TRon

I was expecting them to implode somewhat following the departure of Abramovich, but I guess the fallout might take a year or two. Should still happen at some point though, so patience needed.

It's not about being happy, in reality on Bruno is the genuine class midfielder out of those on our books, the rest could all be upgraded. But I would have thought a DM was even more important than someone like Paqueta who would be more of an AM. Unless we are prepared to play Bruno in a deeper role like he played previously with Paqueta. I just don't know if we'll be able to buy in all the players we need in one transfer window. If Paqueta is available though, it would seem a great chance to bring in a genuine upgrade player.

I get the feeling Schar and Burn will still get plenty of first team action next season along with Sven. Lascelles is the one who will probably play significantly less games, but as an influential club player he might be prepared to stick around anyway.

Definitely, if he's fully fit, there's not many better in the PL. Genuinely class centre forward. He needs competition regardless, and Wood isn't really that.

Well your last bit there was why I was suggesting starting him straight away ahead of Wilson. There has to be some incentive for him to pick us over Ajax, and while Wilson would rightly be pissed off, he can't exactly leave anyway until January. Realistically you'd want him as an understudy or competition to Wilson, but sounds like he's adamant he wants first team football almost immediately. Not that different to Ekiteke I suppose (who I still think we'll hold out for ultimately). But for the price it seems we should be all over that if we aren't going to pursue the Hugo.

I mean he's not likely to be favourite player of all time, but I do like what you said about how he casually dropped into a relegation battle and grabbed the whole thing by the scruff of the neck. He's definitely got winner blood flowing through those veins.

I mean if he's really all that, then we could pitch him in ahead of Wilson and see how he does. If he does well and Wilson subsequently wants a move then why not?

There will be buyers for all three as they all have some qualities about them, problem would be wages. The sort of clubs who would want them would probably want to pay them half of what they are getting here.

I love that. Got Ashworth's stamp all over it.

Have we been linked with any out of contract players this summer? I mean other than Lingard. There's only a few days left before they become officially available so you would think there might be some opportunities there.

Well yeah precisely. I'm still not even sure I would prefer McTominay.

He's good in the same way loads of young English midfielders are good. They aren't terrible at anything, and they aren't great either. They could just as easily be playing for Brentford and you would barely notice them.

The bloke holding the shirt with him bears an uncanny resemblence to Tessio from the Godfather. "Mike....can you get me out of this one? For old times sake?"

Dang. Beat me to it.

He'll be along later on to tell us, actually he's a very very good player who they would never consider selling anyway.

We desperately need a downvote button for posts like this. Although the thumbs down emoji does the job also.

I think if Ashworth knows his stuff (and he clearly does) we'll have started making contact with other potential targets. This deal is still there to be done but will be down to the player's camp to ressurect it. He's in danger of blowing the move otherwise.

He'd be valued at less than half of that if he wasn't at Man U.

I don't think Wood's good enough to justify starting ahead of Wilson in any situation, but if Wilson is out, then at least he provides some presence up front, and nuisance value. It only becomes a problem if Wilson is out for a lengthy spell, but as I said, I do expect us to bring in another striker, although not an experienced or proven one unless some fantastic deal drops in our lap. It's going to be someone in the frame of Ekitike, an exciting prospect who we think will come good.

If I had to put money on who the next striker is through the door it would be this lad. The PSG stuff probably floated by his agent has fallen flat, and I think we are in pole position. All this stuff is just horse trading with loads of time left in the window. If we make a serious move for an alternative striker then the agent will capitulate IMO.

Wood's only job next season will be to provide cover if and when Wilson gets injured. Hopefully we'll have someone in before then who will put him down to 3rd choice as I still think we are bringing in another striker.

Not for Reims it isn't. He'll be down to one year left on his contract and might just decide to sit out the final year as well then take his pick of clubs.

Yeah I find it hard to believe that his agent won't want to cash in this summer. It could just as easily go tits up for him next season.

We aren't planning on relying on him though, that's why we were chasing Ekiteke. I'm sure there will be alternatives as well if that one is dead. I just don't think it's going to be a Darwin Nunez calibre striker, partly because those aren't available to us yet.

Yep.