STM

What big club doesn't have this problem? Liverpool have paid what id consider a premium for each of their signings. Leverkusen rightly took them to the cleaners. The actually issue is that while certain clubs can pay that premium, we've got the threat of PSR looming over us. 2 years ago, under Staveley, we'd have likely already paid what these clubs are asking. Understandably we are being more thoughtful now. It trickles down too. Don't think Howe will let Willock or Longstaff go without feeling like hes really got the most back on them. Be thankful that we are being over quoted on good players.

This is a ridiculous post. It's a fairly common concept that the bigger fish will get the better deals because the clubs who are selling have very little in the way of resistance. How on earth were Newcastle supposed to get ahead of City or Liverpool for those deals? We cant even get ahead of Man United and their dog shite. In fact, how do you know that they weren't targets in the first place. It's been widely reported that we were in for Delap, but Chelsea would offer him a bigger wage than us and possibly a guaranteed spot in their side. The reality is that "bargains" are very hard to come by, because guess what? Everyone else is looking at those players too.

Kluivert.

Seems a nice lad but the Cumbrian accent is absolute rancid.

I think this had been covered a fair bit but it's assumed Joao Pedro would cover a few purposes. Firstly, it gives us quality cover for Isak. Secondly, it gives us the option of two quality forward players, whether that's 2 up front or more likely playing with a number 10 and lastly Pedro has the ability to easily cover in wide areas if required. Our whole attraction to him is likely his versatility.

Not a rumour, just a thought. Bobby Clark has had a tough time at Salzburg. Was signed by a manager who was sacked in 6 months. He's 20 years old and, formerly at least, considered a future wonderkid. He's also likely to want to jump at the chance at coming back here because hes rumoured at being unhappy. He's also a midfielder and wouldn't cost alot. I think they only paid 10m for him. If anyone can get his potential out of him its Howe. At the very least, he'd get some value back in him.

Precisely. I think this is our approach. I dont think we care so much about the size of the fee but the depth of the investment. All of the obvious targets are of a similar age: Elanga, Pedro, even Scalvini.

I think we'd be rather cheeky to expect a fee for Dubravka, after we begged him to stay. Im sure we'd let him go wherever he liked without much fuss. He will be fondly remembered.

We don't know the fee yet but if its 30m, that's not alot for someone who could be your number 1 goalkeeper for the next decade and potentially be England's goalkeeper too. If you look at it this way, we are getting our long term goalkeeper, rather than spending multiple fees on other goalkeepers who are here for a few years and the gone again. It might be frustrating that it eats into this year's coffers but it will save us money in the long run.

Trafford will get the number 1 shirt but whether he starts as number 1 will be based on how he looks in pre season. What will be interesting is how Pope reacts to the possibility that Trafford takes his place.... will Pope stir for a move? At the bare minimum I think Pope will be gone in the next 12 months. When does his contract run out.

Anyway, I can smell the Radox.

We had agreed terms last year but I suspect he'll be getting a higher wage this time, so no we didn't know that they'd agree this time around. Although we did know it was never going to be a problem. Besides which, FR is clearly saying that move is accelerating and that Trafford is going to be a Newcastle player, which is something we should be happy about.

Run down ya contract and come hyem.

In that case it will happen. These days clubs very rarely keep a player against their will. It will either be that he signs for us or gets an enormous wage hike.... which might create a new set of problems for Forest.

The only way this deal happens is if Forest see the writing on the wall. Elanga's camp need to be clear on his desires.

Nothing will change until the fans kick off about this. The clubs cant be trusted to make fair moral decisions that my cost them.

Based on absolutely nothing. I reckon if the Pedro stuff doesn't happen, we might make a move towards Kluivert. In fact, I wouldn't be shocked to hear his name in the near future. The problem is that Bournemouth are now going to be mega reluctant to lose anymore players with 2 key players gone and Zabarnyi likely off to PSG.

If there isn't a runaround sue song we aren't doing it right.

Personally I think most stuff in the media is made up rubbish, designed to sell papers and get clicks. Some people cherry pick the bits that already suit a narrative in their heads.

Yes but you said "reported". Im aware of reports but I dont hold any great confidence in people who try to make guesses with finances. Im not saying Forest are in PSR trouble. It was a theory.

I think you've misunderstood. Perhaps they do need to shift players in order to make money (in theory) and whilst Elanga isnt someone they want to sell, we are aware of their predicament. Like I say, if they sell before the end of the month that will give us an idea.

This makes me wonder whether Forest are in a PSR pickle. Perhaps they are trying to offload other players? Be interesting to see if this gains traction in the last couple of days of the month.

We should ban Sunderland tops from our airport.

I dont think 45m for Elanga is insane, in fact its incredible value.... unless you are talking about some of the nonsense asking prices in the press, which we haven't gone anywhere near. I find it hard to criticise the club for over spending on domestic targets, when we haven't done that once.... even Chris Wood now looks a 25m player. Also this bizarre insistence that we are only shopping domestically because there are fewer concrete links to players abroad. Domestic journalists rarely know foreign targets, it took an Italian to suggest we after Scalvini, it took an Asian Journalist to break the young Korean kid story. So far our transfers since the takeover have been an overwhelming success, perhaps unsustainably so but we've had a period in transfer exile and I expect us to resume service.

Yep. Sometimes.