Abacus

I don't reckon Eddie was. Thing is Samuel is more of a comment piece journalist, has to comment on every sport in theory, though it's mainly football that he actually does talk about. Don't mind him, but he's more one for analysis rather than news.

That £150k is why Matt Targett only wanted Newcastle United.

I'm going to say something if nothing else except to prove myself wrong in 12 months if we get him. But I don't want Sesko that much as a player, still less the circus he'd create, and I'd rather Wissa plus one other striker instead whom, no you are correct, I can't name. Or just keep even an unhappy Isak plus one other striker like Wissa, then we're far stronger than last season up front.

We're probably talking semantics here then, I suppose. We very much are their rivals now if we don't sell them a player and they in turn try to unsettled our team. What else would you call the move for Ekitike? Maybe not rivals for the league right now, but without losing out on Ekitike and Pedro, plus getting a few others in midfield/defence we might have been getting close. Clubs tracking our targets very much suggests they see us as rivals.

What's the difference?

Klopp certainly thought we were rivals when he started waffling on about ceilings through his ridiculous teeth. If nothing else, we're a rival to them in the CL and the cups. All other clubs are rivals now. That's sport. Not selling Isak to them for well under his real value this summer must be a statement of intent from us. Gouge them for him and then, reluctantly, fine.

It doesn't have to be a genuine bidding war man, anything that helps set his price to anyone else that tries to low-ball us.

You've already said this. Maybe Liverpool or PSG. My point was, you'd need a bidding war and in that, it's helpful to have a Saudi club stalking horse.

Maybe no chance he'd go to Saudi. But we could use any interest to drive up the price and the wages to anyone else IF he goes. That new contract decision was a farce. Reports that it was Mitchell, but also at least one suggesting it was Isak's agent who pulled talks. From Martin Hardy mind.

I never really hate any other real football fans. Yes there are idiots in any fanbase but by and large the regular match going ones are sound in real life. It's always the online contingent wrapped up in twitter wars that are the worst. I've travelled about a bit and never seen a city like ours where the club and the football is quite so much the heartbeat of the place. Never been to Glasgow though, so there's that. Goldfish bowl or something that should spur you on instead? Think you need players that get it. Think Bruno does for instance, and that's why their character is so important.

Thanks for listening to my joke.

Not sure exactly what's changed, but I was really excited when I thought he was about to sign for us to play with Isak. A masterstroke, in fact. But now, I think he's going to be absolutely dreadful and probably wear a stupid hat or something when he signs for them. Bullet dodged.

I am laughing out loud at this and can't explain it as I'm at work. Edit, not at Shak's post

You disagreeing with yourself then? We've all done it.

I just think he's exactly our profile of player, a bit like signing Tino after his injuries when other clubs might be cautious. Not saying it will happen or anything, but I'm choosing to dream this transfer window rather than look at negatives. Don't burst my bubble gol, it's my birthday soon

If we got Wissa, Scalvini and, say, Gallagher, I'd be absolutely delighted with this window. Note to self; don't write these things down.

Wissa seems like a very sound option if we can get it done. 2 or 3 good seasons from him and he'd still have some value after that. Strikers are always the most expensive players and at £30-£40m that would be a bargain, especially as it's the one area we have little to no cover. Chuck in Osula for the odd 30 mins here and there or in cup games and we're definitely stronger than last season. A new CB and midfielder and we're ready to go. It's not an ideal squad as you'd want a keeper too, but we're not able to have ideal. We haven't lost much with the players who have gone, but we've definitely gained with Elanga so far.

Well, I guess nobody knows what a technical director even is. I sure don't. But congratulations to him anyway whatever he's up to.

Agreed with all that. I suspect the frustration is partly just a reflection of the combination of other interest falling through and the apparently small pool of players we have been going after. Plus all the off-field stuff meaning Howe isn't getting as much support as he should have at speed. I don't think it's individually the Trafford thing, because £40m does seem a lot for a keeper yet to show it in the PL. He may well have a great ceiling and be one we missed out on - assuming we don't still sign him, that is.

I was given a copy of the Sun so take with a full shovel of salt. As I'm bored, according to them, here is Chelsea's bomb squad and what they want; N Jackson £60m J Felix £35m C Nkunku £35m A Disasi £26m T Chalobah £40m R Sterling £20m B Chilwell £15m C Chukwuemeka £40m R Veiga £30m L Ugochukwu £20m K Dewsbury-Hall £30m I wouldn't deal with them anyway, just shows how they've messed up buying too much or wrongly and not playing them, as that lot in total cost them about £340m, apparently.

He'd still need to buy a new tablecloth.

Targett is being paid more already.

I'm wondering, in a wildly unpopular suggestion, if we bin off one of the domestic cups. We're likely at the point where we won't be able to compete in 4 competitions full throttle squad wise. Do you still get a bit of a pass for earlier rounds if you're playing in Europe that season?

Agree with this. I was excited by having a ball playing keeper, but not for £40m. In a year or so there must be others coming through. So fine he can pass to Man City's sideways team all he likes, it wouldn't have the same impact on them. We've just got to get used to our targets being looked at by others and also us not budging when it gets too much. But on a different note, funny how this hasn't moved for a while, and then suddenly there's interest from elsewhere when Burnley probably need to make a few moves.