Barnes23

Amazing

Isak has really screwed us here, in terms of both the timing and the manner of how he is going about engineering an exit. I'm not sure why so many are rushing to defend him. There's a reason why most assumed there was a definite possibility of an amicable parting of the ways next summer and that this could in many ways even be described as "logical". This is very far from that.

Always did want him to stay over and above anyone else. He could have quite easily instigated an exit in the same manner as Isak last summer imo, there was very good reason to believe Man City were sniffing around.

I think everyone needs to psychologically prepare themselves for the possibility of him signing for Liverpool, like. As horrible a prospect as that is.

He's worth more than 150m in this market. £200m easily imo. Yet it wouldn't surprise me if 150 was the asking price.

Had to be Hope to deliver the message, didn't it.

Not something we will be strategically hanging our hat on but Wissa is a Muslim - potentially increasing the possibility of recouping funds via Saudi Arabia in a few years?

Article on the BBC website saying "According to sources, it is believed a package to sign Isak could cost up to £130m" May well just be regurgitation

There is a lot of talk at the moment about Diaz to either Bayern or Barca. I could see it. Although I don't know whether or not Ekitike has a strong preference re: playing as a 9.

I wouldn't at all be surprised to see Murphy keep his spot at the start of the season, to be honest. And I don't think that would necessarily be the wrong call either.

It could well be contingency planning in case of an Isak sale. That doesn't mean this is at all likely this summer, though - just appropriate preparation for every eventuality.

Similar feelings here and it's not even really about Sean. I just think an upgrade at CM could be vitally important for us this season as we contest on multiple fronts.

Allan Saint-Maximin: “Mourinho did everything in his power to win the championship. I came here to win the championship. But there are so many problematic things surrounding the club... If I have to give an example, things got to the point where they even tried to get me to dope there.”

At this moment in time there isn't enough evidence to say he even is an upgrade on Pope, to be honest. Hopefully it proves to be a signing which pays off handsomely in the long-term that we needed to move to secure now.

Graeme Jones has been a highly regarded coach in the game for a long time. Can the same be said of Clark? Not at all if we're being honest.

Agreed - would be exactly the kind of jobs for the boys BS we should steer clear of. Clark does not have a successful track record as a manager

Colback and Alan Smith both have to be up there, imo.

Just imagine the PSR headroom we'd have if we sold Isak, Bruno and Tonali. The fanbase and club could be totally galvanized by the speculative PSR calculations that would be flying about.

Imagine a home-grown geordie lad, reaching that kind of level and being an integral part of our side - and then proceeding to leave in the manner in which Trent has, running his contract down for a move which is rumoured to have been in the works for 2 years (something which his Spanish proficiency certainly gives support to). There would be some real rancour around it, no doubt, if we're being objective

His Spanish was impressive, but this move has been in the offing for a long time, he's had a long time to learn. Understand why Liverpool fans are pissed at him running his contract down tbh. He really strung them along.

I hope Trafford turns out in the long run to be a level above Pickford, should we sign him. Those comparisons shouldn't hold much weight if we're aiming to get to the top.

He obviously played a major part in them all, because of the level of input that he has in the process. That counts for quite a lot. There is good reason to believe he was also pivotal in pushing for Tonali, on the basis of what came out in the press at the time, with him being lauded as a "dream target". That being said, my feeling is that the others were likely earmarked by Nickson to a significant extent. I remember when Bruno signed it was revealed that Nickson had been tracking him for a long time. I think possibly with Botman, too. It baffles me a bit when people cite the above names as "Howe signings" except with respect to the fact that every deal we make is a Howe signing in a certain obvious sense.

Aye, that's the one. Have to think if we are interested our offer must be in that kind of ballpark

Linked with Olympiakos forward Charalampos Kostoulas in the Greek press - preparing a "huge" offer https://www.sport-fm.gr/article/podosfairo/superleague1/tsanakas-etoimazei-terastia-prosfora-gia-kwstoula-i-nioukastl/5055435

That's all that matters for the immediate term. He didn't look like a complete, PL ready goalkeeper. Doesn't mean he won't be excellent in the future - or maybe he has come a long way in the last year.