ponsaelius

More like 200k, but yeah, prohibitively high wages.

He's got 2 years left. If he gets offered a 4 year deal or a lucrative 2-3 year in Saudi then it would be surprising if he didn't go, tbh.

I get the impression he's our number one target this season. Just can't see it happening given the other teams involved.

If you can sell Minteh and Almiron it's nearly all profit given the low fee for the former and the length of time we've had the latter. Could open big CB, RW and ST investment.

They're also selling Duran and Cash seemingly for good money. To be honest all seems like good moves early to me - clearing headway for significant investment. This is what we're struggling to do given lack of interest in our players.

Burnley fan at work says good shot stopper, very promising, just hung out to dry a bit this season in their team. Also says that play with his feet needs working on, and he struggled with their particular style of play, but is better than Pope was with his feet. Makes sense for them to cash in as they have a first choice keeper in Muric for that level - and can't afford to carry both financially.

These people do exist. I was at a stag do last year with a Birmingham City fan, Man City fan, Southampton fan and Fulham fan - this exact question was put forward. I was the only one who said I'd prefer club, and they were even more flabbergasted when I said I'd take League Cup over the World Cup any day.

Think it's been widely accepted that the reported 6ft3 for Pope is well out. Sure it comes from FIFA (the game) or something. He's easily 6ft5 or perhaps 6ft6.

I agree you could get better value and you're paying a premium for English based players, but Gibbs-White would be a very good signing IMO and I'd be more confident on likely success here than all of those except Chiesa (who I have my own doubts out in terms of fitness mainly). He'd basically be like the Gordon signing with less of an adaption process as he's 2 years further on. My only doubt with MGW is whether he's the right fit for our right forward position in our system where we probably need a more direct goal output. You'd really be hoping he near enough doubles his goalscoring.

Think we could only register him in January in that case so it doesn't give a lot of flexibility.

We probably looked at Mamardashvilli but since Tosin has gone elsewhere we need to spend money on a CB - so the budget option is the goer instead. I'd personally rather a straight #1 but I don't think this is a bad shout tbh. He had a rough season last year but clearly has potential and unlike other promising youth keepers (e.g. Woodman) he is massive. At the end of the day 21 is very young for a goalie. Nick Pope was at Welling Utd at that age.

Antony was £82 million wasn't he? Amad Diallo was between 30 and 40 million euros before he'd barely played a first team game for Atalanta. It's a hefty fee but these days clubs bank on potential - and if you can combine that with genuine output at 19 these kind of fees are basically the going rate. It'd be lower if he was being bought from an Eredivisie club. But he's not - he belongs to a PL club who can set a higher price. And it sounds like £40 million is the one we're setting where we'd reluctantly let him go.

I would have some concern with Chiesa - his previous fitness record with our training, historic adaptation of Italian players to England, and his age/wage being slightly beyond the right profile for us. However in terms of positional flexibility, work rate and ability he'd be a great signing. Would also give a pal for Tonali. Can't see it though - I personally think he'll stay in Italy or eventually re-sign with Juve.

Moved to Manc as a baby.

Eze is a fantastic player but he's too left sided for what we need.

Aye did some digging. Had no idea.

Casisdead is a Toon fan?

I'm no eco looney but it seems a bit bad craic to laser the kittiwakes with this while they're nesting mind Can't help but think there's other places they could have done it.

Curtis Davies has just bagged his first international goal for Sierra Leone at 39

You'd be surprised. That's probably what they're going to do.

Googled it, fan friendship apparently.

We're always going to struggle competing for high profile free agents when it's basically a straight shootout on wages/agents fees. Throw in no Europe and the fact he won't even have to move house for this move and it's not a big surprise IMO. I'm hopefully we can find a value signing at CB instead but I'd say there's a good chance we go for a budget keeper instead now or gamble on Pope's fitness.

Has been for a while. That said if he starts bouncing around lesser leagues still winning titles then good on him.

Mourinho to Fenerbahce.

I re-watched the Europa final on a foreign feed and it was way louder - so definitely seems like something TNT are doing themselves.