Mole

Stealing @OpenC 's job

This guy said

So if they didn't then multiple reports are made up lies. Tbf they could be, it wouldn't be the first time. But it's far more believable then the idea of never actually in for him and just did it to smoke Liverpool out. They wanted him badly, but once Liverpool came in they couldn't compete financially and that's okay. We don't have to make fantasy stories to make ourselves feel better. It is what it is.

I've only been reading the board again since the start of the summer so I won't get too antagonistic for most things as I know fuck all mostly. But this was a bit too juicy to ignore.

Aye we just met his and Frankfurt's representatives in person for a laugh. It's very obvious the club wanted someone who could play with Isak and/or spell for him when he's unavailable and were willing to pay big money to do so. Thus the Pedro and Delap links (obviously Delap's clause means he would have been cheaper) They've been after this specific type of player all summer and thought Ekitike could have been had. I'm sorry the idea they wasted all this time to just smoke out Liverpool is very pie in the sky stuff.

I'm sorry but if you meet with both the agent and the club reps in person (multiple different reporters said this) then it was very serious. Things changed once Liverpool got involved, but it was quite obvious they wanted him. Like you can choose to believe this version of events if you want, that's really up to you but it's not based in reality whatsoever.

It's not that they're thick, some are granted. But it's more that to get to this level you have to have an extreme level of self confidence and back yourself to be the no 1. Does it bite some on the arse sometimes? Sure, but when a player goes to a club under tough competition they aren't seeing it like a fan would do.

Nah, the guy has his own windshield over his face.

I get the impression from everything I've read this summer they've tried to improve the squad by improving the first XI and thus moving people who were guaranteed starters to strong rotation pieces instead of back ups who can't be relied upon. I do agree with this approach mainly when it comes to squad building if you can afford to do so, but it might have got to the point where you can't realistically pull that off if everyone you've tried to go for is turning you down for someone else or/and too expensive.

I see, thanks for the explanation. Any chance they'll be able to share that responsibility? Or just not possible with their current team? I guess struggling to stop the counter attacks falls on the coaching staff a lot, I'd assume tactically there's a flaw somewhere if that keeps happening.

As someone who hasn't watched in years but thinking of watching next season. Why do people assume City won't contend? They bought a lot of players since January no? This isn't the first time I've seen comments of them being dismissed. Feels like they should in theory be a lot better now no?

I get why people are frustrated but honestly this is very, very normal as pre season goes. But obviously understandable why anyone would think otherwise considering the circumstances.

No offence to anyone else here, but they need other hobbies - Very badly

Probably because they didn't even try to have 3 targets let alone 5.

It's not correct, I just checked. Ekitike has 50 career goals, 26 for Frankfurt.

I know most people don't want do this for real obvious reasons, but watching the compilation clips makes it REALLY obvious why the club wants him or someone of similar profile.

I'm sure it helps, but I think they just see the urgency of the situation and know they can't fuck about. Assuming it's all true obviously.

I think regardless of his accuracy a second bid for Ekitike is incredibly likely and predictable. I would be shocked if there wasn't one going in ASAP considering the circumstances.

Not cunning enough to be appointed professor of cunning at Oxford University sadly.

Can't remember who, but I think I remember someone reporting last night that the first offer would likely be rejected. So it's going as expected.

Baba was saying yesterday that from what he had seen that he wasn't really ready to be the no 1 lone striker at a club yet so playing alongside someone is the best thing for him. After watching those highlights I can kinda see it now, lots of what he's doing is coming outside the box. Which again makes sense to why they're pursuing him so hard.

It's blatantly obvious this is more than just agents flushing out other suitors. Granted he may choose someone else if it doesn't happen quickly enough, but it's abundantly clear that the club are very serious.

Yeah that's what Laurens said in his article last night. Time will tell who is right

I think the confusion here is according to the Downie video is they've met twice and there's been discussion over the last 4-5 days. So both are probably right, it's just they happened at different times. So both Newcastle and Austria meetings probably happened.