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7 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

How much media do Leeds get in Barcelona?

 

I genuinely think there's a Brazilian tax akin to an English tax.

 

How do you know this? We've already been interested and bid for players and not met the asking price and walked away. The reports are suggesting that's another possibility here.

I'm not sure what PL coverage is like for that specific example but tbh it's just a generic point and tbf, it's the seller that get to value their player, not Barca. 

1 hour ago, The College Dropout said:

I never insult people on here. Can you please offer me the same courtesy?

 

Also Richarlison had 2 years left on his contract.

 

Richarlison £60m. 25. 2 years left on his contract. Regular Brazilian international. 32 PL G/A last 2 seasons. 

Raphinha £50m. 25. 2 years left on his contract. Emerging Brazilian international. Bidding war. 31 PL G/A last 2 seasons.

Maddison. £45m??????. 25. 2 years left on his contract. English. 33 PL G/A last 2 seasons.

 

Are there other "behind the scenes" factors - sure. But I think most people in English football would be surprised if he was sold this summer for a penny less than £50m.

Feel like some of these prices are dictated by how much they're hyped in the media. 

I bet there's a correlation between how much media coverage they get and the cost of their transfer. 

5 minutes ago, Geordie Magpie said:

Maybe the kit was designed with that sponsor in mind in hope of them agreeing to buy Fun88 out before this season but had to use FUN88 as they would only agree to end the deal at end of this season?

Agreed. Certainly don't think it's a coincidence the colour schemes are the same.

Apologies if already posted but interesting spot on our second kit. 

Fun88 sponsorship ends next year doesn't it?

Suppose its predictable but seems like we're starting to ramp up our transfer activity. 

Would love Werner here, much better than just his goals tally.

Cornet seems like a no brainer to me, especially for squad depth.

A 10 goal forward would cost you 15m 10 years ago. 

Fanny definitely wanks in the mirror to himself

18 minutes ago, BennyBlanco said:

Maddison would be an absolute dream of a signing. Sub-question - do any of you think we are purposely targeting English talent over foreign imports or is it just coincidence that the lions share of the signings have all been English?

I've thought this too, seems a significant portion of our recruitment - both on and off the field - are British orientated in some way, too much to be a coincidence imo.

Think Longstaff was great tonight, can see him really owning the holding role if he continues like this. 

6 minutes ago, TRon said:

 

Yep. Loving how we are playing with the same shape and tempo regardless of the line up.

This is why I'm so relaxed about our recruitment, we're just a quality attacking player or 2 away from being able to convert some of our stray creative passing into serious chances, the rest of the foundations looks set. 

Absolutely incredible what Howe is doing to this side. 

Absolutely certain he's the real deal and belongs at the top. 

Signed 2 players by the 29th of January. 

Signed 2 more by the 31st (nearly 3). 

What if it was a swap deal with someone like Pulisic?

Bit surprised we haven't had more agent and/or selling club driven links, mind.

Can understand the explanation that the clubs plugged leaks from their side, but the other?  

No compilations videos with Fort Minor soundtrack. 

Move on. 

9 minutes ago, KaKa said:

 

I don't see it. So Zapata comes in for significant money and wages, and then what ... backs up Wilson? Or puts one of our better players in Wilson on the bench? Why put so much money into that? 

 

 

Because like Wood, I guess the value is not in the specifics of the finances involved, but in how he helps us achieve our immediate goals. 

8th place and a cup run in a couple of years makes us more attractive both commercially and as a sporting project for the next level of players we'd need to take us to thr next level. 

1 hour ago, KaKa said:

 

It's actually embarrassing that they can be so clueless. How could we possibly go and sign yet another 30 year old striker. Such a lazy link from someone that's not paid any attention to what the club is doing. Awful stuff. Just throwing out made up articles for clicks.

Actually totally disagree with this.

Bare in mind our very short term target is probably 8th places at best then signing a proven albeit aging striker is no less sensible than signing a young unproven striker - as long as they offer us something in helping us achieve that goal, which Zapata would. 

What is apparent, is that out and out strikers of the 'right profile' - ie young and proven- are at an absolute premium price wise (and availibltiy  for that matter) which we've seen with Isak, Vlahovic, Oshimen, Nunez and even a discounted Haaland going for 70 odd million, which at this point in time seems incompatible with our current spending ability. 

Personally see no reason why getting someone like Zapata who offers presence on the pitch in the form of pace, strength and work rate wouldn't be savvy business for the next couple of years we aim for 8th and give us time to grow our revenue to be big enough to actually splurge when we need to make that bigger push for European places. 

7 minutes ago, McCormick said:

Seems a strange one tbh, do we need another cb/rb? A nice back up option to Trippier sure, but I’ve always maintained that you don’t buy players to be back-ups; you buy improvements. It’s the one thing about Rafa’s transfer dealings that frustrated me.

Think Howe buys into squad competition so having someone who's good enough to challenge for a couple of positions makes most sense when the alternatives are only good enough to fill in at best. 

16 minutes ago, Rich said:

I'd be happy with a young striker and a quality winger like Diaby, but would still feel like we had a bit of a gap in central midfield.

 

Unless, of course, Howe himself is happy with Bruno, Joelinton, and Shelvey/Willock as his trio, with the Longstaff brothers as backups.

 

I do think RW is the most glaringly obvious weakness right now and the one that will add the most to our offensive play, and both Shelvey and Willock did have some very decent games last season so possibly deserve more time to prove they belong, particularly Willock.

 

Still, a young striker, quality winger, and quality central midfielder/attacking midfielder and I'd probably call it a 10/10 window.

Totally agree with this. 

Improving on Shelvey and Almiron/Fraser/Murphy >> a top class striker and loan option

9 minutes ago, madras said:

Joelinton will eventually be a squad player. He can cover a few positions and will give strength coming off the bench.

He will, but for the short term you'd imagine he's gonna be one of the first names on the teamsheet so fitting square pegs into round holes doesn't seem like an Eddie Howe type move. 

Tbf even Bruno himself said his favoured position is number 8 role because it gives him the freedom to get forward and support attacks.

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bruno-guimaraes-newcastle-united-position-23724026

I can see him in a double pivot which still gives him that freedom, but I don't see Joelinton being the other and it would be a travesty to lose what Joelinton offers us. 

2 minutes ago, HTT II said:

That we are, in all reality, all cunts?

Yes, but even so, some far more than others. 

6 minutes ago, HTT II said:

Does it say anything about me that I’m happier they are friends with SA the most rather than the Tories?

Yeh, it does tbh.

Maybe they mean 80m in terms of contribution to FFP? 

Edit: this isn't a serious post. I don't actually care how much we spend.