LRD

Manquillo can also play LB where the options are Ritchie and an injuried Lewis. Prefer to keep him and assess/ replace at end of season.

Any chance that Watford are going to get reinforcements from Udinese?

Don't think the La Liga champions is interested in Manquillo.

Under-21 players are eligible over and above the limit of 25 players per squad. For the 2021/22 campaign Under-21 players will have been born on or after 1 January 2000. https://www.premierleague.com/news/2247219

As long as born 1 Jan 2000 or later for this season, a player will be considered U21. Botman's born 12 Jan 2000.

Depends on the players we sign too. If we sign Botman, he is U21 and will not require registration. Him coming in as a left-footed CB would likely mean that Clark (32 yo and past it) will be unregistered or sold. Gillespie is another possibility as we do not need 4 GKs. Gayle the obvious one that we will unregister should we get a forward in. Then it's likely Hendrick next if we get in a CM.

I think I give myself until the Watford game (which is massive) to have an idea.

On Schlotterbeck: “I’m not someone who really aspires to play in England or Spain. I have always wanted to play in the Bundesliga, preferably with the best team," Nico Schlotterbeck said in a recent Kicker interview. Aiming for Bayern.

Good to know we have alternatives like Nico Schlotterbeck (similar mould, on verge of national team) in our consideration too.

Still think we should go for higher caliber strikers with lack of options and Wilson's injury history.

For 60m, we can get two CBs like.

PIF have final say on transfers and Saudis and Iranians are arch rivals. I'm sure that there are better forwards out there.

If Lille is thinking 60m, they must be crazy. 30m is already a lot for him.

Didn't know but he's not a footballer who would get the chance to perform on the biggest stage on TV.

I can't see us signing an Iranian.

@Unbelievable will be able to tell us how close Botman is to the national squad.

They have De Ligt like.

Botman's not even capped at senior level. They have far more senior CBs ahead of him. Doubt it will be a major factor.

Botman's under 21 too, so won't need to register him in the squad. Meaning we can deregister Clark for a new striker or midfielder.

Key is both Trippier and Botman want to join us. After that it is simply a matter of the fees. No chance Lille will be loaning to Milan if we place big money on the table in a worst case scenario. And we are not lacking in £.

Headless chicken ain't he?

A PEA loan would probably be more acceptable but we will still be left without a striker for the one month plus that Wilson is out for.

Questions about PEA's immediate availability and motivation to make it work. Prefer a more permanent solution since Wilson is really all we have and he has his injury issues.

We are aiming for one RB, LB, two CBs, one MC and one forward. People happy if Ramsey is the only midfielder coming in?

It's a standard in the Spanish leagues.