Optimistic Nut

Very rare you see the Chronicle with "sources have told us" in their articles. They've been "according to reports" for years.

Must be the first transfer story broken by The Chronicle since about 2007. Heady times.

Don't think it'll happen, but I'd love to start the season with any new signings we get, just have a feeling he'll play safe and the likes of Pope, Burn & Murphy will start at Villa. Would just prefer to see us attack the season with the perceived best team (new keeper, Botman, new RW).

He'd be on Targett-level money if he was a few years younger.

We can cover the costs with the inflated fees we stick on Willock & Gordon for their sell-on clauses to Arsenal and Everton so we're good.

So we just avoid players who've played for big clubs' academies because they'll get £4-5m of any fee? Give over man.

Much harder to find these bargains when you're 5th looking to break the top 3 or 4, than if you're bottom-half trying to reach the top 8.

Pickford cost that 8 years ago tbf after conceding 69 goals in his one season in the PL.

Neck is awful.

Would be a good squad player in the £30-40m bracket. Don't think he's much more than that.

I don't think so.

Think the whole Ronaldo/Messi thing has been for a few years now.

Remembered posting this about him, 20 apps, 3 goals it was in all comps. Not a bad guess.

Real Madrid looking at Fullkrug, I'm guessing to fill the Joselu role.

I think once we get the first-team ready RW, GK & RCB, then this along with taking a few more punts will be the next stage.

Very happy with Elanga but would like a left-footed winger at some point.

Der Zauberer.

Looks canny on paper. No idea what he's like.

It's kind of like Brewster's Millions. We're loaded, just can't spend it as we'd want.

Brighton I agree about. Bournemouth appear to have genuinely tried signing the best players they can attract, but are being pillaged. Brighton would have signed some hipster 19 year old to replace a striker such as Solanke last summer for example, Bournemouth went and spent £40m on a Brazilian international striker hitting his prime from Porto.

I just mean it'd give me more chance of going. Fuck the kids.

Mentioned a few times but never found a valid reason against it, is there any reason we shouldn't be looking to reduce the Family Enclosure? That could get a couple thousand more up near the Level 7 corner with a little bit of a rejig? 7,500 is huge, obviously it's good families can go but even if it was reduced to 3,750 or so, it's still way more opportunity for families than it was in the 90s when it was a lockout for everyone other than season ticket holders.

They'll rightly be quoting ridiculous fees the way they're being ripped apart this summer.

A younger & more consistent version of Murphy would improve us big time. His numbers weren't too bad, and his main target is changing from Wood to Isak. I think he'd do great for us.

Would love to hear a Mackem pronounce that.