TRon

Given the price I would imagine it is.

It's depressing tbh, all the same failings on display there, absolute dogshit coming from the forwards, and Joelinton struggling to control the ball on a couple of occasions as well. Bruno is so much better than the rest it's embarrassing.

His managers in France weren't so keen on him either. He's a fantastic talent but he plays the game by himself too much. He'll be here this season, but I reckon he'll be replaced in a year's time.

It's unlikely to happen this season though, RW is more important.

I'm not convinced he's worth as much as some on here think either. The majority of clubs would want someone who fits the team pattern better. Like Harrison. ASM is best when he's playing for a shit manager like Bruce or Pardew. 8 men behind the ball, then give it to ASM to win it with a bit of magic. Which works maybe half a dozen times a season.

I have a feeling the forwards we would like might be unattainable for one reason or another, and we seem reluctant to go down the pecking order to 3rd or 4th choice players who we might not consider good enough. It's probably a case of waiting until a really good player becomes available whatever the position. So we don't really need Paqueta, but if we can't get the striker we want, might go for him instead, assuming he would fit how Howe wants to play.

I'm fairly relaxed about the ASM situation. I don't think he'll ever be a team player, but because he's so dangerous, he's still an asset, and one of the few players we could get big money for if we ever wanted to part ways. Still very important to us this coming season.

I read that we were in for him but he preferred a move to West Ham which is disappointing tbh. They are doing well, but I feel Newcastle as a club has a bigger profile. Hopefully we'll bring in someone better.

Disagree tbh, I think Fraser. Almiron and Murphy are weak links and you'll struggle to get half a dozen goals between them over the course of a season. It would be fantastic to have a genuine goal scoring front 3. Imagine a front 3 of ASM, Wilson and Diaby for example. That said, I think we'll go with whichever genuine top class player we can get in, so if Diaby isn't coming, we might pursue a top striker like Isak.

It's also a sign we will target quality and look to sign the right players if we can't get the players we need in a certain position. We need strike power, but we aren't going to sign second best options. Seems to me we would rather spend the whole wad on one player if he's a game changer. Like Paqueta maybe. Diaby would have been ideal, but not convinced he's sold on us. I'm getting Ekiteke vibes where he's using us to sound out CL clubs.

It wasn't a pitch though, he just said when you are after the top talents, other clubs will be in there as well. That was literally borne out by PSG signing the lad.

I do like Toney as a player, just concerned he's not really a natural goal scorer. Once you start talking stupid money it just seems there will be better options.

Some goals up top will make all the difference. Other than the intermittently fit Wilson, we don't have any./

They should have been moved on 3 years ago, instead Mike Ashley lumbered us by handing out relegation fighter contracts.

He's nowhere near as good as a fit Wilson.

I don't believe that rumour tbh. Sounds like a complete shot in the dark, unless Brentford have suddenly dropped their valuation or we've dropped our standards.

For about £20m maybe.

So you saying the Qatari owners selling up and the French league collapsing isn't making things up?

Rich described his position at Bristol as wide left/CM so it seems like he can operate as part of a front three

It's more a case of looking at which players you wouldn't miss and getting them out so we can keep him around. He seems more of an impact player than Murphy, and he must surely be able to keep hold of the ball better.

I wouldn't say he wasn't interested in coming here, it's just that he preferred PSG. They were obviously tapping him up as well, and you can't really blame him for choosing what he considers his dream club. If they'd shown no interest he would have come here IMO.

He's good enough to be in the squad right now tbh, the only reason to loan him out is so he gets regular football rather than sitting on our bench. Would be better to ship Murphy out on loan tbh.

You beauty! I know it sounds daft but that would probably work for all parties

Along with the top notch CB.

Luke Edwards knew about it, he was working in tandem with the club to keep a lid on it.