Anyone can look good in a YouTube video With Alcaraz we already have a flair player, I'd much rather be linked with someone who can kick seven shades out of the opposition. Or at least provide a decent screen for our defence.
I think that perhaps Hove is the backup for Alcaraz who can’t play every game. Or indeed (it seems) a whole game
At least we should get a good fee if it is Bayern & Dortmund interested. Think i read his release clause is €25m. I'd rather he go to Dortmund with a hefty sell on clause as no doubt he would end up at Bayern for £50m in a few seasons anyway!
The watermark on that video, is...huh. I'm sure that's just how it is spelled in that language, but I wouldn't want to get caught Googling it on a work computer.
Doesn’t seem like Dortmund are willing or able to pay that. Bayern somehow are usually able to underpay for most of their targets. But a release clause is a release clause I don’t think we are getting a sell on in either case. Unless it is part of agreeing a lower fee than the clause with Dortmund. But how much lower to make it add up? Standard is 20% of profit. I guess if we are confident he will go for 50m then we can drop the fee to 18-20. But I’m not sure I would be. It is far more likely he stays at Dortmund for all or most of his contract and goes to Bayern on a free or knockdown price if successful I’d just say sell. It’s not even like we could loan and potentially have him back if we get promoted as I expect it will be a loan with an option that Dortmund will trigger unless he is awful
I thought the reason ABK was unsure about joining Dortmund, was because he wouldn't be guaranteed game time. Can't see him getting any more at Bayern. Likely even less.
Sure a big increase in salary will make sitting on the bench will compensate him If he wants game time he would stay with us where he would play most games between now his regular injuries
I’m surprised there isn’t a middle ground of a slightly lower profile top division club where he would play more. Perhaps to outside observers when you step back his injury record really is bad enough that no one will pay the clause. And if that is the case he needs to reflect on this. Because it isn’t an unreasonable clause and he was being linked with moves to the likes of liverpool for around double the clause when he was actually playing I’ve seen people say “if we loan him then we can’t put an option in as it caps the fee”. This seems irrelevant as the relegation clause is in effect. The legal grey area would be how long does that last especially if we get promoted. Would it become void as soon as the league season ends? 1 June? 1 July? It’s an odd one But on the flip side - a club where he isn’t first choice and isn’t expected to play most games might be better for managing his fitness
Out of the three players we've signed, two have played for Martin before, and we're linked with another two in Wood and Piroe. Presumably Martin has a bigger say in recruitment than our previous managers?
Seems that way but perhaps we are just looking for players that fit the system we play. The question is how unique is the system to him as a manager. Managers all have a shelf life and what happens to some when there is a different one? So perhaps it is also about those who suit this system but are deemed technical enough for others? I saw a grumble elsewhere about our players all being ex Swansea or Man City youth. I’m not sure I have a problem with this in theory - depending on which ones of course. And I’m sure it won’t end up being the case anyway
We also sign Sulemana for a manager that didn’t want to play wingers. To a squad that already had lots of wingers. So it was weird and mixed. Better to truly have the manager have an input in all of the signings than none or only some
Assuming both fees are around £15m, on the face of it, swapping Adams with 1 year left for Piroe with a 4 year deal would clearly be the best business decision. My only concern is that we needed another striker even without selling Che (assuming Paul & Mara leave).
I'm not sure we do TBH. Piroe, Armstrong and Ballard seems ok to me. I think we'll keep Mara for depth.
It does help that Martin uses just 1 striker, but it sounds as though Armstrong will be used in several different positions this season. The upside is though that Ballard will be a lot closer to the first team. As for Mara, he would benefit from a loan back to France, if he stays here for another year on the bench I can't see him having any sort of career with us.
A few other factors to consider too e.g. if Tella stays he can do a job down the middle if needs must, Sulemana and Alcaraz too. It must be a nightmare to try to plan for squad depth at the moment with so many unknowns.
I wondered whether this is why there are links to a couple of strikers from Scotland who I have to assume aren’t proposed direct replacements for Che Worrying noises about Leeds still being linked. With the implication seemingly being they don’t have to sell first as they have the squad space. But I can only assume all their forced loans have not helped their FFP or cash flow. Unless the hope it to gamble on promotion this year. But that addresses the former and not the latter. I’d have thought we could offer a bigger initial / guaranteed payment than Leeds right now
