Viana

This is a great point. The year we finished 5th we didn't do a great deal with the squad and we all knew where the shortcomings lay. This squad, while not perfect, has genuine depth to it and we've just added a 55m midfielder to it (soz Vurnon, love ya m8).

You're right. I also think we should avoid him for two reasons. 1.) I don't think he's that good. He has a skillset that works for a team like Reims, but at PSG he looked quite awkward and clunky in tight spaces (from what I've seen). I think in Isak we have now what Ekitike was billed as potentially becoming one day. When money is tight I don't see a point in taking that risk and giving PSG 20m for the trouble. Last summer we could be a little bit more optimistic with our signings but the landscape has changed considerably. The expectation on the team is bigger and the wiggle room due to FFP is smaller. 2.) If he comes here and doesn't work out early doors I can see fans turning on him really quick.

"West Ham said they didn't like it but they have to go along with it."

I noticed that both Leverkusen and Ajax have dropped their asking price for Moussa Diaby and Edson Alvarez respectively. It's things like that which give me confidence in Ashworth and the recruitment team. It would have been easy to pay the asking price or close to it due to desperation. There's clearly a plan and they're sticking to it.

His performance against Sunderland when Tiote was sent off might be one of the best defensive performances I've seen in person.

Aston Villa looking to bin Lucas Digne off after only 18 months. We dodged a bullet there, unless it was another smokescreen.

I loved Colo. The Championship year made him, and he was rightly one of the best defenders in the league at one stage. Even his final hours here, while not the peak of his powers, showed why he was highly rated in his youth. There's a collection of players (Jonas being in that pile too) that I'd love to have back at the stadium now Ashley is gone.

The range of star players is going to make it a relatively unique situation. The struggle they'll have to overcome is poor crowds and making sure the marketing is good. They've distance themselves from the 'retirement league' jibes with certain signings, but they do actually need to make the games entertaining.

We’ve gone slow because it’s not like playing monopoly. You need to identify which clubs are available, what the catchment area is like for talent, what the viability of a decent fan base is. These clubs are meant to operate like a passive income of sorts, so just buying any old club is far too risky, and why some hedge funds have failed.

I think we’re also seeing why the multi club model has been adopted. FFP had a lot of good intention - protecting fans and clubs from ruin - but it also sits at odds with the capitalist approach to economics that football has long run on. If we signed a promising Brazilian kid to our team in Belgium, then flipped him here for 2m before selling for 10m our purchasing power grows. Do that four times over and suddenly you’re afforded greater flexibility in the market. It’s all a bit messy.

I muddled goals and assists - it happens.

I mean, he scored four, so that is technically goals. Split the difference and say 15m with bonuses. I'm basing that on where the market is at. Teams in Europe aren't throwing around daft money. If anything they're trying to flog deadwood to Saudi Arabia.

Jacob Murphy, 12m to some Champ team.

It wouldn't surprise me if the club are actively watching Man City's 115 charges with a view to adapting their own approach. If City basically get a slap on the wrist it's one thing, but if there's a genuine threat of demotion/expulsion then they won't want to follow suit.

He’s another one I’m skeptical of. He’s not reporting anything new. I think there are a few tell tales signs for these types of account: - They complain their exclusives are being nicked/not credited. - They tend only to get the deals right that are reported elsewhere, and even then, they don’t stray too far from what bigger fish are saying. - They usually never reference the fact they are silent on some deals (this guy didn’t know Jack about Tonali until others did. I’m inclined to believe Rob M and The Athletic. The club are putting a lockdown on leaks, and aren’t afraid to use smokescreens or work on multiple deals simultaneously.

42m quid if that figure is accurate.

If you ask an estate agent for more information on a house you've registered interest. Doesn't mean you're going to buy it.

Be funny as fuck if he signed.

I think we’re trying to go lower for Barnes knowing that the lad from Frankfurt (Lindstrom) is still an option.

Nah, if I was younger and had no partner or kids I'd do the same. I wouldn't smash stuff up, but away games are always a laugh. They're in a safe space these days - relegation isn't likely, and there's a chance of promotion because the Championship is unpredictable. It wasn't like when we were in that league and turned up to every ground buzzing because we expected to roll teams over.

Saudi Arabia is undergoing arguably the severest cultural transition in modern existence right now. It would not surprise me if they’ve seen things like driving licenses for women as an acceptable trade off to not only appear more modern but also welcoming of tourists/other cultures. It’s why pieces like the one Jacob wrote are vital. We need to constantly be pressing on these issues.

We can’t predict what he’ll become from here, but as it stands, it was a bit of a master stroke by Dan Ashworth to push this deal through in January with Everton desperately needing money. They’d be well within their rights to demand 60m after today.

His sliding doors moment is that broken fax machine. If that goes through he likely has a far better career.

You should have told Southampton that before they spunked money on Orsic.