Matt1892

Why Spurs moved ahead of Newcastle for Maddison Harry De Cosemo, BBC Sport Newcastle United were long-term admirers of James Maddison, having made two bids for him last summer. But he never quite fit either of the two priority positions the Magpies want to strengthen in midfield. Their main target was a deep-lying midfielder in order to free up Bruno Guimaraes to play higher up the pitch and they are closing in on AC Milan's Sandro Tonali, with an announcement expected imminently. Adding another option on the right of their attacking three is next on the list, as well as a left-back and a right-sided centre-back. But with such a hefty outlay on Tonali, they are likely to take stock before another big move because they are conscious of Financial Fair Play regulations. They expect to make two big-money signings this summer, looking for value elsewhere. Maddison operates more as a number 10. Newcastle manager Eddie Howe is a huge fan and targeted him specifically, but with the player keen to go where he was wanted, the first move was crucial and Tottenham reacted quicker. RB Leipzig's Dominik Szoboszlai is of interest to Newcastle, albeit not at the price of his £60m release clause. BBC Sport has been told the German club expect him to depart though, so that could be one to watch. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united

I don’t see us spending €70 on another midfielder. A right sided forward and a LB are the priority.

If Luke Edwards is saying ASM is staying then he will definitely be off.

Only games shows up. I also have a limit on how many posts I can make which will hopefully go away after a certain time.

I can’t see it either any more, despite posting in there previously.

We have offered £25 million but Southampton want £30 million after Chelsea have received their sell on fee, which would mean we would have to pay around £50 million for him. Good luck with that.

How much is Ivan Fresneda likely or cost in comparison?

There were reports that we were looking at 2 midfielders and a right forward this window so it could be Tonali and Franca are the 2 midfielders and there is still a first sided forward still being looked at.

I’m predicting that out of the blue someone will post that the rumour on Twitter from Germany is that we have had a bid accepted for Moussa Diaby, then it completely snowballs from there.

The talk of him preferring a move to London isn’t a new thing so hopefully we haven’t been wasting much time with it during the summer. I liked the idea of signing him and Szoboszlai rotating between midfield and wide right like Joelinton and Willock do on the left, that idea went out of the window due to us preferring Tonali so hopefully any new wide right play now can also cover up top.

While we still have to pay them monthly having the cash to do that has never been the problem. Our issue is them being an impact on FFP, which they wouldn’t be if we have already written that cost off in one hit. That would be my understanding of it.

If Maddison has decided on Spurs then maybe we are using that money for Franca and Livramento?

Howe will play Joelinton up there if needed.

England have Archer on the bench, a Villa player who was on loan at Boro last season.

Even if we sell ASM I don’t think we will buy a new player wide left. Gordon was bought as the opportunity came along to pick him up earlier than expected rather than us being short in that position.

Is Wilson out of contract next summer?

Maddison has played most of the second half of the season with a persistent knee injury, similar to Bruno in that he was still played as he was too important to leave out. There have been periods where he didn’t train to try and rest it but is wheeled out for games. He injured it in the last game for Leicester before the World Cup and Rodger’s was still talking about him struggling with it in March.

This is a good point, I took my boy on a stadium tour and they said that boxes at SJP go for around £80k a season, whereas at the Emirates they go for a million per season. Im sure big businesses would line up to purchase one for a season for a million as part of building a relationship with PIF, as well as wealthy people from the Middle East even if it is for show.

I think we have written off Hendricks wages along with others in the last set of accounts. A staggering £14.2m was also added into that pot covering “onerous employment contracts”, which essentially means writing off the wages of players who are no longer considered part of the first-team squad. That is likely to include Jeff Hendrick, Ciaran Clark and Dwight Gayle. https://theathletic.com/4375304/2023/04/05/newcastle-united-accounts-explained/?access_token=11519933&redirected=1

If you move to Leazes Park not only can you build the most impressive stadium in the league without impacting FFP but you can also legitimately sell the naming rights which will significantly improve FFP. SJP can then be redeveloped to become the extended fan zone.

Robinson is in the last year of his contract I think so any talk of £35 million is wishful thinking from Fulham. I wouldn’t want to pay much more than half of that in the circumstances.