The thing that pleases me most is that for the first time in as long as I can remember under ENIC - a chain stretching back all the way to the days of BMJ - we've actually stuck to the letter of the manager's wish-list instead of immediately heading to TK Maxx to hunt for cheaper knock-down alternatives a la N'Jie, GKN, Aurier etc.). I am a little concerned with our state of play up front. But if we can nab Llorente for another year that would be ideal. If not, the fact that Sessegnon provides another pacy option further up the pitch means that if/when Kane picks up his annual ankle injury, the onus won't fall entirely on Son to be everywhere at once and knacker himself out. I was very, very impressed at Parrott's pre-season and would like to see him and Tanganga get some solid minutes in the cup games and off the bench. I'm in two minds about Rose potentially departing...I want him to stay for another year until Sessegnon has adapted. But I get the sense that his latest 'I'm just speaking my mind' interview where he more or less demanded a new contract could well have been the final straw for Poch. And if Poch wants him out, in Poch I firmly trust. Simple as. Toby and Eriksen on the other hand remain very much a part of Poch's plans - hence numerous contract offers for them both. I think we absolutely will receive derisory bids for Toby from multiple clubs who will consequently be rebuffed either by us or put off by his wage demands. I admired how professional and dedicated he was last season despite it being - in his mind - his last at the club, and would rather he stay a year and we give Tanganga, Dave and Foyth another year to develop before deciding next summer if we'll need to splash the cash on a replacement. Real are on the brink of signing Van der Beek and are now turning their attentions to Neymar. That move will take most of the remainder of the window such is its size and complexity. I cannot see them coming in for Eriksen. Atletico are a possibility and despite spending an absolute fortune so far, they are still £50m in the black. I really, really hope we can come to a similar agreement as we did with Modric. The thought of him leaving before the new signings have had a chance to settle in means that for the first half of the season we could be looking at some pretty frustrating performances and results. But on the other hand, I can hear the argument that (unlike Toby), Eriksen has a knack of looking disinterested when he is disinterested and selling him now makes it more likely we can go back in for the likes of Dybala in January.
On the positive side 1. We signed the top three players Pochettino wanted and came close to getting the cherry on top. 2. Trippier, Eriksen and Toby did not go and strengthen a rival. 3. We got good money for Onomah, Janssen and Trippier. On the negative side 1. We could still lose Eriksen and Toby 2. We are s little short up front ... although Parrott looked good in pre season so fingers crossed. 3. Would have been better to get the last two in earlier but I get that these things can be difficult. On the bitchy side 1. Our DOF only got interest from Newcastle (who wanted he who knows his worth to take a pay cut) and Watford (who bid 2 hours before the window shut)...karma is a real bitch at times. 2. Eriksen wanted to go to Madrid and has ended up looking a little twattish TBH.
I don't think we got good value for Onomah when you consider that they wanted £40m for Sess last year and we've just paid them a fee rising to £30m plus Onomah on top. I don't think Onomah should've been part of the deal at that price tbh. Also think we could've got more for Trippier but I accept that the manager wanted him moved on as quickly as possible so we accepted the first semi-decent bid that came in from a non-PL side. Hopefully we can still shift GKN, Edwards and Georgiou plus other youngsters abroad and really clear the ground ahead of January.
Unfortunately, Josh Onomah's career hasn't progressed in the last 3 seasons. If it had, there would have been a bidding war. Villa spent a fortune this summer and have seen him play for them. They were never once linked to him. He's not ready for the PL and so, his ceiling is probably £10m or so. I agree re Trippier. He left cheaply but we were probably happy to see him leave the PL (Eriksen may well leave the same way). It'd be just our luck to draw Atletico in the CL and for Frodo to play 2 blinders.
