When the story broke it was KLD leading negotiations and 3 year contract offered. That sounds like it was coming from our side to me.
No chance we'd leak it, absolutely nothing to gain and everything to lose. His agent will have leaked it and told Sacha he was negotiating directly with KLD and had been offered a 3 year deal. I'd put my mortgage on that.
Nah I don’t think so. Every credible journo has said we are after him, the club would shut it down with at least one if not. Sometimes with ambitious targets you will miss out, doesn’t mean we are being used or never wanted them, there is just sometimes better options for the player whether that be money or a better side. Good that we are after players other good sides want.
of course not but we wouldn't be the ones wanting it leaked whilst its still at "interest" stage. We wouldn't let Bailey report on Adingra until he'd landed in the north east!!!
The club haven't shut it down because everything will have been true (we want him and have made an offer). But doesn't mean our interest isn't being used to get more interest from elsewhere.
We don't really let anyone do anything that's not our choice. Also, Adingra isn't as high quality a signing like Xhaka is
Japhet Tanganga release clause £3m but not active until 1st of August. Inter Milan and Galatasaray amongst clubs interested.
No, I just don't think the club have control on what gets leaked. Doesn't mean we will lose out on a deal because it's been leaked
That's fair, I'm just saying that because it got leaked when it got leaked, I think somebody is trying to provoke more interest.
I think game changing is a tad strong as we are making good moves all over the pitch so far but he would definitely complete the midfield imo
yes we are after him no doubt at all about that but feel like link leaked early to bring out better offers for him hopefully i am proved wrong and we can get him
And, without wanting to be seen as impatient, I do think the longer it goes on with Xhaka, the less likely we are to get him. That's because I think bigger, more established clubs with more money may come in now that his availability to move somewhere outside of Saudi has been mooted. It really feels like one we had to get done quickly and quietly to surprise people. And PS if anybody reads what I've posted above and misinterprets it as me personally being impatient, you're completely misunderstanding my point.
On the Xhaka link being leaked, here's two hypothesis: The obvious one, Xhaka wants a new challenge, perhaps even to come back to England and we are the club with concrete interest, as a newly promoted team or a northern based team, the player might want to see if any more options emerge, perhaps for a more established team or a London based one where he has lived previously. From the clubs end, maybe to put a boot up Dan Neil's arse on the contract talks.
I was excited about a link to Tommy Doyle about a month ago now look where we are, I’m just trying to enjoy the ride, think we’re in for a few more surprises in the coming weeks