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Feels like this is the fifth or sixth year in a row that there’s an issue over this.

Ki is retired.

This is beyond laughable, such a piss take. Conveniently even though Sissoko was mentioned above there was no mention of the installment we'll be due for him and Wijnaldum. We're the only club that operates in such a shitehouse manner. Why can't we sign players and pay in installments? Spend 20m and pay them using Mitrovic's incoming installments? The club hierarchy need to be challenged on this.

Rondón is fine. He’ll be replacing a striker who played 89 minutes for us last season. He’s mobile and strong, looks like the type of striker that Rafa prefers. I just wish we were more ambitious and spent money in the areas of need. If we cheap out and get Rondón on loan or as a swap with Gayle then it would be great to spend £20m on a winger. Then we would have improved in 3 first team positions compared to last year (Rondón, Mutō and new winger). Compared to the beginning of last year, we would have an improvement on 5 positions (Dubravka and Kenedy). This would be positive and I’d be optimistic about this year.

Ings has scored 4 goals in 3 seasons. He would be a disaster of a buy for whoever doesn’t have an alternative. I would only take him on loan with an option because there’s so much uncertainty with him.

I agree with this although I think Ki is the replacement for Merino and we’re done there. Preferably a LB that can challenge Dummett and a striker. Ideally another winger but that ain’t happening.

We could still do with shifting another keeper tbf. Blob please although Darlow is more marketable. Depends if Woodman goes out on loan I guess Woodman has 2 years left on his contract. He needs a new deal before he’s sent out on loan.

Klopp is awesome. Brilliant move by them to get him. It could have gone a lot worse (see Man Utd).

Regardless of the overall situation, this needed to happen. It's been clear since the beginning of last summer that the accumulation of unwanted/unneeded players has been a prohibitive factor in terms of Benitez getting the incomings he wants, and to some extent that's fair enough. Rinse and repeat working with this budget though. Unshiftable Joselu after unshiftable Joselu. Not really Benitez’s fault though. The majority of our deadwood are players that were here before he came.

This plays into Ashley’s hands, though. If we spend nothing and survive, that £40-50m that we have in cash rolls over to next summer. Say we pocket another £100m net (£50m end of the season and £50m before next season starts). If Benitez signs a new contract, he has approximately £150m to spend. If he doesn’t, Ashley gives a new manager that £150m. All of this would fit into Ashley’s ‘spend all the cash the club generates’ philosophy.

Have we been linked to any striker besides Rondón and Plea? We’re still at basically zero net spend with Mutō in. Mitrovic will go, hopefully we get £20m for him. Does all of that go on Rondón? Or is Rondón in, Gayle out for the same amount? That still leaves the Mitrovic money. Does that go on Townsend?

The big problem with that of course, is that it is Perez who should be cover as #10 for someone who is actually good enough to perform consistently in the Premier league. Nothing against Mutu, but as a signing, it has all the hallmarks of settling for someone who isn't really Rafa's first choice for the position. Needless to say, I hope I'm wrong. Clearly this is not Rafa’s first choice but it doesn’t mean that he won’t start ahead of Perez.

I’m just glad we haven’t gone for the big club hasbeen cast offs. Give me a random foreigner over an experienced PL player making a step down any day of the week. Plus this dude is young.

I’m positive about this. Young, has pace, looks like he works hard. Will fit into the team. The PL is a league of pacy players anyway and our team really suffered without it last year. Having an outlet ball is huge for the way Benitez wants to play. I think he’ll be a good addition based on some Wise scouting.

Ended pretty well for City and Chelsea. If they survive the first season, they can easily not spend as much next year and bank the TV money. If there’s a time to spend money, it’s after you get promoted because the rewards of surviving are substantial.

Jeep is their main sponsor and they’re owned by Fiat Chrysler who are owned by the Agnelli family, who own Juventus. The value that Ronaldo can generate to the Agnelli family is key. Whether that money goes to Juventus or Jeep or Fiat Chrysler is basically a left pocket, right pocket thing.

Mbappe wew

Fuck off.

I would not give this. Accidental.

Good shit. Fuck off France. Boring fucks.

bang!!!

They scored that from a dive. Fuck off Griezmann.

He’s from Brazil. He’ll go where the money is. As if it’s any different for English or German players.

I presume they are going to sell Neymar/Mbappé and want a replacement. Release fee is €400m, if they oblige I'll drive Coutinho to Paris myself. Would you though...? Money and worth in football has gone so bonkers. Would Barcelona be better off as a team with €400m in the bank and Coutinho out the door? Honestly I'm not sure. Football is a strange economy Yes they would. They need to spend money like Madrid have over the last 5 years.

Neymar replacement? Hmm. If Barca have some young attacking midfielders lined up, it would be a good move to trade Coutinho for 3 players. If Son didn’t have the military service hanging over him, he would be perfect for Barca.