TRon

We need both, but yeah it's been too long since we had wide players who were capable of scoring 10 goals a season. It makes a massive difference.

Absolutely. You also have to question why he'd want to go to PSG where he is unlikely to be starting many games. I mean it's a great club, much further along the road to greatness than we are, but it won't be much use to him if he's not starting most games.

Which is exactly why he would be the wrong player for us. I am really fed up of buying up everyone else's fast and dynamic wide players who are useless at goals.

Kante for me is that type of player. We've had over the hill versions in Nicky Butt, but the best ones are decent on the ball as well, and will look for one-twos, not just pass the ball and stop like Colback for example. I'm doubtful we are even looking at that sort of a player in this window, but at some point we do need a top class CM in front of the back four, assuming that's not going to be Bruno's long term position.

I think those are really underrated qualities in a CM.

And Kalimuendo. I think there is talent out there, we just have to be savvy about picking the right one for us.

Well if they rate Ekiteke more highly, then they could potentially use the fee from Kalimeundo to pay for Ekiteke basically. They can't keep them both on their books. It might work out okay for us actually, there's nothing to say they aren't both highly talented players who would fit our brief for a young and rising striker.

Goals are always the hardest commodity to buy. That's why however much we might like Miggy's work rate and his cheeky grin, we are unlikely to see £20m offers flying in to take him off our hands. It's also why we would always hang onto Wilson even if he's out injured half the season, because the money we would get for a 30yr old is just not worth much in today's market.

Isn't that why Rafa left? We are currently trying to shift half a dozen championship players who were given extended contracts because it was cheaper than buying upgrades fit for the Premier. I guess we figured if we could get the best 2nd tier players and manage them well enough, we would have a chance of escaping relegation with a bit of luck. That was just the way we operated.

This sort of signing will look a lot better once we actually get the forward positions sorted this summer. If we got a decent striker and RW then these will be seen as great future prospects.

Mate if you are going to quote Luke Edwards then he is your point and he's going to get called a tedious prick. I'm not trying to distract from your point, but he is a baldy.

Most people don't dismiss it as bullshit though, they just don't believe that what the club feeds to journalists is written in stone. Why would any club be advertising their budget to journalists whatever it was, whether £50 or £250m?

Look mate you are still missing the point. If the other journalists are wrong, that just means they didn't quite get it right given the lack of available sources. When Luke gets it wrong it's because he's a fucking tedious prick. If he gets it right, well he's always got a 50% chance of guessing right.

Whether he's right or wrong doesn't really matter if he's a massive cunt though. I mean why would you give him the benefit of any doubt whatsoever?

Well it does make me think the club don't really rate the players that highly if they don't want to pay big fees. If someone wants to buy one of your rising stars at the age of 22 you are hardly going to hand him over for £15m if you are the selling club.

Shelvey doesn't leave massive holes because he barely moves from his 10 yd radius in front of the back 4

I really liked some aspects of Ekiteke's play, like his timing of passes so I can understand why we pursued him. I am hoping we are seeing some of that in Isak as well. It's not always just about scoring goals, it's about how you can release other players into dangerous positions as well. Peter Beardsley was the perfect example, when he was in his pomp he was probably the best English player of his era.

I get the feeling Elliott Anderson would make more of an impact as a 19 year old than Matty will at 22.

It's just nice to even be considering these options instead of being stuck in limbo for six months wondering if Ekiteke will ever arrive. Feels like there is genuine movement regardless of who we sign.

I thought because of how little we'd spent over the past few years we have quite a lot of credit to play with, especially if we structure the deals right.

£40m doesn't sound that much on 22 yr olds when you see Chelsea spending that much on a 31 yr old defender. Buy them both if they are available.

I'd feel he's just guessing, he has no idea how we will spend our money.

Well that's just the rage factor. "WhaAA? The skinny little drip didn't want to come here over Paris?!! Fuck him and his bent agent!!"

€40m for a 31 yr old defender. Just shows we are hardly even registering on the big spending league compared to the big hitters.

When they are that age it's not even going mental if you are convinced the player is the real deal. Isaak is 22, even if the fee is on the large side, you are buying a young player whose value should appreciate. I would think the wage package is doable as well.