STM

He's 24. Well worth a punt around the 20 mark. If we can get some back off the Shelvey deal.

Reckon that's nailed on. What fees have been going about for him. I'd put down whatever we get for Jonjo as a loan fee.

Danny Boy quick to act.

What about Jorginho? Out of contract in the summer too.

Of course he wants to stay.

Perhaps we are missing something really obvious. Do we just go back in for Franca and make the deal work? Edit: We could take him on loan and that would get rid of the formalities until the summer.

I think Gordon will be good but Bale is a pretty terrible comparison. I remember Milner regularly doing step overs for us. Shudder. Gordon will be like Almiron but with more spice and two footed.

I think common consensus is that we need a playmaker like Maddison and a DM, of some description. The issue, as I see it, is that we won't go for any long term top targets on these positions until the summer because its an easier window to do deals in. Therefore, we are likely to look for a player who can add squad depth, but not without quality. Gallagher would be a bit like Longstaff but with more end product. A one for the future but not a ready-to-go star like Maddison or Neves.

Common knowledge.

Not a fan? I'm talking low fee squad options here. Not long term mega targets like Maddison, who would wait until the summer.

Fair points. Even though Berge is potentially heading else where. I'd wonder if we would try and hijack any deal. Another player I'd look at, but I'm not sure how feasible it is, is Billing of Bournemouth but they would want a hefty fee. Edit: Billing has 18 months left on his contract, so would still command a big fee.

FFP will play absolutely zero part in our ability to replace Shelvey. Especially when you consider the FFP restrictions on the club attempting to sign him, who have signed like a zillion players this year. If we don't replace Shelvey, it's because their wasn't a suitable replacement available. Bare in mind Howe doesn't want stop gaps. Also wasn't it Hope who told us all yesterday that we were actively looking for a CM on loan? Personally, I'd go and get Tielemans. He cost what? 20m? We'd recoup that back on him, if we decided to sell him further down the line. The club were prepared to pay 25m for Wood, I see no reasons why they wouldn't consider a reasonable outlay on a CM, if they can find one.

Longstaff can play number 6. Or we could switch to a 4231 and play double pivot.

Would be unbelievable business. Younger, better and less wages. Ashworth masterclass.

Bruno, Joelinton, Longstaff, Willock + 1 more. Also worth bearing in mind that Isak and Gordon can play number 10.

Tielemans is a great shout. Test Leicester.

Ah. When I said "at this level" I meant top 6, not PL.

Fair point but I'd argue he doesn't fit our system, even at his best. He's also 30, had two injuries and 6 months way from his contract running out.

He was OK back end of last year but this season when he came back in he looked miles off it. He's also had two semi-serious injuries at the age of 30. For a team in the PL with the highest pressing stats, Shelvey is pretty much the last player who fits our system.

PALACE.

Wonder what Forest will give us for 6 month? 5m?

Nowhere near up to the running requirements in our current midfield. Looked awful against Palace. I agree that he's up a bottom half PL standard.

We aren't signing Maddison FFS.

Even if he's fit, he's completely gone as a footballer at this level. Great vision and passing but he just can't run anymore. If forest offer us any decent fee, we let him go and save on a shit ton of wages. Patch the position up with a loan until May.

Reminds me of when we all blamed Carroll for leaving for Liverpool. The reality is that Everton is no place for a footballer with any ambition.