Thumbheed

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

Reckon I might trust Howe and Mitchell on this one.

Not necessarily suggesting he's our starting midfielder from now on but he's got a lot of qualities that aren't best utilised at left back and would be more affective in midfield, so stands to reason why Howe might seen enough in training to play him there yesterday.

*A few games in midfield

He reminds me of Botman

Saw clips of this lad a while back, plays like an Isak regen

Think we'll get sponsorships by virtue of association with PIF alone tbh. Loads of companies will be looking at a gateway into KSA given the opportunity to do so, we'l be the vehicle for that I'd my guess.

Would raise the expectations of other players, would be the main drawback.