sushimonster85

He can play either side. He played on the left for Leeds as Raphinha was always on the right.

I know people find it hard going from being linked with the likes of Diaby and Paqueta to Jack Harrison. But he absolutely would be significant upgrade on our current right sided options. Just about to enter his prime as well. His numbers last season would've made him our top scorer.

The ship has most definitely been shored up since Ashworth came in. Earlier on in the window it was pretty clear what was going on (Botman, Ekitike etc) now journos seem to be stabbing in the dark.

Aye. Especially when there's hardly any solid evidence we even want him.

If we stick with 4-3-3 I imagine both Longstaff and Willock will start the season ahead of Shelvey in the pecking order. Joe, Bruno, and another. Shelvey is more cover for Bruno than anything else now.

Mate, this first season I'd just take never once being stressed about relegation at any point. No drama, just a nice, standard mid-table finish. Run in a cup would be nice, but I just need a season to re-adjust after Ashley!

See, I don't actually think that is the realistic target. I think that's the lofty target Howe has set for himself and the squad behind closed doors. I suspect the ownership are realistically targeting top 10 this season, which will then position us well next Summer window, where we will have a boat load of new sponsorship income, to have a real crack at the top 6.

Of the three I have seen us linked mostly to Sarr (earlier in the window) and Cornet (more recently). Haven't seen any links to Dennis.

Forgive me, I don't follow the Brazil national side, but does Paqueta regularly start for them? Or is he in the same boat as Bruno and seen as an option from the bench?

I honestly think either Lyon, or Paqueta's agent, have put this story out there to try and flush out a bid/contact. Basically telling a bidding side what they're opening offer (which will be rejected) should be so they can then go from there.

I have a sneaking feeling we will end up with one of him, Dennis, or Cornet by the end of the window.

This does give me hope we will start operating in a similar way to Villa. Nothing rumoured, then all of a sudden a deal is announced, or at least comes out at a time where it's all but done.

Everton and Villa (though Everton have obviously still managed to fuck themselves) haven't had their commercial income effectively frozen for the past the 14 years the same we we had. It will take a little time to play catch up, thought that has already started. Doubt there's any other team in the league with a sleeve sponsor worth more than they're front of shirt sponsor. That will change from next season. We have none of the daft things in place other sides have. I imagine after the training ground revamp we will unveil a training ground sponsor, but there's loads more we will be lining up behind the scenes.

Well, give him a night out on the bigg market and that will change.

I don't think it's necessarily a budget thing. I think they have their internal valuation of players, and Chelsea valued him past what we thought he was worth.

Assume we either didn't rate him at the price we were quoted, or he wants to stay in London.

Truly believe at this stage Barca are going to need La Liga and/or UEFA to decide they're too big to go bust in a couple years. Not sustainable at all what they're currently doing.

Think it could depend on just how much the reduction on that January 35m asking price there has been. If he is now available at down around 20-25m he could be seen as a short term option for a couple seasons. By which point we will have a new main shirt sponsor & likely countless other new revenue streams, meaning hands won't be as tied by FFP limitations and spunking 50m+ on one player is something we can consider.

Yep, they don't want to have their pants pulled down. It's not a good way to conduct business, and once you let one team do it, it makes dealing with other teams even more of a nightmare.

"You know they say that all men are created equal, but you look at me and you look at Miguel Almiron and you can see that statement is not true. See, normally if you go one on one with another winger you got a 50/50 chance of winning. But I'm a genetic freak and I'm not normal! So you got a 25%, AT BEST, at beat me. Then you add Ryan Fraser to the mix, your chances of starting drastic go down. See the game against Forest, you got a 33 1/3 chance of starting, but I, I got a 66 and 2/3 chance of starting, because Miguel Almiron KNOWS he can't beat me and he's not even gonna try! So Ryan Fraser, you take your 33 1/3 chance, minus my 25% chance and you got an 8 1/3 chance of starting against Forest. But then you take my 75% chance of starting, if we was to go one on one, and then add 66 2/3 per cents, I got 141 2/3 chance of starting against Forest. See Ryan, the numbers don't lie, and they spell disaster for you at Newcastle." Adama Traore... probably (I'd like to take this chance to apologise to anyone who read all that and has no clue what it's about)

Ahh, sorry!

No, believe we signed him our first season back in the PL.

I think the CM area Howe has decided isn't an immediate priority. We know from various journos that, whilst keen to add quality, Howe didn't want to rock the ship too much by adding too many players in one go. Botman has supposedly been the number 1 target since the consortium took over. Targett is a good LB that also provides continuity with last season. Pope may not be an obvious upgrade on Dubravka, but is way more comfortable acting as a sweeper keeper than Dubs. Important for the way Howe wants us playing. Then feel like RW and backup striker are more important in the immediate future that CM. Have a feeling we may start the season with a 3 of Bruno, Joe, and Willock. Which means we have Shelvey and Longstaff (Sean) as backup. Not ideal, but when you are trying to be careful with both the budget and with how many players you want to add in one window, its something that can wait till next Summer. I also think we will see a drastic improvement from Willock this season.

Imagine if PSG are making a show of going after Ekitike purely to encourage business for Kalimuendo. Feel bad for the kid, but that agent would be taking an arse kicking from karma.