Thumbheed

I think we're significantly overpaying because of the clause, but I do find that "instantly adaptable" argument a bit counterintuitive when almost all of our most significant players have come from foreign leagues. But anyway, hope it goes through and I end up eating my words.

Fair enough

100%. Definitely not doubting his quality, I just can't understand what it is that draws them so heavily to him to the extent they might be willing to compromise on strengthening other areas as a result.

Honestly? No. I can't understand what the club sees as the defining difference that draws them to pay the amount they're willing to pay for him, over a player like Botman. In terms if quality, there's nothing between them - although I rate Botman higher having seen him more. Then add PSR, our how this might impact our need to improve others as well and I'm not sure where the sense is. No doubt he's a very good player but £65-70m?

Honestly, can't get my head round this one at all, irrespective of his recent performances.

Would also give us the flexibility to move Bruno to his favoured 8, if needed.

Can't quite comprehend how Newcastle fans in particular are so bad at rating players playing at poor teams having watched the transformation of literally every one of our players under a quality manager.

Sidenote to this is is we're happy spending this much on a defender then I'm probably happy to be patient waiting for a RW if that's the ballpark we're in.

£70m on a defender is fucking wild.

Irrespective of where we find ourselves at the end of the window, I'm ultimately confident and comfortable that there'll be nothing untoward as to why we might not have improved like we'd hoped. Personally think it's a case of clubs posturing and there being a need for some transfers to go through to set off the chain reaction.

I personally would like to see another CM but doesn't seem to be on the agenda this year.

No arguments against that at all, but the counter point is had we conceded 10 less goals last season, wouldn't that have had a bigger impact?

I've wanted a new RW since day 1 but when you've scored +85 goals last season then is your RW really the biggest issue?

I think if he finds himself in the same positions that Longstaff does and with the same chances, he'd be double figures every season. I know that's doesn't tie in with his recent record but I don't think he's played as far up at Chelsea as he would here.

Feels like brinkmanship and I still think it'll go through but I'm not exactly sure what value we get out of a £60m defender that we wouldn't get out of one in the 30-40m range like we did Botman.

Try to be pragmatic with this sort of thing but going into a 3rd season without a complete attacking unit as a team with an attacking philosophy would be really poor imo

Don't have the exact state but he got far more starts than he deserved. But isn't that proof enough that he wasn't good enough for us...or anyone?

I dunno...a 1 in 5 striker is absolutely not the type of 3rd striker we need right now, I don't think. 500 games.

53 goals in 312 appearances. 10 of them in the Championship. 13 years career as a front line striker for us. Mindblowingly bad.

Oba Martins, Rondon, Viduka and N'Zogbia come to mind. First 3 were key players for us in that era and never really get talked about, the latter was just never allowed to shine but was clearly excellent. Also rated Marveaux tbh, definitely thought there was a top player in there although never really got chance to show it.

Not great in the air though

Ahhhh back in the day this used to be call "trophy signings" Halcyon days.

That is some backline, like £65m on a CB and talks with a £60m winger from the same club have made me extremely excited.

Think he's got quite a high release clause (£85m)...which I've just read expired end of June. Dunno if that makes him more expensive or cheaper.

Proper grim, that