TRon

Arsenal's wage budget doesn't look like a top 4 team's tbh, no wonder they are struggling to make CL places these days.

It illustrates how much further along the road clubs like Arsenal are than us more likely. Maybe because they have had access to Europe and better sponsorship deals for so much longer, they don't fall foul of FFP. If we spend a few quid more than what we used to under Ashley we get the Fair Play police battering down the office doors and confiscating the computers.

The agent is working for the footballer at the end of the day. I would have thought if the player really wanted a move he could make it happen.

I always felt we could have signed Abrahams back then if the club had backed Rafa. With this one it feels like Howe has been supported to the hilt to get his man.

Well I'm with the club on this one tbh, from what I've seen he's got some real promise, and crucially looks to have some football intelligence as well. I can understand why they pushed hard for it, but ultimately he has to want the move himself as well.

But the club don't want a repeat of January where we spent the whole month setting up the deal only for him to tell us to fuck off on the last day. We can't afford to hang our hat on him, we have to move on to someone who wants to be here.

I'm sure there's a bit of that, but at the same time we won't want to lose out on secondary targets so we will probably have put a deadline on how long we are prepared to hang on waiting for his camp to make their minds up. I personally think we've sort of drawn a line under it, and will be sounding out other strikers now. It would take a pretty quick turnaround from his agent for this to happen now.

Alternatives are a bit tricky unfortunately. Strikers cost a bomb, and we can't do what City and Chelsea did when they started getting bankrolled by states. They were able to pick up 30+ year old players by offering a bit of extra cash, but we can't really do that because of FFP. We already chucked £25m at Wood because we were in a desperate position. A genuine class striker is not going to be easy to source. The best bet would another up and comer like Ekiteke, but one who actually wants to come here.

I mean it is stating the obvious somewhat. I'm sure we like Phillips as well but since Man City are talking about signing him, links with us are a bit pointless.

No one else will be interested if we are being priced out of a move. The agent is fucking himself and his client over. We can't wait to hang around so I would imagine we'll look somewhere else now unless the Ekiteke camp realises they have pushed us too far. I think for it to happen now the agent will have to relent pretty damn quick.

We were basically that by the end of last season. We should be looking to push for top 6-8 this time round, and we aren't going to do it unless we bring in two or three players who significantly improve us.

At least we were the leading Entlish team to be interested.

Football isn't just about midfield any more. It's about ball retention all over the pitch which seemingly includes goalkeepers and central defenders. Then you have to add a player's abiilty to break or press the opposition into a mistake. While I'd love to have a world class CM alongside Bruno, I look at other areas of the pitch and think those need fixing first. Up front and wide forwards mainly.

And he releases the ball at the right times instead of dallying to do some exhibition stuff. We might end up taking more of a risk, but I have a feeling there's more chance of making a much larger profit in the long run, even if he doesn't stay long term.

I'm not even convinced we are buying one CM let alone two.

The agent works for Hugo, not the other way round. Surely there comes a point where the player can just say I want this move, make it happen. Let's not lose sight of the fact his agent doesn't make a penny if there's no move and the lad just stays put.

That really does say a lot. He's obviously a very good keeper if he's in the England camp.

I'd be more disappointed with our recruitment team tbh. After six months chasing we should have a handle on whether he wants to be here or not.

I just hope this goes through, and he's actually worth the money. I have this horrible feeling that we could have got Aguerd if we hadn't focussed so heavily on Botman. He'd better be all that after all this.

I feel other signing were more of a priority, but it's still a good addition which improves the squad. Has to be looked on it's own merits, and he seems like a good solid keeper.

That's been my main criticism of him as well. He's a fantastic talent, but he doesn't release the ball quickly enough, the best players spot the passes before defenders even see them coming. Yes I do accept that it's harder for him because our players don't make aggressive runs, but I personally don't think it comes naturally to him, he wants to hold the ball as long as possible. I have seen Ekiteke releases the ball quickly when a team mate is better positioned, and he's a lot younger than Maxi. These things shouldn't need coaching.

It is quite funny like.

Of the two Everton strikers, I think I would get more excited at the prospect of signing Richarlison. DCL is a goalscorer, but I don't think his all round game is as good.

I doubt we will, this is just paper talk.

Not sure about his preferred position but you would imagine if he's a Guardiola player then he's going to be pretty great in possession. That would make him an upgrade on most of our players straight off the bat. Although there's no actual indication we are even looking at him.