James Trafford (now playing for Manchester City)

[Scoot]

Could be just Burnley trying to get us to cough up, but if its not, we seriously need to consider how we approach future windows. We can't compete with the elite clubs in terms of pull or wages, so we cannot go into another window looking to do just that. That should be obvious, but we've completely misjudged this window up to now. Its turning into a bit of a joke as it stands.

 

I can't ever remember any club losing out on as many players as we have this summer. 

[Sibierski]

It’s like the club is paralysed by fear of getting close to PSR again. Like if Trafford is de facto number one guy who club see as the future 1 for next 7+ years, pay the money early on. Haggling over £5m+ just means you potentially lose a top target, and it doesn’t help anyone.

[GEFAFWISP]

Any of these cartel cunts actually bidding or just getting client journos to post they may bid and the player has always wanted their clubs?

[El Prontonise]

3 minutes ago, Scoot said:

Could be just Burnley trying to get us to cough up, but if its not, we seriously need to consider how we approach future windows. We can't compete with the elite clubs in terms of pull or wages, so we cannot go into another window looking to do just that. That should be obvious, but we've completely misjudged this window up to now. Its turning into a bit of a joke as it stands.

 

I can't ever remember any club losing out on as many players as we have this summer. 

 

Sometimes you just need to need to do the deal even if you're paying a bit more than you want.

[Novocastrian]

Wonder where this is currently? Have we bid £30m or £35m? The ‘Newcastle tax’ isn’t the amount we need to pay but maybe the bit extra we are going to have to come up with to secure our targets quickly.

[J7]

1 minute ago, GEFAFWISP said:

Any of these cartel cunts actually bidding or just getting client journos to post they may bid and the player has always wanted their clubs?

City have always had a buy back clause. We’ve spent a year negotiating at around £10-20m less than it. Nobody to blame but ourselves. I doubt Tino would have got done under the current approach.

[Sibierski]

He’s not even with Burnley squad at the moment. So if it’s not done this weekend, we’re not signing him. Another season of potentially needing to have Dubs play games.

[GallowgatePigeon]

Fuck knows what's really going on behind the scenes, but if we're truly taking so long to conclude deals because of penny pinching then frankly we deserve the get punched in the mouth and lose out on every deal.

 

People thought we were over paying for Hall and Livramento 2 summers ago, turns out we got a bargain. 40 million for a young, English keeper who could potentially serve us for the next 10 years is absolutely fuck all. Just fucking around and pay the money man!

[Sibierski]

The deals from previous times, we moved quick. Seemingly by the time it was leaked, the deal was agreed with club and formalities were next.

 

Since last summer and still today, we are the polar opposite. Leaks after opening bid, and it then follows a long drawn out process where other clubs are alerted and make their moves. Like I don’t believe we missed out on Pedro directly to Chelsea, missed out because we took too long. Similar may have happened with Elanga if another club was keen on him.

[Bimpy474]

The clubs not paralysed by fear ffs. We have a finite amount of money we're allowed to spend because of the bent rules. We haven't got the ability that the septic six have of just splashing money, and not giving a shite if some moves don't work. 

 

We have to get the moves right, and it's proving hard, but that's not our fault is it ?  It's the Premier League and their protection of the six scumbags. 

Aye, it's frustrating and yes we probably could move quicker, but after the last 3 seasons I'm amazed some seem to have less faith than I. 

[Sibierski]

Just now, Bimpy474 said:

The clubs not paralysed by fear ffs. We have a finite amount of money we're allowed to spend because of the bent rules. We haven't got the ability that the septic six have of just splashing money, and not giving a shite if some moves don't work. 

 

We have to get the moves right, and it's proving hard, but that's not our fault is it ?  It's the Premier League and their protection of the six scumbags. 

Aye, it's frustrating and yes we probably could move quicker, but after the last 3 seasons I'm amazed some seem to have less faith than I. 

It’s not moves not working. It’s players we have clearly identified as long term targets, then not paying the price and missing out. 
 

There is a clear reluctance to pay the money early on and it’s opening doors. Doesn’t feel like that was the case when signing Barnes, Gordon, Isak, Tonali etc. of years gone.

[Keegans Export]

5 minutes ago, GallowgatePigeon said:

Fuck knows what's really going on behind the scenes, but if we're truly taking so long to conclude deals because of penny pinching then frankly we deserve the get punched in the mouth and lose out on every deal.

 

People thought we were over paying for Hall and Livramento 2 summers ago, turns out we got a bargain. 40 million for a young, English keeper who could potentially serve us for the next 10 years is absolutely fuck all. Just fucking around and pay the money man!

Just to play Devil's advocate - presumably we could go to £40m, agree the deal with Burnley, only for Man City to match it and offer Trafford £50k/week more than we're offering? 

[El Prontonise]

2 minutes ago, Bimpy474 said:

The clubs not paralysed by fear ffs. We have a finite amount of money we're allowed to spend because of the bent rules. We haven't got the ability that the septic six have of just splashing money, and not giving a shite if some moves don't work. 

 

We have to get the moves right, and it's proving hard, but that's not our fault is it ?  It's the Premier League and their protection of the six scumbags. 

Aye, it's frustrating and yes we probably could move quicker, but after the last 3 seasons I'm amazed some seem to have less faith than I. 

 

It is our fault if we've been courting him for 1+ years and won't pay what Burnley want.  We've got money as well to spend.

[Keegans Export]

4 minutes ago, Sibierski said:

 

Since last summer and still today, we are the polar opposite. Leaks after opening bid, and it then follows a long drawn out process where other clubs are alerted and make their moves. Like I don’t believe we missed out on Pedro directly to Chelsea, missed out because we took too long. Similar may have happened with Elanga if another club was keen on him.

I totally disagree with this btw

 

Players & their agents aren't daft. They know who is or isn't interested in who and they're not just going to sign the first deal put in front of them if they know there are other options potentially available. 

[KDT]

I mean fair play like if they gave a buyback clause, this situation is the whole point why they insert those clauses. Burnley will probably be hoping they exercise it as well as the £40m is probably more than we were offering anyway. 

[ponsaelius]

Isn't their buy back clause less than £40 million?

[alexf]

The way this window has gone...I'm really surprised we seemingly had a free run at Tonali for example a few years ago. Surely one of the cartel would have been interested in him at the price we paid (not knowing about the gambling ban looming ofcourse). Whereas this summer every single player we go for we seem to be getting competition from someone financially better off than us (PSR wise)

[Bimpy474]

6 minutes ago, Sibierski said:

It’s not moves not working. It’s players we have clearly identified as long term targets, then not paying the price and missing out. 
 

There is a clear reluctance to pay the money early on and it’s opening doors. Doesn’t feel like that was the case when signing Barnes, Gordon, Isak, Tonali etc. of years gone.

 

I get what you mean mate, but looking back signing Barnes, Gordon, Isak and Tonali did put us in the position of having to sell Anderson and Minteh imo.

I think we've learnt from that, and we're being careful, and i do get that £5m here and there seems petty, but I'll just confirm what i think. PSR now, means we have to think of what it will mean next summer.

 

It's ridiculous that we have to look at like that, but that's the shitty rules. By the way, i wasn't having a dig at you,  i saw the paralysed by fear comment, and just went full road rage  

 

 

Edited July 18, 2025 by Bimpy474

[Yorkie]

3 minutes ago, KDT said:

I mean fair play like if they gave a buyback clause, this situation is the whole point why they insert those clauses. Burnley will probably be hoping they exercise it as well as the £40m is probably more than we were offering anyway. 

 

 

Trafford's probably ready to come here but Burnley are blocking it in the event Man City come in with more money than he's worth. 

 

Could just be a case of dominoes waiting to fall rather than the club being tardy with business.

[Menace]

On one hand I don't see him starting for City. On the other... £40M for James Trafford.

 

Close to £100M on Elanga and Trafford - Yikes.

[Optimistic Nut]

3 minutes ago, Menace said:

On one hand I don't see him starting for City. On the other... £40M for James Trafford.

 

Close to £100M on Elanga and Trafford - Yikes.

 

Next England number 1 and a top 7 right-winger. About the going rate?

[PauloGeordio]

Just now, Optimistic Nut said:

 

Next England number 1 and a top 7 right-winger. About the going rate?

Shagger could be our No1 for the next ten years also. Money well invested.

[Bimpy474]

10 minutes ago, El Prontonise said:

 

It is our fault if we've been courting him for 1+ years and won't pay what Burnley want.  We've got money as well to spend.

 

Still doesn't mean we have top pay more than what we think we should. Have to admit this transfer is very boring now though.

[PauloGeordio]

Just now, Bimpy474 said:

 

Still doesn't mean we have top pay more than what we think we should. Have to admit this transfer is very boring now though.

Think of the hit when it goes through!

[GallowgatePigeon]

11 minutes ago, Keegans Export said:

Just to play Devil's advocate - presumably we could go to £40m, agree the deal with Burnley, only for Man City to match it and offer Trafford £50k/week more than we're offering? 

 

In that case, we hold our hands up and walk away. Scenarios like that are just the reality of being where we are in the football food chain.