christ

I think I preferred it when everyone was losing their minds because we weren’t bidding for anyone. The club have a valuation, Leicester have a valuation. We might find that both parties stick quite stubbornly to those figures but the way this has played out - specifically the fact that Leicester have made it very publicly known there’s a price at which they’ll do business - that there’s a deal to be done. Ultimately the club have to operate under a very strict set of financial parameters for now. There’s also an effort to completely torpedo the idea that the ‘Newcastle tax’ is a thing. I don’t see any point in critiquing this approach too much until the end of the transfer window when we know where we stand.

I don’t think so. We’re paying for Wood in instalments.

I reckon there’s something up with Cornet. Seems odd teams are so reluctant to pay his release clause.

They indicated yesterday we bid £50m. They’ve no idea what’s going on behind closed doors. We probably shouldn’t lose our suit whenever they tweet anything that’s even mildly pessimistic.

Used car dealers must rub their hands together when the N-O transfer cognoscenti walk onto the forecourt.

Bruno and Botman were big statements in terms of the quality we’re searching for, but I think getting Maddison from Leicester would be the biggest of the lot. Good young player at a Premier League club we couldn’t dream of competing against 12 months ago. Proper upset the apple cart signing if it happens.

Edwards works for the Telegraph too, but it wouldn’t be the first time he’s been put back in his box by a more senior journo on his paper.

It was always going to pick up again. There’s still a full month to go.

The coverage of the Women’s Euros made my 7 year old - who went to her first NUFC match last season and didn’t much enjoy it - decide she wanted to come to the game today where she had a really lovely day. And she’s absolutely buzzing for the final tomorrow. If your life is being ruined by women’s sport being given a reasonable level of publicity maybe your life is just fucking miserable and the Euros has nothing to do with it?

I think Leicester are aware he’s one of their more saleable assets and they’re hamstrung until they shift bodies. He’d be a big loss to them, but if they’re that stuffed by FFP better to shift one that a handful.

I am cringing.

*Athletic Club official account tweet something about the flag* ”Bloody Mags trying to pretend they have a relationship with Bilbao!”

Yeah, assume it’s been leaked by Leicester to demonstrate they’re willing to sell at the right price.

Club use a third party service, which I assume they won’t be using anymore.

Was he doing his John Inman impression like?

There’s a few away ends I’ve been in where my own eyes have delivered a not too dissimilar picture quality.

It’s a great theory, but why wouldn’t clubs just inflate their prices? Let’s be honest, it probably has been brought forward to facilitate some spending and support with cash flow while sponsorship and commercial is given some TLC.

Does someone want to tell Benfica it’s only a friendly? I think we turned up expecting a warm weather kick about and they’re charging around like it’s a Champions League game.

Fucking hell Miggy, great finish

Explains why we’ve replaced Local Hero with Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah.

This is what I say to myself in my head when I order a takeaway the day after a heavy sesh.

As much as RW is a problem area I think Fraser and, to a lesser extent, Almiron are perfectly serviceable options over the season. Up front we have Wilson and Wood. Injuries to one or both of those and our season is stuffed. Isak wasn’t particularly prolific last season, but he’d give us another dimension up front and would be a massive statement signing.

Isak is pretty near the top of my fantasy signings list, so I think I’d rip it off if we actually got him.

This is basically situation I’m in. Going to go to at least one of the games, but not sure whether I’ll take my young’un or not.

Absolutely makes sense to box clever now when it comes to fees and give ourselves greater headroom in the coming years. It’s also really important that we sent a precedent to avoid having our eyes taken out every time we try to sign someone. It might mean some long, hard negotiations over a couple of windows (e.g. Botman) but I trust the club to get it right. I’m confident we’ll sign a winger and a striker before the close of the window. The market will move over the next few weeks. We’re well placed to take advantage of that now.