ponsaelius

That's the problem with free transfers. Inflated wages. See also Hendrick, Jeff.

Not entirely fair on Lewis. He's has had injury problems and he wanted to go out on loan last summer by all accounts but was kept around by Howe because of Targett's injury. Pretty sure he has been repeatedly described as one of the best trainers at the club as well by other players (distinctly remember Maxi saying so in an interview). Definitely needs a loan/transfer this summer though for everybody's sake.

IMO only Man City are guaranteed CL football every season.

Without overspending last year to get Isak we don't get Champions League imo. That then doesn't unlock the revenue from the CL, limits the size of new sponsorship deal, stops us signing Tonali. Etc. Unlike the previous owner the club fully understands that in modern football the more you spend the more you get back. I trust them to keep investing strongly, because it just makes long term economic sense to do so at this level, even if they are also wary of the fact that we will need to stay within FFP in terms of wage bill and fees.

It was always going to be 3-4 signings max. I still think it will be that - with a clearing of deadwood and one relatively big sale.

It might not seem it because of how much they spent last year but I think Chelsea are actually cutting cloth accordingly. They're refusing to re-sign top players like Mount on 300k a week and instead signing younger players on cheaper wages on long contracts. It's a fundamental change in model compared to the last 20 years. I think there's a big question whether they become title contenders again or whether they just become a club that buys and sells but doesn't win titles.

We appear to be signing some real talent alright

I've always had a sneaky feeling he'd go for a fair bit less than the kind of blustering fees talked about last summer, mind.

£120 million in pure profit selling academy players in Grealish and Chukwuemeka last couple of years. They've also sold and recycled other players too (Ings, Targett for example) We've not had a single sale of any note which is why we're hamstrung by FFP.

All comes down to contract length, really. Tbh in the current market they've probably undersold both of them.

Was it not the whole thing with Eduardo diving against Celtic in the CL not long after his comeback that you're thinking of? A lot if people took that badly. I think he got booed vociferously at Wembley when Croatia played England not long after.

Was Ramsey not Eduardo. Eduardo was years earlier by Martin Taylor.

Im pretty sure Targett would go if we did get another left back. £10-15 million for him plus whatever you can scrape together for the other rubbish could pay a large chunk of fee for somebody like Tierney etc.

While I agree we have more pressing positional needs than left wing it's worth acknowledging that signing a player in one position does free up others elsewhere. It makes Joelinton a more regular option in midfield, it pushes Isak towards centre forward, probably pushes Gordon across to the right. Hell it might even mean Maxi could play on the right instead. When you have an adaptable squad and manager you can add strength and depth without becoming fixated on very specific positions. All that being said - I still think if Barnes comes in it would mean ASM would go. Which would effectively fund defensive reinforcements.

Love Miggy but think there's a pretty big chance he'll revert to the mean next year. Wouldn't be actively shopping him around but he's exactly the kind of shock sale that could happen if there was a sizeable offer put in. At 29 he's basically at the last point where you could get a decent fee.

Personally think Paul Dummett being in our Champions League squad is hilarious and great. This transition period to becoming a serious club might be the most fun it ever gets tbh.

Very good post. I have wondered if we see him being able to play both sides, despite the evidence to the contrary. As he does seem two footed tbf.

No way he's coming for £25 million IMO.

Pretty sure Douglas did. Unless he's deleted it or I completely imagined it.

You could do that with any player. IE here's a two hour one of De Gea

He's definitely a lot better with the ball at his feet. That's probably biggest strength of his game coming through at Ajax. Confidence in possession and distribution. What is baffling is why Inter had no real competition for him on a free last year.

Strong scando energy post

The bit where he met Trippier was about the only part of the video where he actually broke into a genuine smile. Weirdly great to see - that recognition of another serious international player in amongst stoney faced professionalism. I'm really hopeful he can be the player for us we want to him to be. Definitely got the talent. I think the biggest risk is going to be integration into the area and the language barrier. I mentioned it earlier in the thread but for Italian players the culture shock is often pronounced particularly in terms of language. With Spanish, Portuguese, French speakers there is nearly always a group of people there speaking your language to group together with. For South American players heading home isn't usually an option financially so they have to commit to the European career. For an Italian player the temptation to simply go back to Serie A is always going to be there if he doesn't settle. Good that his partner seems to speak good English and hopefully the club really make an effort with translators and lessons etc.

I've not seen Barnes have a game like ASM did last year against Man City. I don't think he's a player who can terrorise and unsettle the opposition with the ball. Nor does he have the cuteness to be a low block breaker like Maddison is. That's why I'm slightly concerned at the signing. You've got to look past pure stats output and see what he's going to offer in your team. I'd imagine Howe et al have done that and definitely sees how his game (particularly workrate and off the ball movement) will perhaps compliment our game - he's just not a signing who really excites me.

Barnes had way goals than Grealish and Bernardo Silva too. Let's not pretend being a wide player is as simple as looking at goalscoring stats. Barnes is alright but he's very one dimensional. His entire game is playing one twos to get in behind and having a shot. And his goalscoring output last season didn't exactly do much to keep Leicester in the PL. Personally not convinced he's a CL level player, although I don't think he's a terrible signing.