Seems some like wasting it as well, lol. Seriously what is the matter with them? A guy who's had zero interest in him since leaving at the end of his contract and they give him £170k a week. World's gone mad.
Round up from recent stories: Utd still want Toby despite Mina links. They also want Rose (again) apparently as well. Doucoure's name has cropped up - I like the guy and would have him here if we can't get other targets. Express saying we're to make a bid for Lewis Cook. Good prospect but don't see him being much better than Winks. Leverkusen supposedly want Edwards. Inter Milan considering a move for Sissoko. A weird one that popped up - we're supposedly considering trying to re-sign Iago Falque.
Iago Falque ****ing hates us. I read an interview with him about a year ago and he gave us a total slating, saying of all the clubs that he'd signed for, we were by far the worst and interested only in money. He's not coming here, unless we use handcuffs and leg irons, abduct him and physically drag him here. I've seen him play a few times this season. He's still nowhere near good enough, either. I agree on Lewis Cook. If we buy him, Winksy will be on his way sooner or later and he's no worse and probably better. Cook's not the sort of player that we should be spending £30m on. He's the sort of player that we should be producing in-house and have don with Winks and have coming through the ranks with Oliver Skipp.
Over a four year deal that works out at £35million. In today’s mad standards that doesn’t seem that bad.
I did think Falque had a grudge against us but then second guessed myself after the links. Regardless of how he feels, he's (still) nowhere near the level we need, likely a bullshit story, too. I can't imagine the Cook stuff is genuine, makes no sense. I've been massively critical of Winks but I don't see Cook as an upgrade, we'd literally be paying £30m for something we've been producing for years now in Bentaleb, Mason, Winks and Onomah. Skipp is starting to really excite me, I've read stuff on him for well over a year now and I've caught youth highlights when possible and he just seems light years beyond his age level, the pre-season performances have just added to the hype. We could be looking at a real future star in the making. Despite the losses of Bennetts, Madueke and Griffiths - plus the possible departure of Edwards - our academy is still producing potential stars. Hotspur Way is really starting to pay dividends.
Yeah that's a fair point, when looking at it like that it probably doesn't seem so bad from a financial perspective for a Prem side but I still think Palace are mugs to pay a player like him that sort of money. If he was in high demand from bigger clubs I'd understand them making such an offer but since his contract at Schalke ended, I don't think anyone's approached him with a serious offer. To also put into perspective, Modric supposedly earns just £10k a week more than what he will, Isco on the other hand would be earning around £60k a week less!
I think Lewis Cook would be a welcome addition. Not sure about £30 M though. He's already captained the England U23 side and stands a fair chance of going on later in his career to captain the senior side. £20-£25 M would be about right in the current market.
If there’s any truth to the Lewis cook rumours, it could be a smokescreen because of the supposed problems we’re having with Villa’s owners over Grealish. I’d be happy with either player, but still think we need another in addition who is top class. I’m worried if we spend £30m on either of these, there won’t be anyone more incomings in that position. I tend to agree with Brian about how we should be producing/using our own academy products rather than signing £30m ones from other clubs. Whilst Cook and Grealish are decent players, I’d rather £30m went towards someone like Kovacic.
I thought as much. To be honest. I'm clutching at straws now, in hope that we just make a damn signing! I figure there must be good reason that Pochettino isn't jumping on it. Same with Reo Griffiths, I guess. It's not as if he doesn't back youth. I'm beginning to think that he actually wanted to see the new youngsters in pre-season before making transfer decisions. In Poch I trust. I'll end up sitting in a rocking chair repeating this as if it's a mantra, like a crazy person, if this keeps up.
7 days, and this whole saga is over. Although, we may not be partying! I wonder what’s really going on in Levy’s office? I’m inclined to think that he’s currently got the McSweats over not shifting any of the deadwood yet, and regretting the window for British clubs ending so soon before the rest of Europe? Perhaps when Poch spoke of “being brave”, perhaps this is what he meant; spending before selling, for a change. In 7 days, I just cannot see us signing 2-3 players, and shifting several that we would ideally like to get rid of. I don’t see offers for GKN, Janssen & co coming in before August 9th, which is going to massively impact on who we sign, if we’re therefore put in a position of buying before we sell/loan out. Experience tells me we’ll spend a bit, but the total fees will be of very little financial risk incase we end up being stuck with those we want out. I think Martial for Toby will happen though. I think that’s just a matter of time, personally.
Ashley Williams, Kevin Mirallas, Cuco Martina and Nikola Vlasic have been told to train away from Everton’s first team squad by Marco Silva. The first two would actually be excellent squad players. I know Williams had a terrible season last year but for Wales and Swansea he is/was outstanding. IMO he lost his confidence at Everton, but he is a quality defender. Likewise Mirallas is one of those players that can influence a game coming off the bench.
