kingxlnc

Then wait until he is. After yesterday tbh I'm actually ok with Almiron in that position more than I am with him at RW. Spend the money on a RW and ST instead.

For me you'd go for Pacqueta over Maddison every time. One starts for his country, the other doesn't. One is highly professional, the other is a bit of a lad. One has friends already at the club and would settle quickly, the other doesn't. Pacqueta is more versatile, more willing to come and would probably be cheaper and easier to negotiate too.

If we do sign Cornet I think it would be a Demba Ba type of signing, people not overly enthused but ends up doing well.

If we could only get one in permanently, and it would mean you lose the other to someone else would you rather Pacqueta or Sesko?

Always wanted us to get Mexes he was a great wonderkid on some of the early CM games

Ok seeing Almiron just blow all the budget on Osimhen and we can delay the RW for now

Even Forest, every few days they are completing deals that they definitely wouldn’t have prepared for months in advance as they would have had no idea they were coming up. It definitely can be done, I do feel we are being overly cautious or perfectionist.

I’ve been more excited with Sesko than I ever was about Ekitike, can’t see the hype around him to be honest and I was of that thought even when it looked odds on he was coming here.

“How’s the whey protein, did you say?”

I also think Forest are going all in as they still see themselves as a big club, who are now back in their rightful place, and never want to run the risk of the pain of the past 23 years again. They have been selling their history and heritage hard to newbie signings.

That's our Pacqueta and Diaby alternatives, we also need Florent Singama Pongolle up front as our Isak

I've decided now - the three signings I want to round the team out before end of transfer window most now. Sesko, Kamaldeen and Pacqueta I would also keep Anderson Gives us serious strength in depth up top, and would future proof the team as Anderson, Sesko and Kamaldeen wouldn't need to be registered. Would bring the total age way down of the squad. I know that's like £100m of transfers but you could add in sell on and other clauses for first two, loan with obligation to buy for Pacqueta. Let Murphy, Manquillo, Fernandez, Ritchie go out on loan / perm. I'd even let Wood go if need be, as Sesko is a bigger better younger version Then you would have a 25 man squad of (bold no need to register): Pope (Dubravka, Gillespie/Darlow) Trippier (Krafth, Manquillo) Schar (Lascelles) Botman (Burn) Targett (Lewis, Dummett) Bruno (Shelvey) Joelinton (Longstaff) ASM (Fraser) Pacqueta (Willock, Anderson) Kamaldeen (Almiron) Wilson (Sesko, Wood)

I see this window happening in three phases. Phase 1 - June - early business, get low hanging fruit done, make Targett permanent, follow through Botman from January discussion, get Pope (from relegated club before anyone else comes in) - and complete defence. Even you can see from the Ekiteke it was just following on from the work and preparation they did in January where it was nearly a done deal then. Phase 2 - July - clear the decks. The current squad is majorly bloated, so there's been a lot of work in getting rid of the fringe players, with only Ritchie, Murphy Matt Longstaff and Fernandez left out of the obvious ones to get rid of. Frees up space for 2-3 new players. Phase 3 - August - get attacking reinforcements, as the market settles and panic sets in at selling clubs that they may not get their asking prices and also see what loan players become available in the last week of window. I genuinely believe they are measured in everything they do and so will have a clear plan. I wouldn't rule out anyone yet - even the likes of Diaby or Pacqueta. I did think we'd be in for some freebies in June - but I think their plan is to sprinkle stardust in with reliable trusty PL players with good character (what Howe loves), rather than add decent to good risks who may not settle like a Belotti. For every Botman there's a Targett/Pope. For every Pacqueta there's a Harrison. For every Diaby/Isak there's a Broja on loan, etc.

Having been associated with some absolute nightmare people over the last 14 years, the despicable characters of the ilk of Ashley, Jiminez, Wise, Vetere, Kinnear, Pardew, McClaren, Charnley, Justin Barnes, it goes to show how abhorrent Bruce really is when I’d consider him the worst of the lot. That’s some going.

This would be amazing he is genuine wonderkid i do like this policy of the next up and coming Haaland in Sesko and the next Mane in Kamaldeen i also think it’s great for the youngsters themselves as Howe would develop them well At this stage of our journey I defo would rather be the Borussia Dortmund or RB Leipzig model than the PSG / Man City model. in a few years we can supplement these maturing youngsters with a sprinkle of world class experience and watch them fly

I read somewhere he doesn't want to leave Italy.

Agreed Not sure with our RW issues why we haven't been linked with Noni Madueke - as we seem open to youngsters. I'd be ok with 1 senior and 2 youngsters. Pacqueta or Tielemans, Sesko, Madueke It may be for FFP it is loan with obligation for a big purchase. Perhaps £40-50m total for two signings + another on loan.

Looking at the positions still left to upgrade - we need a CM, RW and ST First and most expensive choices for all - Pacqueta, Diaby, Isak (£150m spend in total) Second choices - Tielemans, Sarr, Dennis Third choice - Mara, Harrison, Cornet I'd be happy with 1 from the top and any other from this list. I think the top list are all game-changers so any other combination would be fine for this window. My personal preference (assuming only 1 first choice and 1 from each of the others) - Pacqueta, Sarr and Cornet

Yes Pope is the equivalent of Man City signing Shay Given from us, even if I rate Given more than Pope. But it’s a carbon copy transfer and a good early stage one in the project

Honestly think he could be converted to centre forward, the inverse Joelinton. He's tall, a good finisher, pacey. Young enough to learn. An Ayoze Perez type of centre forward, so more of a CF or SS rather than a ST. He times his runs well and so could definitely get 10 goals a season.

Sulemana is also a top top rated talent, elite level wonderkid, even made it into bbc top wonder kids alongside Bellingham and Alvarez etc. he’d be perfect for the right wing slot and he’s under 21 too

Good point. I do like this pragmatic way of working and being sensible, but it's semi-surprising, given how Chelsea and Man City first operated under moneybags ownership, and secondly Saudi's objective regarding ownership - all of which pointed to a couple of 'statement' signings being the order of the day. As everything Saudi do is often to square up competitively against their Gulf rivals, bigger and better etc - but perhaps this is where PCP's operations management is doing its work, to ensure NUFC is not just a rich play thing for an oligarch or sheikh, and to ensure there is professionalism to meet the long term objectives of domination. Short term pain for long term gain. I do think Everton's bad example has also helped to temper activity also.

Looking at this post from earlier in the summer, we have only got one second choice and one third choice in so far, in terms of plugging the key gaps in the team. As long as all these positions get covered, be it by loan or full purchase, we'd be in a very good place to meet aspirations. Assuming we could only get 1 first choice, it would be Pacqueta all day long. For RW, I'd be ok with Sarr. For ST, I'd be ok with Cornet or even Dennis. For DM, any of those would be great (but have the least expectation since we haven't been linked strongly with any of them).

I genuinely feel that January was more fun because it was absolutely manic and you got the sense that they could try and bid for anyone. And there were bids flying in left right and centre - due to the desperation and the short time period. This time round it has been measured, controlled and strangely sensible. So still pretty fun, but mostly for other reasons - as it's quite enjoyable seeing a NUFC team actually act professionally and with a plan once in my lifetime.

He had a bad injury - may have lost his explosiveness - plus he's 31. Perhaps a years loan with option to buy for 15m.