TRon

No one else will do that deal, it's like Freddie blowing everyone else out of the water when we signed Owen. They will all be waiting for the contract to run down in 6 months then picking him up for free.

The whole way they've handled it has been weird, they don't want to sell, but they put out conditions and a price which they would sell at - including buying a replacement for a player they aren't selling. Carlos himself has put in a transfer request, and there's clearly negotiations still going on. I think thats's just how they do things over there, probably a part of hardball negotiation tactics.

No one else would, that's why it makes absolute sense to go for it.

Not sure he was an improvement mind, but yeah that was terrible mis-management.

Really? I think it makes us favourites to sign him tbh. It doesn't sound like a Spurs deal at all at that price and with him almost 29. If he was going to stay they'd just tell us to do one and stop negotiations dead.

No one else can do the deal we can with Lingard, the clubs that can probably would look for a higher calibre of player anyway. It all depends if he really wants to come.

And here we go.... Can't take anything for granted obviously, but there's clearly a lot of horse trading going on here behind the scenes.

But how do you know we won't get the players? It seems like we are still in discussions with Sevilla over Carlos behind the scenes. They could have just told us to fuck off and don't come back, instead they are saying "this is how much we want, otherwise no sale". I'd agree though, there comes a point where we have to either cough up or move on. They will need time to get a replacement in as well so the longer we leave it, less chance of it happening.

In any case, Dubravka is good enough for this season as far as I'm concerned. Honestly GK is the last position I'm worried about right now. Even Darlow as a no 2 I can live with for now presuming he's fit.

I'm still not believing there's another PL club taking us on for Carlos's signature tbh. Short term they might win a small battle, but they would have to know we'd be looking to get even at some point in the future. And by even, I mean shafting them good and proper in future transfer auctions.

Yeah, I don't want to go down like, at any cost. I expect us to throw everything at the window over the next week up until deadline day to make sure we don't. It might feel like we are dragging our heels, but I still think we'll push the deals through if push comes to shove.

it feels like that, but it's not true is it? After the window closes, we'll still have 17 games left. We will have our work cut out, but with the best signings possible, we'll have a decent stab at avoiding relegation.

I doubt it. Doubt Spurs are either tbh. Really only Chelsea out of the London clubs could go head to head with us at this point.

If we haven't got the players we need by close of play on Jan 31st then I think we will all be entitled to moan. It would have been nice to have 5 players in before Watford, and we could have done it, but they wouldn't have been the players to make a difference. After Leeds there's 17 games left. I'd rather face those 17 games with the best possible players than face 19 games with "let's just get someone in ffs" signings.

Got to hand it to Conte like, there's no way Levy would spend that sort of money on a soon to be 29yr old, but we know Conte can throw his toys out of the pram if he doesn't get his signings. Got Levy over a barrel now it seems. Let's see what comes of it. I would still take this news with a pinch of salt at this stage.

From all accounts the DOF position is being addressed, if you cast your mind back we interviewed Michael Emenalo for the position a good while back, but for whatever reason that wasn't considered a good fit. It's an important position, I think making the right appointment is crucial, I don't agree with the idea you should just get one in asap regardless of who it is.

Yeah, for all the moaning about lack of signings, I wake up in the mornings wondering if there's been any developments, and I go to bed at night checking for the same thing. Under Ashley I didn't even use to check this thread, would wait until there was an actual thread on a player, then try to muster some excitement. "Maybe he's a diamond in the rough!"

I think they would probably prefer to do the deal with us tbh, especially if it's a permanent one. All depends on how sold on it Lingard is. There's talk of him wanting to return to London, but would he be going there to retire? I think this is going to be West Ham's stand out season, would be surprised if they kick on to much more following this, they just don't have the finances for it. Maybe Jesse would be tempted to be part of one of the most exciting football projects in the world right here instead? Honestly think we can get this done if we really want him.

Love it.

Yeah I really don't get the comparison with Willock like, Lingard's been around for years. He might not have been good enough to win titles or CL trophies, but he's always been a good player, far above standard level. Some of the goals he has scored during his career were pure class. I'd say that even if he ends up at West Ham fwiw. From what I've read, seems he would prefer to go back to London, but he's also open to coming here. If we can offer him a better package that might do it.

Can't really answer that definitively until the 31st January. I have a hunch we'll get a CM in next week some time, might be on loan. The priority was said to be defenders and strikers, I can understand that, but we do need a CM, and by that I mean a genuine CM, not a floaty forward who can get in between the lines and score a nice goal such as Cantwell. We need someone who can operate box to box, who can tackle or press effectively, and has good possession stats as well. If we don't have one by the end of the window I would definitely be concerned.

The guy is trolling at this point. Of all the players they would go for as a replacement they would pick Botman!?

You are right. Although you would also be right if you said we'd win the league if we had the best players in the world with the best coaches and facilities. It's not rocket science.

That doesn't affect his end product though, if he's playing anywhere across the front line he should be able to pick an incisive pass or hit a decent shot.