McCormick

Or he signs a bumper deal and is worth 70m plus?

Tbf he’s 20 years old and a very very decent prospect. Not many players in world football with his mix of height, athleticism and technical ability. I think it’s a really good bit of business, personally.

He seems happy enough here and has talked about us making incremental progress year-on-year. So long as we’re showing ambition, improving and our lack of success isn’t affecting his Brazil call-ups I think he’ll be fine. If not, well, he’s on a long contract. It’ll be our turn to use this “inflated market” to frustrate any teams looking buy him.

Totally agree. I’m sure internally we’ve set high targets for ourselves but we’re discussing where we (as fans) think we might finish. Personally, I think we’ll have done pretty well to finish 8th.

I’m with you but all of the journos seem to be singing from the same hymn sheet re: our budget. Might be a coincidence, might not be but the narrative that they “know fuck all” only seems to get trotted out when news is negative.

The same journos that leaked the bid though? Seems like we’re selectively believing them when it’s good news.

Their Journos are saying that “senior sources” have made it clear that he is not for sale. For whatever that’s worth. Probably nothing. Don’t see this one going through at all. We won’t go anywhere near what they’re looking for unfortunately.

Damn. The gap between ourselves and West Ham only gets bigger. Onana will be a future star. Guy’s got everything imo.

https://astamfordbridgetoofar.com/2022/08/transfer-news-newcastle-united-in-talks-with-chelsea-for-callum-hudson-odoi/ According to this dubious source we’ve started formal talks with CHO.

Tell that to Everton.

I’d much prefer Maddison but for 60m you’d think they’d go for one of our top targets (apparently) in DCL.

More like James Madness-on. As you were, gents.

He’s an inside forward, which is what we’re supposedly looking for.

This is why we hate when our bids get leaked. The absolute hysteria it causes within the fanbase, man.

Offering clauses for European qualification (if that’s what they are) with one of your would-be rivals for that particular league position seems slightly cheeky tbf .

They won’t have to tbh. Wesley makes more sense to sell and Chelsea are a big enough step up that he’ll force the move if he really wants to.

I suppose we need to define what we consider short-term . This season they’ll probably finish higher than us, they’ll have far better facilities for a while and also have European aspirations despite their poor window. In 2 seasons+ , yeah I completely agree we’ll (theoretically) be in a better place. There’s no denying that with the backing of PIF we have the potential, but for the coming season and even maybe the one after we’re not immediately the better option.

Long-term we’re most probably the better option but short-term- even with their uninspiring window- we’d be doing well to finish above them this season. Having wealthy owners now doesn’t erase the 15 or so years where we were, at best, making up the numbers in the PL.

No reason why he can’t perform a less intense but higher quality version of Willock’s current role. I get the impression that Howe would prefer to prioritize slicker pass and move possession play over a ball-carrier (we already have ASM, Almiron and Joelinton to do that in our current set-up).

It’s a win-win either way for him. No matter what happens, he’ll have bagged himself a pay-rise out of this.

He’s had a lot of interest from promoted sides and Everton. I reckon he wants to pick his next move more carefully.

Yeah. I still don’t think this will happen.

We’ll do a take it or leave it at 55m. They won’t take it.

Yeah, him or Cornet imo. Either would be great cover.

I would have been satisfied with McNeil and Broja on loan