Manxst

Why? What have you heard?

Because even with the takeover, promotion would still be a lottery and not a given. Granted, we’d undoubtedly have a damn good chance of getting back to the PL, but imagine if we didn’t…?

I haven’t seen mention of a £100m budget?

We don’t know that’s what is happening though?

The Athletic have stated that we “are determined to sign a CB and striker before Watford”, and that the loss to Cambridge has “‘focussed minds’ as to securing signings”. Also “The board has reaffirmed it’s commitment to strengthening the squad imminently”, “There is a recognition that unless a forward is signed this week, they risk heading into a potentially season defining fixture without a match winner”.

Costa isn’t even half decent these days though. Hence being released. And apparently we won’t be going anywhere near 200k a week.

How would you convince a top player to come? Other teams are paying more money. Other (all!) teams are higher in the league and/have a chance of playing in Europe. Other teams have elite training facilities. Other teams have elite medical facilities. Other teams have other quality players to play alongside. Most players will want to enjoy playing, not having to battle every single game in order to simply avoid relegation. All we can currently offer is future potential, and that doesn’t look too good when the current likelihood is we’re going to get relegated this season and won’t be pursuing that potential for at least another year or so. as fans of the club, we’d all undoubtedly sign for them as soon as there was interest, but for players who don’t have a vested personal interest in the club, I can see why a lot would choose to go elsewhere (this season/transfer window), unless they buy wholeheartedly into the ‘potential’ point.

We could, but no selling club is going to want to- the player could well ‘give up’ playing for them knowing a future transfer was guaranteed. Plus, what if a transfer was arranged but the player was injured whilst playing for the selling club? It’s pointless from the seller pov.

Yes, because they’re currently higher in the league. Our long term potential is higher though, which is one of the main reasons why they chose us.

Badiashile

This. If he’s as good as we think he is, and will give us a lift and defensive improvement for the remainder of this season, as well as be the mainstay for the next x amount of years, £45m is nothing- just get it done. The price could well be the same in the summer, when there would undoubtedly be other teams in for him too, and we may well be in a lower division. If Lille are moving the goalposts then we should walk now and move onto someone else asap.

We were linked before Christmas. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-10333477/amp/Everton-Newcastle-join-West-Ham-race-20m-rated-Brennan-Johnson-Nottingham-Forest.html

Gilmour is a season loan, no? Can’t see Chelsea selling mid season.

Maybe because if a player has agreed to leave a club but still has weeks/months until he actually transfers, the selling club may feel like he will lose interest in playing well for them? Not to mention issues around injuries and insurance etc if a player is still being selected for a team but has agreed a future transfer?

He’s on 165k pw according to this: https://www.thisisanfield.com/2021/06/wijnaldum-transfer-wages-psg-liverpool/amp/ it might be that getting rid of a squad player and opening up a space is more important than getting him off the wage book.

Coutinho is on massive wages and yet Villa are only paying less than 50%. I’m sure if we were serious, we could come to a similar arrangement with PSG to pay a proportion (and that’s even if Hopes tweet is factually reliable).

And El Nacional https://www.elnacional.cat/ca/esports/bin-salman-60-milions-laporta-memphis-depay_692060_102.html

Nope. VVD. edit- Gini was made captain when VVD was out injured in 2020.

Link to Luke tweet.

Some partnership, that. Can’t wait for them to start bossing the league (IF they come!).

Been rumoured that they want him, but he doesn’t want them- didn’t return their calls, allegedly.

£77m release clause apparently. Been linked heavily with Arsenal this window, and has previously spent a season playing well with Odegaard who was on loan in the team.

All the journos have said we want two CBs, although people have been presuming that meant one large fee and one small for some reason.

He was on police bail, but been released from that in order to travel- he was due to answer bail again this month. He’s still under investigation though.

This. Plus he’s away for the AFCON