KaKa

Don't let @JT24 see that bit about Andy Howe

Some people really need to just log off util the 2nd of September. Genuinely concerned about their mental health and well being. I cannot imagine just coming on here everyday raging about every transfer tweet like this Completely letting other fans "banter" about the window rattle them completely I presume. Thankfully the club is just going on about their business and not carrying out negotiations based off of how much they're getting "bantered" in the media.

Yes, but we cannot be certain of what they think internally at the club regarding all of this. And so we should be prepared for all outcomes.

It would be mental if they've been sat around doing nothing all summer and haven't picked up the phone once to discuss the possibility of any deals yet. I doubt that's the case though, as that's just not how things work. Having said that the longer it takes for any bids to come in for Isak the more likely it is he stays IMO.

No one will ever pay £200 million for him, and so if there's any desire at all to cash in on the clubs side, there's no point setting that sort of valuation.

Their DOF Richard Hughes. They go way back to their Portsmouth days playing together, and both worked together at Bournemouth when Howe was there.

The thing that's not being taken into account is what the the people at the club think, specifically Howe and his team. There's a chance they're thinking it's a massive opportunity to get top money for him and put that towards building the team up further, and they believe it will get us further along quicker, and they may not care where he goes either! Assuming that is the case, and any Liverpool sale means that they will then be able to bid the amount the club is willing to accept, then you can see the thinking behind all of this. Everyone is assuming inside the club they are looking at things like the fans do, where they will be devastated to lose Isak, and are dead against him going to Liverpool. That may not be the case!

Ekitike left out as well. Knew he'd flop.

Yes, sure, but someone will still have to pay big. Liverpool seem to think they can get some kind of sweet deal.

I think this deal is one we have to find a way to get done. It will strengthen our hand in all of the shenanigans with both Isak and Liverpool. If Liverpool keep refusing to put a significantly bigger offer down, which I would raise to £175 million as soon as a Wissa deal gets done, and Isak decides to keep sulking, then he will be going nowhere. Wissa can then come in and start games until Isak figures out a way to get over it.

September 2nd we'll all know for certain.

The same people that were mocking Newcastle when they "overpaid" for him in the first place! And yet here we are a few years later and if he goes it will be a British record transfer. Clown world. And I know everyone thinks the club is a catastrophe at the moment and will never sign another player again, but these gloaters should be more concerned about what the club will be able to do with the money that comes in. Every player that comes in keeps performing at a high level and pushing the club forward. I am far from convinced this is going to be the big setback people are expecting IF it even happens.

Yup, I thought the key bits in there were the bit about prices being high and the fact we have multiple players across multiple positions that are being looked at. I think it is likely we push right till the deadline, looking to make a move when fees come down for some of the options we're considering.

@JT24 had some good posts on him in the staff thread.

When you actually see the guy that is apparently going to be the new CEO, I imagine this is not an easy guy to bring to the club, and it likely took a lot of work in the background. They've gone for someone that is very very experienced at the highest level, and they do seem to look for the best hires when bringing people into the club. The only time they went away from that was Mitchell which was Eales bringing in someone he was close with as they had worked together previously, and that didn't go too great.

Not only does he not look washed out or pissed off, he actually looks very well and perfectly calm and composed Honestly ... this is just ridiculous!

It's just so pointless getting worked up about all of this with Howe in charge. Doesn't seemed phased about any of it at all, and is prepared for whatever circumstance arises. Interesting that he said there were no contract talks going on, but that there may be potentially at a later date. I can't help but wonder if any contract talks have not been pushed forward past surface discussions, as we've been waiting for the CEO and DOF hires to be confirmed first, so they could play some part in advising on that too. May be a source of the frustration from Isak's end, especially after we already botched the situation last year.

If he goes to Saudi he will eventually end up at Barca in some agreement that they can afford I reckon.

Chelsea have a set wage structure going forward that they are not moving off of. They already failed to land Osimhen because of it, as he refused to accept it.

Have to play the game, so we can all pretend fair value is a thing. It will be rejected, and some pretend back and forth will then take place until they hit the right number.

Yup.

Chelsea have a wage structure now, it's a part of the reason they are no longer going after established starts, but focusing on younger top prospects that won't command huge salaries.

Will allow clubs outside the Prem to get their stuff together and be in position to go for him as well. The number 1 priority right now is to keep him away from joining Liverpool.