Odear

Barnes = Tony Jimenez (2017 Edition) Incorrect. Barnes' niche is attracting investment or finding ways to raise cash. He won't have any impact on blocking Charnley, if anything he's there to ensure that Charnley is doing things by the book and avoiding any more tax drama.

Another possibility is that the club are waiting for certain clubs to do their business and blow their wad. Once that's done there will be many a very decent player who hasn't gotten their big payday yet.. and many a club who really need to sell with no clubs buying.. Then we see prices return to some sort of sanity and start making offers. There's a reason for it, all of this waiting.. could be a takeover, could be what's mentioned above. It's definitely not the case of the club double crossing Rafa. He'd have been gone by now if so.

For what it's worth I think there's more to it. Having extra investment (or a partial buy out, or even a full takeover) would never happen in the short space of time since those reports surfaced. There was serious interest reported. Most on here don't know the ins and outs of m & a's but the first thing to happen is an NDA signed by all parties. That means nothing can be talked about, leaked etc.. If someone is serious about investing and doesn't want to hold up business operations, a letter of intent would be signed. This is not legally binding though. Then due diligence would begin. This bit is key. No major decisions can be made while this is happening. We did indeed sign LeJeune but we may have had a previous agreement that the agreed transfer had to complete by a certain point or they would back out. The point is, whatever the final offer is after due diligence could vary greatly from the figure mentioned in the letter of intent. If it's investment. This could be difference between signing a bunch of Murphy's or players of the Samaris and Carvalho standard. Merely speculating but it's the same press who are reporting that Rafa is unhappy that reported on the Chinese investment. Why trust one story and not the other?

Heartbreaking. RIP brave little man.

Nonsense. If Rafa has a kitty to spend as he likes he'd have brought other players in by now. Charnley will have insisted that dead wood be cleared, which Rafa is obviously going along with. Expect 2 or 3 players to leave before someone new arrives. Hanley, Murphy and Lazaar would be my bets

Here's a vote... Hatem or Rafa?

Cracking move that IF true, huge upgrade on Dummett

Same type of player as Matt Ritchie except slightly worse.

Not to Mike Ashley it doesn't. There is no way we will spend close to £20 million on one player. Normally I would agree with you but I think the insistence that LeJeune be paid in instalments could signify that they want to keep a larger stockpile for a big transfer. Rafa will have had a week to observe the dead wood. I expect him to move on this early next week.

Crystal Palace were linked with Carvalho.. I have a feeling if the price is a little lower than initially suggested that we would come in with a firm offer for him. If Samaris is 17.5m and could get Carvalho for 20.. few years younger etc, it makes way more sense.

Lascelles looks just as big as this chap so it doesn't mean anything. Both are not the quickest, so can't see them playing together. Wouldn't be surprised if Clarke is the first name on the teamsheet this season. (unless we sign another defender)

He seems like a player who doesn't know where he wants to play, let alone a manager making that call. I suppose if anything, Benitez will have a week to see this lot up close (Saivet, De Jong, Rivière, Krul, Toney) before making final decisions.

Everton in for Samaris now. Club want to sell before they buy. Colback and De Jong would be my guess. The latter could potentially be used in a player exchange. Colback will end back at Sunderland on loan before the window closes, that's my prediction!

There's no way that's true. We could have had him a few seasons ago in the January window for 12 million or something similar to that and the club thought that was too much for him at the time, we went for Loic Remy on loan instead.. not 100% on the timeline but that's the gist of it

They're going to pay him 250,000 a week....... Everton paying 250,000 a week. FFS. Maybe Mike Ashley is right. Keep our powder dry, spend as little as possible and watch all these teams implode within 2 seasons.

Diame scores the odd good goal so for me is useful to have on the bench in certain games. Does that warrant a place in the squad though? Should be for players who will genuinely be challenging for a first team place.

Skunkers.

He is aye. He was linked with us a couple of weeks ago too. Wouldn't get anywhere near the space he's been getting in the championship, but looks a player who gets in the right positions like Gayle or Ritchie.

He had a decent season with PSV by all accounts, maybe some of his injury problems are behind him? He managed to play 21 times and scored 7 goals. When fit he's better at what he does than a good chunk of the players we're being linked with.. personally i'd like to see him given a chance He was obviously not 100% when we got him because there is no way Ajax would have let their captain and most influential player leave for so relatively little a fee. Maybe the club knew this and took a gamble? Overall he's been unlucky, that first injury kept him out for 6 months, then another 2 with the collapsed lung. Did ok when he played, when obviously not up to pace. Then he had the eye thing which was a freak accident apparently. Hopefully Rafa sees something in him when back to warrant a run in the team.

It really is a shame, he's the type of player that could be perfect for this league if he could get a run of games and toughen up a bit. I don't think anyone has ever doubted his footballing ability

Looks like he's had a hair transplant whilst he's been away. Surprised that didn't put him in a coma. The De Jong's

Think the instalments is significant, club possibly trying to keep as much cash as possible for much larger deals.

I told you everything was ok! You bunch of cunts ☺️

Well that makes sense, it would even things out even more so. The Sky money now is giving small clubs the opportunity to really compete with the established top 6. It's really not about how much is being spent now but more so how wisely it's being spent. A limited number of players a club could have registered would be ideal. Say 22 players over the age of 23, then a limited youth set up, say 22 players between the ages of 18-23 No restriction on under 18's

And again. You're all a bunch of cunts, everything is fine. ?