felt like a premium fee) & Raphinha circa £55m. Anything significantly less than Raphinha (sub £46m) would be a robbery and an excellent piece of business for us.

Aye which is why the fee won't be £50m. They only signed him permanently last season too for like £16-17m. I think double that will be taken seriously. £33m-£40m

Raphinha also had 2 years left on his contract. In his advantage he's a regular Brazilian international and had a bit of a bidding war going on but the fees were similar. But Maddison has better performances in the PL for longer time and has English tax. He's also presumably happy to stay where Raphinha definitely wanted to leave.

What's unrealistic? Leeds just sold 2 players for £90m. One of them is the exact same age and plays in the same role as Harrison. Same number of years left on the contract too. Again Leicester will have seen the Raphinha fee. I would use that as a MINIMUM if I was them.

I don't think this is true. Or at least. Even someone like myself could ballpark what clubs would sell X player for. Age, length of contract, selling league, Nationality, output. We are towards the end of the window. I could tell you Maddison will go for a similar amount to Raphinha. I could also tell you Harrison would go for less but higher than £25m.

Haaland is going to be great. But he would suit Liverpool better.

If they got £80m for Fofana and £60m for Maddison - they would sell both imo.

It's also a few years since the owners passed isn't it? Perhaps they would've moved the likes of Perez on earlier. Perez would be on good wages but surely he would've fetcehd 10-15m last season? Being in Europe - they've needed a bigger squad too which doesn't help.