Nine

This will happen. Its in all parties interest to get this one done, a little more haggling over the fee and it'll be done.

He might already be en route, let me believe for the next hour at least

please please please please

Targett and Burn tied up within the new few hours then. Plenty of time left for Lingard.

Cant blame the kid, stay where you are for another 18 months and keep developing. Good head on his shoulders to turn down the money at his age like

Put the bottle down Merson, Bruno isnt breath taking? Has he seen our squad and where we are in the league??

With our current squad Targett is way better than squad filler, he instantly becomes our first choice LB

They forgot to write Zapatas name after Lingards

Very Everton

There cant have been many options for him if hes gone there

This might mean we chuck that £40m at Atalanta for the beast

I disagree, I think Almiron is highly valuable to come off the bench when we are trying to see out a result.

If this is the case I’d say it’s likely we see Lascelles/Burn at the back and it will be Joe/Bruno/Willock in the middle

Interesting one, guess Howe just doesn’t trust the lad.

Think Fede just lacks the pace/stamina for this league now and especially in a back 4, there’s a reason we’ve hardly seen him play for how long now. Maybe he could be ok in a 5 but would be much less effective than Schar would be and you couldn’t get away with using both of them. I could see this - Lascelles Schar Burn Trippier Targett Bruno Joe Fraser/Lingard ASM Wilson/Wood The only player who doesn’t fit well into that would be Wood, not exactly a formation set up for his style however he could still be effective enough at retaining possession and holding the ball up. Targetts defensive qualities are great to put behind ASM and will give us confidence on that side, ASM can do what he does and take a few more risks on that side. Schars best position is in the middle of a back 5, Lascelles also used to a 5 under Rafa for all that time and will leave less responsibility on his head than it would in a 4.

Man United will be reluctant to let him go to West Ham but that will be his preferred move, best case scenario is we beat West Ham’s offer and Lingard is happy enough to come here. I think this really could be a key signing not just until May but he could play a huge role for us for the next 2/3 seasons. If he has a good 6 months here now he will be very likely to stay permanently imo.

Come onnn

Zapata looks to be a no goer then, it was nice to dream for a day or two. Botman/Carlos also look like they really are dead and we arnt going to try again. Still a possibility with Lingard since we have 1 loan left after Targett. Could easily still be a big suprise by tonight.

Not exciting but a very solid ‘needs must’ signing. Interesting that this will still leave us with 1 loan option left.

Are we going to start him consistently as a striker? If the answer is yes then I can’t see him not coming here, if no then he might be better staying where he is to develop for another season or 2. Looks a talent but a very raw one.

News is slow tonight so time for bed, hoping to wake up to some excitement tomorrow

Aye, low expectations go hand in hand with overachievers. Manqy from our current squad is a great example.

It’s talkshite but I would gladly accept that move so I’m going to accept that it’s true

It’s more of a case of who they can afford for me. Warnock, Allardyce, Bruce are dreamland for them at the moment, it will be another league one type manager that hardly anyone outside the lower leagues has heard of like their last few.

Let’s not forget how bad this squad was before the 3 (soon to be 4) additions. Bruno is massive upgrade in quality and will almost transform the midfield on his own. Trippier is also a big upgrade at RB, although this probably wasn’t a key position that we needed to improve we still have done so and makes our right hand side/set pieces that much more dangerous. Plus his experience and leadership qualities are priceless. Wood I think will play his part, not sure really how well he blends in up top with the type of player that Bruno is. He’s not going to be latching on to through balls but perhaps he can be more of a deeper lying forward retaining possession with his head and shifting the ball back to midfield who will look for the pace of ASM/Fraser/Almirion to get onto key passes. Always will be a danger from a set piece which can’t go understated. Burn is the question mark for me because it depends on if we are trying to incorporate him in a back 5 which would utilise Schar nicely in the middle. I personally don’t think Schar is suited to a 4, so from my point of view Burn will be paired with Lascelles or it will be the 5 with Burn/Schar/Lascelles. Add Lingard to this to replace Fraser and that’s a huge step forward to. LB is also weak as we have little balance there with Lewis probably being our only capable natural LB, I defended Dummett after the Leeds game but Raphihna did show how limited the guy is. For an out and out defensive LB to get his bum hole felt that many times is poor, Targett would be better here although neither would necessarily suit what Howe is going for I don’t think. Long story short I’m still at a 5 or 6. If we sign a striker tomorrow that suits the style that Bruno can provide, plus Lingard and a LB I’d be down to a 3.