ponsaelius

I think Howe wants him to play nominally on the right - moving inside but with Trippier offering the width and the 3rd midfielder drifting wide. A bit like how Almiron has been playing. It might be why we've been linked largely to left footed wingers too. Overall though I think it's clear the most important thing is they want quality players first and foremost and are willing to be adaptable to accommodate them.

It could still simply be that, with Schmeichel heading for the door, Maddison sees this as an opportunity to become comfortably their highest paid player - and we're being used to that end.

Couldn't believe when I read the other day that they spent £12.5 million on him. Just another example of a crazy good sale from Liverpool.

Worth noting that Norwich have a sell on clause too I think. So would eat into any sale value.

I'm still not convinced by all this like. Part of me thinks it's either contract related or trying to draw out interest from other clubs.

Howe was clear with his quotes the other week about being flexible in terms of signings. You're right that pure quality probably trumps positional need.

It is interesting that we'd go this high but have backed off at similarly high valuations for the likes of Isak and Diaby. I guess their valuation metrics must be giving significant weight to being PL proven.

Wonder what our wages offer would be. He's already on 120k at Leicester apparently. How much is Bruno on?

Leicester do very well generally in terms of recruitment but to fund it (and cover some of the 'misses' in the market) they usually make one big sale every summer. Last year was the exception. One of the problems of being successful in the transfer market (and using a sell-to-buy model) is that unless you sell the top players at the right time they will soon want top player wages out of the clubs structure. And the longer you don't give them it their value will fall each year with said player getting closer and closer to cashing in that value for themselves in a cut price move or eventually free transfer. Seeing that now specifically with Tielemans. Leicester also seem to struggle to shift some of their 'deadwood'. Looking at their facilities it's probably an amazing place to train as a footballer so I wonder if that's some of the reason.

Maddison every day of the week because I think he could also do a job out wide (indeed that's probably the thinking). JWP is a midfielder and a midfielder only imo.

Think if we brought in a winger Murphy would be liable to left out of the squad tbh. Yes he's currently in line to get game time - but there's a huge difference between 4th and 5th choice wide player.

Nailed on for promotion.

That tail has a German flag actually. False alarm.

Actually I think that plane is landing from Cagliari now.

I mean that flight could be to literally anywhere.

He really isn't a very good footballer though. Not in the truest sense technically. His technique is subpar for a player at his level. Watch the highlights of his goals at Chelsea - they're all awkward tap ins or shots hit as hard as possible straight at the goal (some are legitimately bad goalkeeping). These are the ones where he got away with poor technique. He is quick and he does work really hard - which are attributes that I respect. And he can cover wide positions too with pace and running. So I do see the logic of targeting him from tactical point of view - particularly if we are playing a counter attacking style. And I'd rather see him play than Chris Wood of course.

Nope.

The way international football is now, especially in UEFA, I'm inclined to say that his international record isn't that good for Germany's main CF. Gnabry has 20 in 34 from the wing.

Think it was only the other day. He unfortunately seems very injury prone.

Madueke is out until the new year btw.

It sounds like we're being absolutely insufferable to deal with. I know it's miles away from Ashley in the sphere of operation but the bidding tactics seem painfully similar.

Thread is very ambitious like

Maddison is already on about 120k a week. So I imagine we'd need to give him a payrise.

We still would absolutely need to find the cash for another forward player if we signed Maddison. Even acknowledging Miggy's form on the right, the potential to move Willock to the right maybe, the fact Maddison would offer goal threat himself - we would still be short in genuine forward options. A forward who can play all across the front 3 would be ideal in this scenario.

I think Barnes is around the same quality as Maddison tbh. I'd make Maddison, Barnes and Fofana equally their 3 main assets (accepting Vardy's age).