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No chance they'd sell that low after the season he's just had. Lukaku is likely to go out on loan again this coming season but I can really see him having a future at Chelsea.

Top pro, top athlete and a great attitude to boot. Not as technically gifted as the better players around in his prime, but he was priceless to the teams he was in for his ability from a dead ball. His work rate was phenomenal too.

It's a nice gesture but he'll know the chances of making a pay-out aren't that good. It's a strange one, but imagine how good it'd be for the non playing staff to come into a bit of unexpected money. Nothing to lose, everything to gain. Bet there's been a bit back and forth between playing staff and the other lads, it's a bit of a laugh.

Figueroa would tempt me if Santon were to leave. Depends on our budget really, ideally we'd go nowhere near any of them.

At the end of the relegation season, how many would have been unhappy with him leaving? Great turn around by him.

Will be a few Premiership clubs after him on a free, no need for him to drop down a division.

Danny Simpson live on TALKSport at 5:35pm. Perhaps worth a listen.

Have not watched much Bundesliga football, but this idea of a relegation play-off intrigues me. Obvious argument against it is that the league table at the end of a season doesn't lie. Those at the bottom deserve to be there. Can imagine how tense those games would be though, would be an interesting spectacle.

Was going to buy the bairn one but a bit iffy about the Wonga logo being on a babies Toon shirt. Hope they miss it out, though not likely at all. Hell, who am I kidding, I'll probably buy it either way.

Wonder how much he earns and if a Championship club would be willing to match it. Shown he can do a job in that league, I think a few clubs would be in for him. Don't believe he'd leave like. Turned down a move a few years ago, and with a year left to go I think he'd be more than happy to just carry on in the role he's in now, or even a lesser one.

Would be happy to see him stay as back-up if he lowered his demands. Can be solid defensively, useless going forward mind. It's all about competition for places. If he thinks he's better than what he is, then fair play, I hope he goes out and gets what he thinks he is worth.

Still hopeful of him staying. Massive player for us. You don't even need to mention the word stats to talk about just how huge he is for this club. His influence is obvious.

Top bloke and a great servant. Shame he didn't feature more and try to push his career on a bit, but I'm not going to grumble with anyone who loves Newcastle that much to sit on the bench and come in like he has in the past.

I know he can play because he was 21 when the qualifying campaign started, but would really much rather have him fresh and ready for pre-season training beginning, rather than competing in some meaningless tournament. If he stays next season, it's a big year for him so he needs to be ready.

I think another season out on loan before going back to Chelsea would do him the world of good. Don't think he's quite ready just yet, despite the season he's just had. He's a talented lad, strong and quick with an eye for goal, I think after last season many who laughed at Chelsea signing him will have been silenced.

Good fit for them with Allardyce there. Looked at times like he's going to rediscover part of the player he was. Do think his form while he was here in the Premiership was fantastic, and though I can't see him recapturing that, he will be a handy player for West Ham with the tactics they use. Until he signs permanently though, I think we'll be sniffing around. Would fit in with Pardew's gameplan, though we'd still have the problem of midfielders not supporting. Ideally wouldn't like him back here, a striker with a bit of craft and creativity to partner Cisse would be ideal.

They should, if they can, start steering away from loan deals. The last few seasons, they've brought players in on loan who have, in all fairness, done a cracking job for them, but the season after they're back at their parent club and Sunderland are left with a hole to fill in their squad. Still interested in how Di Canio will do there. It'll either go horribly wrong for them next year and they'll be in the relegation zones by Christmas, or they'll finish lower mid table. Don't think he'll get them any higher than that. Appears to be a great motivator but I'm still unsure just how he differs tactically. Interesting to see what his eye for a player for the top flight is like too. This summer will be a great indication of just what kind of football he'll want Sunderland to play next year.

Samuel also completely ignores the point that City have had a British manager since they came into money. Mark Hughes bombed there. Not saying he is the best of the British managers available, but they did explore that route after Sven.

Martin Samuel seems to just hold onto his opinion in that article and just pick holes in others questions. I don't think the point he has tried to make is a notable one. People don't look for foreign managers simply because they're not British, but rather the British managers available are, on the whole, not as good as those who have managed abroad and know a few different leagues. Wish more of our coaches would go abroad. Respect for McLaren for his stints in Holland and Germany, when he could have perhaps simply stayed in England and gone from job to job. He has at least tried to learn a new game and new philosophies. Success in the lower leagues will of course put you nowhere near contention for the top jobs. I'm sure if Poyet wanted to, he could land a Premiership job next season, and given a few years if he is successful, why can't he then land himself a 'big' job? A British manager has just landed the biggest job in football. There is the other side to the coin of the point that Samuel is making. Success by and large is rewarded, a lot of our coaches are simply lacking.

He even argues against someone saying Steve Bruce would be a terrible appointment for a big club cos he has won promotions, kept poor teams in the Premiership and captained Man United. Jesus. Why have I read this far?

Sports Direct News Absolutely mental man.

Fucking hell, just got the notification from Sky News.

Wigan have fought well the last few seasons, but not overly fussed about them being relegated. Prefer Sunderland to go down but whatever. Very surprised if Martinez stays with them, he might offer his resignation.

I just went with Krul for POTS, no real stand outs and Demba Ba was a notable absentee.

I don't believe that the Chronicle know what is going on, they're just fence sitting incase he does stay and they've said he's a goner. His position will be questioned after the Arsenal game if it hasn't been already. I do think he'll be here for pre-season. We have underachieved massively, but they believed in Pardew enough to hand him a 8 year contract after one great season, so I doubt they will be knee-jerk about any decision. A lot will depend on player happiness, managers currently available and without a club, and just how much ambition Ashley and Llambias have.