Chris_R

Why not? You can argue that footballers wages are a little different because "equal pay" is rightly not a thing for them and I'll accept that, but generally transparency in wages in a workplace is not only incredibly important, it's a fundamental right to ensure that staff get paid what they're worth in the industry.

DC needed for me, obviously the ones we've got aren't good enough. Also someone for RW so that we're not just attacking through ASM all the time because it's too easy for teams to just double up on him knowing he's our only outlet. Get good players in those two positions and we'll finish well clear of the drop zone. Striker would be nice but TBH unless it's someone fantastic I'm OK with who we have there, especially when Wilson is back which won't be too long.

Mike Williamson

At this stage I think there's little doubt that he leaves Lyon, the worry is whether or not he comes here or we're gazumped. This kind of news doesn't really clarify that conundrum in any way.

They would sell if we offered a stupid enough price. But our price just wasn't stupid enough. Throughout the entire saga, everything we've heard is that they were unwilling sellers. That part of the narrative seems to have been very consistent. I'm sure they know this is the biggest offer they'll ever receive for him because his value will decrease from here on in, but they seem comfortable with that and fair play to them.

Give over. They haven't had our pants down at all. They've just had the temerity (in the eyes of some on here) to keep saying "no". They're absolutely entitled to do that. They've been incredibly consistent throughout that they do not want to sell. Why should they? He's their player, under contract. It's our fault (if you like) for keeping going back in when they didn't want to sell but that's on us. But given that we can work on multiple bids at the same time, so what? No harm done.

Really small? They're 4 points behind. Next team is 10 points behind the leaders so it feels like a 2 horse race. Yeah, obviously Real are strong favourites given their squad, reputation, history etc but I'd be livid if Newcastle were in a similar situation and sold a key player and binned off what might be a once in a generation title shot because the board were worried about dwindling transfer values. Remember when we sold Sir Les? That. But instead of doing it in the summer, doing it in January when we're in a title fight and can't get a replacement anywhere near as good.

I'd perhaps pay Man U the alleged £2.5m plus £12.5m survival bonus for Lingard if it was a straight transfer, but not if he can just fuck off to West Ham after 6 months. That's crazy talk. They have every right to ask it, of course. But no way on earth should we be doing anything other than laughing at them and hanging up.

Maybe they'd rather have a very rate tilt at a league title than have an extra few £m in the bank? Strange concept for us after the last 14 years of Ashley I know, but I remember what hope used to feel like and I cannot blame them. I'd want us to do the same if the roles were reversed.

They were OK with €40m if paid a specific way. Maybe €40m all up front, but perhaps we offered €40m spread over 5 years. In which case if we're now offering €52m spread over 5 years, they might be happier and forego the €40m cash up front they were asking for. Or it could just be the press writing a load of bollocks.

Maybe. But you cannot play the same 3 players for 90 minutes every week, it just won't happen. We need Shelvey still, he'll get plenty of game time.

Shelvey can pass, and he's shown he's capable of improving his fitness. It's up to Howe to keep on top of it and push him, dropping or at least bollocking him if he starts to fall back again. He's clearly a very capable footballer but just not a great athlete. Hopefully he can sustain the improvements he's started to show. If we're going to have 3 in midfield, and if Bruno signs, then that will give us Bruno, Joelinton, Shelvey, Willock, Longstaff and Shortstaff to pick from. Given that we'll pick up injuries, cards, and people will get tired if they play all the time, then it would be stupid to suggest Shelvey won't have a decent role to play still.

Exactly. It's like somehow managing to convince Margot Robbie to marry you, having everything organised, but then letting her call it all off because she wants an extra tier on the cake.

I've never seen him play but everyone raving about him - He's got 5 in 18 for Southampton this season and 10 in 30 for Vitesse last year. That's a slightly worse record (though similar) than Chris Wood overall in his career, and worse than Chris Wood specifically for Burnley. Both are 6'3", so his height isn't even unique. What am I missing here? Again, not seen him play so these are genuine questions.

If Lingard moves permanently now, there'll be a fee involved. Not £50m obviously, but a fee which will mean he'll get less wages with his new club. Given that he'll be free in 6 months, he might as well sit tight and just accept a loan if need be so that when he's free in 6 months he can negotiate a better contract with his new club because they'll be getting him for nothing. It's hard to criticise him really.

A fucking £15m loan if we stop up? Get to fuck.

I mean that was a pisstake one that I just found online, sorry.

Being prepared to walk is different to walking. The club can hardly say "Take your time, fuck us about. Let us know on at 10:30pm on deadline day!" We have to be firm. We have to push for quick answers, so we can either counter-offer or walk. Sure, if they come back and ask for more but do it very quickly we can keep negotiating, but if they fuck us around and waste our time we simply must have the option on the table to walk and look elsewhere.

Here's Shelvey's for comparison...

He's trying the "reverse jinx". Problem is he's forgotten that if you're doing it deliberately it doesn't count, and still functions as a regular jinx. He's blown it for all the transfers now.

FWIW I think this guy looks immense and I'd pay up for him. Diego Carlos I was always unsure of, he looks like he's got red cards and penalties in him plus he is nearly 29. I back the club's judgement, but with reservations as far as he was concerned and once the price started getting silly I think we were absolutely right to walk. This one is different though. Young and looks fantastic. Plus we're absolutely desperate for someone in midfield who is competent and can help us control games.

There's absolutely no benefit whatsoever to us leaking this. None. Player? Agent? Sure. Selling club? Yep. Us? No. Doesn't help us in any way.

Well not really, the 2 situations are not remotely comparable. In Martial, they'll still have a saleable player in the summer who - if he does well in Spain - could increase in value In Lingard, if they loan him to us now rather than selling him to someone now then they lose any possibility of ever getting a transfer fee from him I'm not saying Man U are being fair to us, but A) why should they? and B) if they're not, I don't think them not wanting a fee for Martial is any kind of proof of that

In which case it would cost us nothing to offer £10m more than he's worth so that Arsenal have to match that. It seems to be what other clubs do to us.