TRon

Didn't really consider that, but you are right. Along with Samu Aghehowa those were my two most likely replacements to fit alongside Wissa which would allow us to get rid of Isak if Liverpool stumped up the asking price. Not surprising really that we refuse to let Isak go then, we've run out of even 5th option strikers.

I don't think it's out of the question we sign Jackson and Wissa and let Isak go if we get close to £150m. I know the owners have said he's not leaving, but I get the feeling Eddie is done with him. I think Wissa is the more accomplished striker right now, but Jackson is younger so might still come good.

I can still remember putting the 5th place finish down to Pardew stumbling onto a winning formula by mistake. HBA was out of the side and only got in due to injury, otherwise I'm pretty sure he was playing Ryan Taylor down one of the flanks before that.

I'd fight that slur to my dying day.

Well that would tie in with the games I've seen, always seems to miss some sitters, but it does seem he has some admirers, including us if rumours are to be believed.

His numbers alone will make it £50m minimum I reckon. I think I would rather spend a bit more and take a punt on Samu.

You're a better man than me. I saw the cup game being mentioned once on Sky Sports News and just turned the tv off.

Just goes to show, a month is a long time in football.

We've been tracking Thiaw for a year though, and there has been plenty of talk all through this window that we might be interested again. I don't recall us being linked with any midfielders this summer.

He can finish in a 1V1 for sure. Just the defenders in front of the keeper might be more of an issue.

Lebron who?

What a fucking tool.

This is why I think Howe might be on a different page to the owners. He might prefer to sell Isak and use the funds to bring in quality elsewhere and pair up a younger striker like Jackson with Wissa if it was up to him. But there again that's not happening if Liverpool won't pay a fair price for isak.

Exactly. None of them have either the movement or the physical presence of a striker. Barnes struggles to get by a full back out wide, how would he find space in a crowded penalty area? I just don't see it.

I've no doubt we must be looking for a midfielder after selling Longstaff, just don't recall us being seriously linked with any.

Are we? It's one of the areas I don't recall seeing many serious links tbh.

They would probably look to rotate the pair of them like we would have if we had succeeded with our bid for Ekitike. But you are right, I don't think they want to spend that much on both players, part of the reason why I think there might be some truth they would look to hijack the Wissa move as a cheaper alternative strike force. Isak might end up being left high and dry for another year at least.

This is the same for all the clubs in the chain tbh. Even Liverpool are waiting on signing a striker until they know for sure they can't get Isak. It's all very cat and mouse at this stage.

Agree. Pretty sure the aim would have been to bring in a Wilson replacement to bolster Isak up front so we could have a really good crack in a CL season with a few other key areas strengthened.

The only way we could move for Paqueta was if we sold Isak. Otherwise that's an expensive deal, and might be dead in the water anyway if Man City are still interested.

I think they are definitely getting another striker, which is why I hope we tie up Wissa sooner than later. He's as close to guaranteed goals as you will get for me.

Plus it was hard to judge his crossing tbh, without a proper striker to aim for it was like finding a needle in a haystack.

They might have spent their wad by now tbf.

He's probably willing to go for a pay as you play deal, that would probably keep him in the PL.

That might actually work in our favour as it will at least show Isak the limit of their valuation in getting him. Imagine if they opted for Wissa instead.