PlymouthGeordie

Now this would be a statement signing.

Agreed. But we're running in to the same problems on EVERY deal. I said yesterday, if you want a big player in January you pay over their market value (January tax), in this window there also appears to be a Newcastle tax. Either the owners bite the bullet or we don't sign elite players. I'm all for walking away from the lingard deal given his contract status and age. I'd have paid the Botman fee though because he'd improve with age and he'd be our CB for the next decade. The owners will be judged on 1st Feb but as things stands it's not looking promising.

We can either pay it or risk relegation. I don't advocate us paying it, it's just clear to me our negotiating position is weak.

Our position is weaker.

It's just become tiresome. So many deals leaked and subsequently failed: Botman Carlos Lingard Gosens Ekitike Not all the blame lay with the owners as I'm sure leaks came from all over i.e. selling club, player involved, agent etc but some of the names linked with key positions are becoming underwhelming (Bruno aside). Burn, Phillips, Tarkowski don't scream guaranteed survival to me.

Agreed. I bet Tarkowski would cost the thick end of 25m at least. He's also approaching 29 years old (like Carlos) but has nothing like the same pedigree.

At some point they have to make an offer on a CB that the selling club can't refuse; that's how all big deals in January get done. Walking away is admirable to an extent but to go from Botman/Carlos to Phillips/Tarkowski (if they're our back up targets) is a big drop in quality.

Been hoping we'd get him since the takeover. Bissouma with a new CB and we'd definitely stay up imo.

Such a big win! 3 more injuries are a concern but just going to ignore that for now and enjoy the win. I'd say based on second half we deserved too. Such a shift from the lads today.

Joe Kinnear had him sussed.

Would be a terrible signing. He's awful.

https://twitter.com/CraigHope_DM/status/1484119014007738368?t=B65AG95bc6ruSclPW6s_3A&s=09

On the flip side, it's tiresome that even minor posts of criticism are constantly met with "it's not Fifa or Football Manager". There is a middle ground where people on the whole can be very happy with the consortium and job they're doing but also disappointed with their "progress" in the transfer market. Especially when it comes to central defenders.

Don't say it too loudly because people don't like it but it doesn't reflect well on the ownership. Spent 3 weeks chasing Botman and Carlos and didn't get close to signing either. It'll be interesting to see where they go from here in their search for a new CB. Caveat - I like the new ownership, their communication is good, we've made 2 decent signings so far and they will clearly do everything in their power to turn us in to a club competing for trophies. I'm just not oblivious to the fact they've made a mess of their attempts (so far) to recruit new players in a key position.

I've seen another translation where it's translated as "I have a lot of time left here". If it's more along the lines of this it could be a reference to the time left on his contract. Either way, him playing yesterday hardly screams a deal is close as has been reported media wide. Their assistant manager also said he expects him to stay for the remainder of the season.

I agree. However, I actually think if 45m would've got Botman and 40m gets you Carlos we should've done both deals and then tightened the purse strings such is our plight. You also then have you CB's sorted for the next 5 years. Obviously nobody knows if 45m would've got Botman. I'm just saying, if ever there was a window to overpay it's this one.

Yeah. English press reporting it's close and Spanish press going with the opposite. Frustrating for fans.

If this is true it's worrying because it doesn't sound like we're close to getting him at all let alone in time for Leeds.

The counter argument to this is there are numerous teams who won't need or be looking to sign anyone.

You don't get an England first choice RB and proven PL striker if you're doing a shit job.

Not at all. But we moved from one complicated deal with Botman on to another with Carlos and especially in the Carlos transfer it appears we're prioritising the perfect deal over having him in for Watford/Leeds. It's risky.

It will only be worth it if we stay up.

Either they're so good you'd try everything to make it happen or they're not good enough to make a difference against Watford and Leeds. You can't have it both ways.