So today is the 25th August, that means we have 6 days until the transfer window shuts. We will not sign any player who costs over 10 million. We will put in repeated low bids until we meet the valuation and then will not meet the wage demands. If a player costs that much, they will expect a better wage than we can offer. Dempsey should be promoted to our striker. He bagged 12 goals last year and if he is given a season as a striker I think he can get that again or more. It may also give him extra incentive to remain at the club. If we are going to get anyone, it will be a loan deal. If Spurs get Adebayor, then Crouch would be the obvious choice, with may be the option to buy. I remember when Reading were in the prem they had a guy, Leroy Lita. He was quick, strong, could score with his feet and his head. Word is he is a bit of a fool when it comes to his life outside of football, but given an opportunity in the prem again may be he could get back some of his form. At Swansea at the moment and would be dead cheap. COYW
I"m not a Lita fan at all. He's Collins John, but his attitude is worse (if that's possible). Froggy's right, though; with Adebayor heading for Tottenham, maybe we can pick up Peter Crouch. If nothing else, he should be available on loan.
Have been reading this mornings gossip columns,of the rumours of comings and goings,apart from Norwich & Swansea,we do not seem to be in for anyone substantial. I do hope that we do not stack our side with,a buy one get one free like in the Sanchez era.(what did he spend 25mil+) I am sure that we could find a C/F & RB within the 10/15 mil range,that has some pedigree.
Now that the club knows, rather than hopes, that it's got some extra Europa League revenue coming in, I'm hopeful that we will spend some money. I don't see us splashing out £10-15m on a striker, but there are decent signings to be made in the £4-6m bracket. As someone points out above (sorry, can't be bothered to check who to give them the credit!), it's no good us getting a bid accepted on a big money signing if we then fail to agree terms because their personal demands are so far above our wage structure. I'd still like to see El Hamdaoui, or bring a decent Championship targetman up as a backup/competition for Bobby. I've liked the sound of some of the rightbacks we've been linked with as well, and £10m ought to be enough to get someone in for each of those positions. Best of all, I'm hoping that Chelsea's recent transfer activity might make them reconsider loaning Sturridge. If so, maybe the fact we can offer European experience for him might swing him our way. We can but hope!
Has he played for Twente in Europe this season, does anyone know? And whether or not he has, do you think Twente would sell him to us now that we've been drawn against them? Bizarrely, if he's cup-tied it might make him a more likely signing as they wouldn't have to worry about him playing against them next month.
Bid for Thomas jerome of Baggies rejected. Jol has to be very careful - his persistent under bidding, especially on the continent, is gaining us a reputation as not being serious contenders.
The word today is we're in against Newcastle for Cisse, the Freiburg, Germany, striker. Two things are working in our favour: we're in London and we're in the Europa League, which should appeal to this ambitious young player. I hope this works out; he's expensive, but I think he's exceptionally good.
We're also linked with Crystal Palace's 18 year old starlet Wilfred Zaha. He's at the opposite end of the proven/unproven spectrum, but an exciting prospect. I've heard the price of £5m being quoted, which sounds at the top end of about right to me. If he's as good as some people say, it could turn out to be a bargain. On the other hand, I can already hear the usual suspects moaning about needing experienced, established players not unknowns and youngsters.
Captain, I am one of those that states we need experience,remember we are, and want to stay in the big boys league, if we buy every so called unproven starlets,we may not have a great wage bill,but may have spent about 10/15 mil.
Yes, Valjing, and to stay in the big boys league we need a mixture of experienced pros and younger players who we can develop. The current squad is heavy on experience. I'm not against us signing established players, but there's a place for younger ones too - as long as they are the right ones. I don't know enough about Zaha to know whether he'd be good or bad, but whenever we've gone for a really big-name, big-money signing (with the exception of Van der Saar), it's come back to bite us. The biggest two we've gone for in terms of fee have been Marlet and AJ. It's not about the size of fee or the miles on the clock, it's about signing good players who will improve the team, regardless of how well established they are.
My senario,is we do a straight swop AJ for Wilfred Zaha of Palace,and we pay half of AJ wages for the next 2 years. He will probably find this level of football would suit him.
