Keegans Export

Can't wait to see how fast he is once he's completed his medical. He'll probably run to SJP for the photoshoot, faster than taking the car through the city centre traffic.

I agree pretty much. I think it might be a bit naive to think that the interest/demand will be this high in perpetuity. Even if it does, most of the top clubs have a waiting list. Anyway, hopefully whatever that mysterious "ballot" page is for will make sure there's at least a chance for people to get STs and/or away tickets.

If Diaby really is interested then we have to sack off Ekitike, add that £20m or so to whatever our budget is for a RW and throw it at Leverkusen.

I think we'll sign one CM at most. We've already got Bruno, Joelinton, Shelvey then Willock (who I think could develop) and Longstaff (who's just signed a new deal). Eriksen would be a massive coup. Obviously he's a brilliant player but you know whoever gets him has beaten off multiple other PL teams & it'll be a statement for whichever club that is.

I know next to nothing. I thought the rumour had nothing in it first time around and I haven't changed my mind.

He's the one who spent last season on loan at Inter, they had an obligation to buy which kicked in this summer. I think he's been linked before.

#4 surely?

It's another reason why we aren't just going metal with the transfer budget. Each season we improve gives us more credibility, the closer we get to Europe (or get into Europe) will allow us to attract better quality players and we are making sure there is a hefty FFP-compliant budget there for when that happens. It's similar to what Spurs are doing - they've got the right manager in place, they've got CL football and now they're releasing the purse strings. If we ever made it to the CL I think we would spend a monstrous amount of money that summer (provided we haven't wasted a load before then).

Osimhen would be a Drogba/Aguero type signing. A centre forward who can be the main man right to the top. He'd be my #1 choice too, but it just feels like a season or two too early for moves like that.

Nailed it. Great teams are built with a style in mind, they sign players to fill defined roles. Liverpool do this very well, so do City for the most part. Bobby Robson did it here. Man Utd/Chelsea just seem enamored with whichever shiny new thing they can get their hands on and flash the cash without any idea how the player is going to fit their system or how the manager wants to set up.

It seems they've put the first three together and given them access to the 1,000 they're releasing for sale on Tuesday. It could be that there is another chunk of tickets that they are going to release via a ballot, or they were going to do that but have since changed their mind and not removed the page from the website?

I'd be really surprised if we were interested. Another one with Rabiot who seems to have a major attitude problem/ego.

I don't think its a coincidence that the links have largely dried up since Ashworth arrived - Ekitike & Botman pre-date his arrival while the Pope deal seemed to come out of nowhere. I reckon we're keeping the leaks to a minimum now. I also think we'll be working hard on trying to get players out too. If I had to guess what our next move will be, I'd say a RW. Who? No idea. Although I like the idea of Sarr at £20-25m. Proven PL player and has a fantastic attitude by all accounts.

I'm not quite sure what your point is? I'm no fan of the UK press (not just the sports journalists either...) but that doesn't mean what I posted was inaccurate.

That's why I said "if it becomes clear nobody is going to pay him what he wants then we'll make contact again"

The fans maybe, but the way some of the press have been going on has been nauseating tbf

I think we're just keeping our powder dry on Lingard. Wait until later in the window, if it becomes clear nobody is going to pay him what he wants then we'll make contact again. Obviously if someone we really like is available in the meantime then we'll go for them instead but I reckon Lingard is definitely still on the shortlist.

The bitterness is strong in this one...

Poor Sven. He'll be sobbing throughout that Amsterdam to Newcastle flight, forced to sign a lucrative contract to join the "great project" he said would be "fun to be a part of" less than six months ago... Honestly, I had nothing against Milan or the Italian press, but the way they've gone on has been absolutely pathetic.

That's a fake account...

100% this If the article is accurate and the clubs and player are all ready to do the deal and it's the agent that's holding it up, I think this one will still happen.

The problem is that once we're seen to be doing that, rather than sticking to our guns, every club is going to do the same thing Lille have done - keep bumping the price up because they know if we want the player badly enough (Wood, Botman) we'll eventually cave in. The best thing we can do now is be consistent, show that we have our valuations and while there is obviously some flexibility/negotiation we aren't going to be pushed around.

How about "Margot Robbie gives me super wood"?

That's fair enough but I think it's an improvement on both their previous situation (with KLD being the main shareholder but not having the majority) and the potential of either the crypto blokes or that hairy weirdo coming on board.

I think it's a decent outcome for them. Obviously not the mega-wealthy investment from INEOS (or whoever else) but at least it has tidied things up a bit.