I think 30m is the new 20. A talented player who can’t get in the squad and wants a move away isn’t going to go for cheap any longer, not to the English leagues anyway.
We'll also likely have a pretty reasonable wage bill in the first couple years after returning...a lot of our higher earners have moved on. If we go up this year, I'd honestly be pretty surprised if we didn't set a new transfer record.
I think it’s a new playing field for the likes of us & similar. You only have to look at the recent PL newbie’s. Very difficult to obtain to real PL quality at a fair price. Not saying impossible, just very difficult.
Well, I think part of it is that we need to revise what we believe to be a fair price. 30-40m for an in-prime player with either some PL success -- or extended success in another top five league -- is a fair price at this point.
My guess on this one if it's true is that we are tracking him as an option to replace Downes if we don't go up/Downes doesn't sign for us even if we do go up. Charles has got a lot of potential imo and it's difficult to argue with the teams that Martin is selecting given our performances and results, but I would like to see Charles given a run in this team alongside Downes as I believe Charles has a higher ceiling as a player than Smallbone.
Charles turned 20 a few months ago and has only been at the club or about 7 months. Not only is he an incredible talent for his age but even if he had struggled it is still way too early for the club to think about a replacement. I wouldn't read anything in to the fact we want other good young midfielders.
Are we not talking about the fact we're apparently chasing a loan deal for Liel Abada (FM legend) from Celtic? Think that would be a very smart move for us.
Not surprised he wants to leave Celtic. Their fans wave Palestinian flags en masse before every game. Gotta be a bit awkward for him.
Completely agree. Charles is definitely one for the future. Wouldn’t be adverse to some competition for Downes.
