Checko

I feel like if Isak and his rep had been told a £100 million pound bid would be enough, Liverpool would have bid £100 million instead of £110.

If the outcome of all this is just that Isak's agent gets fired it would be very much: That said does feel like there'll be a final reckoning after the Liverpool game.

I mean, of course us having an offer accepted forced Man C to make a decision at that point, and if they thought there was value in the deal they might as well make it. But he was responding to your starting assertion that:

Shame how it worked out for him here. Seems a good lad and a good pro. He was very good when he came on loan, a big part in us stabilising that season. Then he only had a short injury for a few weeks after he joined but the Trips, Schar, Botman and Burn back 4 just didn't concede so he couldn't get back in. Then he never got any minutes so never probably built up his resilience and just kept getting injured. He's coming up to 30 though, and with enough career earnings to buy a controlling stake in Nvidia he might as well play for a bit now. Good luck to him, hope he does well.

If it does end up with Isak staying, wonder if might help his reintegration with the fans a bit if he was to, say, switch represenataion.

Think it is a joke line tbh (and I agree, a good one). Think he's just playing on the whole journalistic credibility theme that the article's about.

Absolutely, we need to move on. Can't have quitters in the squad.

I just hope whenever he clatters someone he leans over them and says 'ciou motherfucker' before walking off.

Could be things like: x amount per appearence/goal for, say, first 50 appearences/goals x amount after however many appearences/goals x amount if they win the league/Champions League x amount if named PFA player of the year/league's top goalscorer % of next sale / of profit from next sale That sort of stuff

Could unpicked players legally change their name in those 75 mins to allow them to become eligible?

I'll Mbemba that one.

Who the fuck's call Gerald these days?

Brentford don't want to sell and if they do they want as much money as possible. We're desperate for a striker and have cash to spend. They're not going to make it easy.

He's an Mbemba stan. No chance he goes anywhere else.

I've found Downie saying it tbf, though I think he's misunderstanding the matching clause personally. EDIT: I think the only way it could work legally would be if Trafford had already signed 'a precontract in the event he should return' when he left, which would be madness and was reported he signed a new contract on rejoining.

Don't think that's right tbh. All I can see is that the buyback clause means Burnley had to inform Man C if they accept an offer and give them the chance to match the bid, which must be accepted. The player still needs to agree to an sign a contract of employment. Eg: "They moved for the player following a £27m bid from Newcastle - and Trafford opted for a return to Manchester." - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cgk3k0654x6o "City, who sold the 22-year-old to Burnley two years ago, activated the matching rights clause they put in that deal when Newcastle agreed a fee with the promoted club. And Trafford, a long-term target for Eddie Howe, decided against going to St James’ Park in favour of a move to the former Premier League champions" - https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/james-trafford-man-city-burnley-newcastle-transfer-news-b2798330.html "However, Burnley were obliged to inform City of Newcastle's offer due to a clause in the deal that saw Trafford leave for Turf Moor in 2023, and City have decided to match the bid. It left Trafford to decide his next move and he chose City." - https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/45820102/man-city-re-sign-james-trafford-27m-deal-sources

Not sure why but this seems very dodgy.

Wissa is French Belgian to be fair. Phillipe Albert still doing work.

As far as I'm aware Richarlison's a good guy, he just has resting bitch face that makes him look like a bit of a cunt.

Because they want us to pay more to overcome that preference probably. Or they're just pissed off at Wissa like we are at Isak and don't want to sell him to the club that caused him to strop.

My main issue with Tino is that he's a bit of a dribbly boi and a bit of a dilly dallier - he likes a few touches and it's very hard to hurt a team dribbling from deep in the fullback position, but quite easy to get your team in trouble if it goes wrong. Would be nice if he could become a little bit more pass first.

Feels like the sort of graphics/typeface you get on an solo dev tactical turn-based combat game.

I agree, plus even if your attitude is 'I don't want him to play for us again', our leverage in the whole situation is 'he's our player and we expect him to return to us so you need to pay top whack to get him'. The more anger and hatred and vitriol thrown at him by our fans, the harder it gets for us to leverage the reintegration position.

They still seem to be basically following our path since Emery took them over but a year behind: last year we had an unsettled summer, couldn't spend, had to reluctantly sell a prospect and a homegrown player. Team was very flat at the start of the year. They need to get their own story man.

Just have a picture of the players celebrating together and 'We are family' or something, to follow on from the club statement. Just keep things positive.