Unbelievable

If Isak is off a year later it massively benefits us though, and it potentially means we aren’t directly strengthening a rival. To me ideal scenario is to get Sesko, keep Isak, forget about Wissa and spend anything we have left (including a June 2026 Isak windfall if needed) on CM and CB. Four improvements to the first team could well see us challenge on all fronts this upcoming season. With Sesko bedded in we’d then only need to bring in a second choice striker next summer to be in a much stronger position overall.

Sweet Jesus man, pull yourself together.

On phone so doubt that would work, but thanks for the help

Liverpool’s pursuit of Isak: https://tenor.com/nl/view/monty-python-and-the-holy-grail-run-running-gif-12275685 edit: how does one embed a gif on here nowadays?

Rumoured by whom?

Not RB’s model at all to develop someone else’s talented players. They’ve likely already got better young players in their sights or on their books.

I think the plan is to have both in the squad next year then flog Isak to somewhere like Barcelona next year when Sesko is all bedded in. I guess all depends on how much room we have left to get the CB and CM additions we want and need.

Yeah, who would want a world class striker to stay on, really..?

Pretty sure you’re agitating against your own fabrications there..?

Which is exactly the response I would hazard a guess is what Yasir instructed our negotiators to issue, especially considering he said earlier this year Isak was his favourite player and wouldn’t be allowed to leave iirc. I feel we have been the subject of an organised effort by some of the big six to destabilise us, going for our targets after we have done all the groundwork on deals and have bids accepted and publicly courting our players, even going so far as to turn them against us in the case of Isak. All seemingly because they can see the black and white monster looming larger and larger in their rear view mirrors. Our owners simply cannot yield to such bullying. If anything it should strengthen their resolve to succeed, and I’m hopeful it will.

Whatever happened to actually putting a fucking bid in?

Defeatist BS followed by more defeatist BS

it’s an interesting point you make about Bruno. I’ve argued here before that the only player we have on our books that’s irreplaceable is Isak, and advocated that we should be prepared to sell one or more of our other, more easily replaceable star players in order to fund continued progression and growth. It’s kind of ironic that we are now facing having to sell our one irreplaceable player partly because we’ve not been able to refresh and strengthen the squad sufficiently to keep him. We’re right to blame PSR, but I also believe we should become better buyers and sellers, as well as obviously growing revenue, if we are going to challenge for top honours (more) consistently. For me, we should only sell Isak this summer for a king’s ransom (140m or more) and if we have found a viable replacement that allows us to challenge for CL qualification again. Tell Liverpool and Isak to put up or shut up by the end of the week latest and prepare a deal for Sesko ready to go in case they pull through. If they don’t, though luck we’ll re-assess next summer.

Add Osula for further depth and that’s a pretty deep and good front 3 roster

I’d love for us to turn into a steroid version of those well run clubs that understand the value of buying and selling well. It’s the only way we’ll end up challenging for titles anytime soon.

Regressed?

I’m ambivalent to Wissa; for the money I’d prefer for us to try and find the next Ekitike from his Reims or PSG exit days, but we know Howe puts a massive premium on proven PL experience and he deserves to put his mark on our transfer business with his track record. In any case it shouldn’t be too difficult to improve on 2024-25 Wilson levels. If push comes to shove I wouldn’t even mind depending on Osula a bit more next season if it meant we could go hard on a RCB, a Longstaff replacement (with more upward potential) and a GK (presumably Trafford if we can make a deal).

Urgh

I think some realism is needed here. We’re not going to spend north of 200 million nett this summer. No chance.

The right time to say goodbye. I wonder who we're eyeing as a replacement.

New improved offer going in today, but we want the deal done by the end of the week that tweet says

On a side note, I wonder what the posters who were saying we should never go in for him again a year or so ago will do when Hugo scores the CL final winner in 3 years time.

Fait point. I think because it’s constant, from certain posters, and not caveated with a bit of perspective that indeed in the grand scheme of things these are not major griefs.