A quote from Brian Blessed in the brilliant first series of Blackadder sums up this thread for me edit: supposed to start 13 secs in
Amid stories that PSG are about to pay Neymar's £222m release clause, it took approximately ten seconds before someone brought up our haggling over Perreira's release clause of "only" £22m...
Crystal Palace have reportedly signed Jairo Riedewald from Ajax for £8m. Why am I posting this here and not in Rival Watch? Because this means that we are the only team in the entire league yet to make a move. ***moves sharp implements out of reach***
Just deleted my reply to you as I reread and realised that you're talking about the 4 options being in midfield, rather than the 2 behind the striker. For what it's worth, I completely agree but I would think we'll use Barkley further forward. He's not a good tackler and his best attributes are more use to us further forward. I think we need an attacking mid, a centreback and a Walker replacement. The centrback needs some experience if Wimmer goes so that Argentine chap is probably to young, unless Pochettino decides to keep Wimmer and actually start playing him. Walker's replacement needs to be rapid to replace him. The attacking mid should fit our style and preferably have PL experience. I think Barkley ticks all the boxes, I'm confident it will be Wanyama all over again and you'll all love him once he starts playing for us No idea on who we'd get for the others as I don't watch enough foreign football and Keane and Maguire have already gone. Tbh I hope we just keep Wimmer and get the young Argie.
Agree with all of this, especially the playing positions we should be looking to bring in. The only doubt I have is that Barkley doesn't bring in the attributes we require, even if he's played further forward. But then again, there's very little options in the PL who we'd be able to get for the reasons we've all discussed many times. I just feel that a Mahrez type would suit us best, as the attacking players we currently have are short of pace, in particular Eriksen and Dele, regardless of all their many other strengths. But Leicester managed to unearth him, and we have previously found Son, who is now really starting to show what a good player he is. There must be others like that in the bundesliga, La liga etc who are within our reach? Julian Brant isn't a bad example. I have no idea what he earns or whether he's a possibility, but he was exciting to watch when we played Leverkusen and strikes me as the "Spurs type". Another player similar to that, who we're capable of signing would do nicely
Wednesday's newspaper stories include us paying Moussa Sissoko to leave or subsidising his wages to get rid of him. For the life of me, I can't see that. Let's imagine the scene...... Daniel Levy: We've reached an agreement with Marseille for Moussa's transfer. Moussa Sissoko 's agent: Unfortunately, Marseille won't meet my client's current wage level. You will need to compensate him for any shortfall. Daniel Levy: Your client wants to go to the World Cup with France doesn't he? Would it inconvenience him in that regard if he spent the forthcoming season in Spurs U23's? He can poke his compensation or poke the World Cup, it's up to him. It's all in the timing........but for the forthcoming World Cup, we'd definitely be in deep, deep trouble. Any transfer fee will be another matter. There we're ****ed!
In that case wouldn't it make sense for him to knuckle down in training and earn his place both for Spurs and France?
The Daily Mirror says........... Is this the same Daily Mirror that has Eric Dier desperate to move to United. The Daily Mirror whose Chief Football man co-wrote Wenger's autobiography? Maybe....just maybe, it's not true?
Mauricio Pochettino would sell Harry Kane to Chelsea for £2.75 before he picks Sissoko again. The bloke's a ****ing loon. Oh yeah, he's also ****.
More or less what I think, except I'm more negative about Barkley. I realize that in theory Pochettino could turn him into a top player, but in fact Barkley seems determined to make me hate him. Also, while I agree we need a RB/RW with pace, and another CB, assuming Wimmer's on his way out (but why couldn't he stay? He's been a decent CB reserve), I'm not sure we need another CAM. Dele, Eriksen and Son are a great trio. An upgrade on Janssen (though he's not bad), any quality pacy player like Mahrez, especially a left footer, or someone who could get the ball forward in any way resembling Eriksen all might be more useful than a CAM like Barkley who isn't nearly at the level of our current starters.
Don't get this 'Barkley's the next Alli' idea. Dele was 16/17 when attracting serious attention and has established himself in 2/3 years as one of the best in Europe. Barkley is 23 going in 24 and so far failed to show anything like the same ability or mindset. He may come good under MP but there was a whole lot more to Dele even before he came under his tutelage. Move on, I say and save the money for someone with proven CL experience.
