Barnes23

Really grateful to have this guy on board. A massive consolation IMO, however bad the Isak saga has been (and it has certainly been bad on multiple levels). Didn't think he was a feasible target but I would rank him higher than many of the previously attempted striker signings this summer (Delap, Jackson, Strand Larsen for certain - very likely ahead of Pedro and Sesko too).

Most relevant bits from the article (best taken with a heap of salt considering the source): "Except, when it came to the crunch, PIF did exactly what Ashley would have done. They saw the size of the fee and with no consideration of how much damage it would do to Howe’s chances of replicating his team’s success on the pitch, they took the money and made their team significantly weaker as a result. It was a purely business decision rather than a football one. Make no mistake, everyone on the football side of the operation wanted to keep Isak." "The pressure is on PIF. You can see why they eventually decided to sell a player who had turned difficult. He refused to agree to play one more season and warned he would agitate to leave again in January if he was kept now. They have removed a distraction and drain on time and energy. Some fans will be pleased to see the back of him, but in terms of a strategy, this has been a complete failure. Newcastle’s owners said one thing all summer and at the last moment did another. That deserves to be criticised."

Not very helpful unless he also lets us know what the mood music is like

The best remaining option on the market that I could realistically see. The price is an overpay solely because of age - hopefully we can sell to Saudi in a few years to mitigate that.

The only solace/rationalisation I can come up with from this whole situation is the possibility that the sale decision has been made largely because it is aligned with what Eddie believes is best for the club.

Same here. I think the implicit suggestion (although I may be reading too much into it) was that any potential move there wasn't looked upon with too much enthusiasm by Isak's camp. "Only wants Liverpool" is, of course, an egregious Romano generated and agent instigated power play which doesn't truly reflect reality. But perhaps it would take Real Madrid, Barca or PSG to enter the bidding for Isak to turn his attention elsewhere.

There was something in the German press about Bayern making enquiries re: Isak (presumably via agent/intermediaries) and being rebuffed or at the very least not encouraged.

They may be leaking £120m now with a view to us eventually accepting £130m right before the deadline. Meeting them in the middle etc Should tell them to get fucked either way

Ekitike's agent too I believe

Chelsea 2-1 Fulham Man Utd 2-1 Burnley Spurs 2-1 Bournemouth Sunderland 1-1 Brentford Wolves 1-1 Everton Leeds 1-2 Newcastle Brighton 1-3 Man City Forest 3-1 West Ham Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal Villa 1-1 Palace

He never really showed any sincere signs of giving a fuck about us, tbh. The interview he did with Shearer makes for seriously cringeworthy viewing now.

"All options are at play" klaxon has also been sounded, hat tip to those who get to strike that off their bingo cards

Hope's article suggests that there is a possibility of Isak being sold with only one striker being bought in and that "sources still believe a deal north of £130m would be the ballpark at which an agreement could be reached".

What's Aaron Spear up to these days?

Last summer, with debates cropping up from time to time on here re: whether selling Bruno or Isak was preferable if one had to go as an FFP necessity, feels like a long time ago. On an emotional and personal level I think it was always very clear which player of the two was the most likely to stick around for the long-term, who was fully bought in and fully invested. He's an incredible player but equally importantly an incredible personality. A perfect fit for this club. Very grateful to have him as the heartbeat of our team.

Last night definitely concretised the loathing in a way I'm not sure I've felt about a player before. I guess it was all a bit in the abstract previously but we are now a witnessing a team giving everything, fighting an uphill battle due to the absence of a player who essentially betrayed everything they have been building together, and falling short of what they might have been. The most frustrating part - betraying them for a team who are our direct rivals, and who we could conceivably catch as early as this season. It isn't beyond the realms of possibility, we aren't far away at all. Last night demonstrated that, as painful as it ended up being. I don't know what the answer is from here but it absolutely cannot be selling to Liverpool (or, in my opinion, any domestic rival).

I do actually worry about Schar and the number of blows to the head he picks up, like. Absolute warrior but I hope the club have him in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber after every game

I'm going to choose to take some solace from how well we played in the first 30 minutes and ignore the rest

Let us not forget Kevin Gameiro and Cheikh Mbengue

Wherever he goes, I think I'll always remember him for this above anything else:

That would be fucking rotten. There is no suitable replacement on the market and even £150m is selling him cheap.

He's raw, it's why I had a few misgivings about the signing. Could well develop into an excellent keeper but there is a way to go in that development. Wouldn't have wanted him displacing Pope this season.

West Ham 1-2 Chelsea Man City 2-1 Spurs Bournemouth 2-1 Wolves Brentford 1-2 Villa Burnley 1-1 Sunderland Arsenal 2-0 Leeds Palace 1-1 Forest Everton 1-1 Brighton Fulham 1-2 Man United Newcastle 2-2 Liverpool

I agree - and that is what Joao Pedro, Ekitike and Sesko represented. With those out of the picture, I don't see anything. Hopefully with more scouting and extensive planning an alternative option will emerge for next summer.