Rich

Still hopeful we'll get Reina. Think he'd be ideal for us.

If Caballero and Abraham were the first choices for those positions (maybe second in Caballero's case) then it gives you an idea of the sort of budget he's operating with and the sort of players we'll be going for. Time to pull a couple of rabbits out of a couple of hats, Rafa.

"On the way" apparently, although I've received two emails so I'm probably getting a couple...

Splendidly copied from today's Evening Standard.

I'm not sure we were in such a great position to attract players last summer, especially on the scale that Rafa clearly thought we had to. Jury's still out on Gamez, but it appears that Lazaar was a busted flush.

Why not? I've never seen him or Lazaar so hard to draw a conclusion really, but if he's ahead of Haidara it's not really saying much. We really need to buy some quality in these areas, it's the only answer in the long term. His attitude seems excellent and he was obviously a Rafa buy, but the bloke was barely trusted to play in the league below, so it's difficult to know whether he's up to the task in the Premier League. I just find his situation an interesting one really, and was keen to get others' thoughts. There's no mention of him in Hardy's book on Rafa, but a bit from Douglas': EDIT: The reason I got to thinking about him was because I noticed that he was the outfield player with the fewest minutes so far in pre-season, discounting the ones who are clearly surplus to requirements (Krul, Haidara, Riviere, etc.) and those who have been injured (Lascelles, Ritchie, etc.)

I think so, going by the website. No clue when the deadline is, mind. Finally caved in to paying the train fares? Nothing showing as available to purchase on the website when logged in now. Not sure whether a bug or not on sale.

Dragging this one up from the depths of page five. Very little news about a potential transfer out for Gamez and he's ahead of Haidara and Lazaar in the pecking order. Do we reckon he's staying?

This is top banana.

Merino was Marca as first source: http://www.marca.com/en/football/international-football/2017/07/26/5978931c268e3ecd278b4577.html

Another one, given that I'm wiling away the minutes until home time... On the goalkeeper front, it seems like Rafa's out there looking for something none of our current set can offer - namely big match experience and the ability to come out quickly and sweep up in behind the defence with confidence and authority. If there's anything in the Karnezis link it continues the theme on from Reina and Caballero in that regard.

I think he knows, but Ritchie had the position nailed down for most of last season. Did you not think he was significantly better when able to play down the right? I can't really remember, I'm sure you've got a point. I do think it's good that a lot of our wingers are flexible like that. I think Murphy could ever play more centrally. He was, in my opinion at least, he also won Player of the Tournament in AFCON 2015 playing on the right for Ghana. He doesn't look as natural on the left, although he has played there plenty throughout his career. Ritchie also looks significantly worse on that side to me, for what it's worth. Top and bottom of it, I and others still want a LW to come in because we currently have Aarons as the only true natural in that position and we know he can't be relied upon fitness-wise. There's also nothing to say he's good enough (he was fairly ineffective at the start of last season, for instance, though the team took time to find their feet). I dare say Murphy will become a great player for that spot in time, but as of now he's still someone who has shown his best on the right rather than the left.

I think he knows, but Ritchie had the position nailed down for most of last season. Did you not think he was significantly better when able to play down the right?

Atsu's a right winger.

I'm just a bit concerned about who we could end up with at this stage and also perturbed that we brought in Sels under Rafa's watch (although the blame for that appears to have been passed to Carr.) If we were getting Reina then I'd be delighted as that is a clear step-up in terms of almost everything on our current crop. Hopefully Rafa's got something up his sleeve still, if Reina isn't still a goer.

ST > AM > LW > GK > LB > CM remaining on my personal wish list, in that order. With Merino here and Manquillo capable of covering at left-back, those positions have dropped down a fair bit. Still think we could stretch that far if we're able to shift all of the crap on our books, but was hoping we'd have seen at least one further departure this week.

Aye. It's why the whole 'other clubs haven't made many transfers' argument doesn't wash. We're in a different situation to other clubs. Was it ever realistic that we would sign nine players? Still time yet.

Still think we've got a few holes to fill, but we're getting there.

Love this bloke like.

didn't the Chron have numerous stories saying the next one would be a striker?

Gets me every time. Northumbria Water will be partying tonight.

IT HAPPEN

This guy seems like a menace in the air from corners and free-kicks. I like it, I like it a lot. The silk of Hugo Viana with the aerial presence of Gary Speed. #hyperbole

Imagine if he comes here he'd be playing in midfield rather than at CB. Think that goes without saying, aye.