You can assume that Long will go but unless another Club is daft enough to want him and match his current wages we are stuck with him.
Silkeborg out-Knappering Knapper on Mattsson? We'll probably be told that Topic was the target all along.........
Having looked at information and compilations on both players, I would be happy with either. The price difference is only €900k, but the Transfermarkt valuations on both differ by €3.7m in Topic's favour(€1.3m vs €5m). He's also one year older (24) with 3 years experience in Portugal's top league. The final difference is that Topic is a DM who can also play as a CM whereas Mattsson is the other way around (according to Transfermarkt). Either would be good, but I'm happy with Knapper's decision.
As you’ve said about JHT we will have no idea either way, all we know is what and how things are reported…Topic’s name has been in the frame for the same length of time as Mattssons, who’s to say we haven’t been equally active in both fronts and now come to the decision to go in the Topic direction. I take it as a big positive that Knapper is prepared enough to have several irons in the fire so that he is able to pivot if necessary.
Interesting one. He's a striker who can also play at CB or CM. Another Chris Sutton perhaps? Good move for him and close enough to keep an eye on.
We are being linked with Richard Kone from Wycombe, the striker is thought to be in high demand with several championship clubs being linked including those down the road
Preston have bid £3m apparently, but supposedly Wycombe wants £5m. Entering the last year of his contract so he'll go somewhere this summer.
Burnley are set to sign Armando Broja from Chelsea so that could see them out of the race for Sargent
I see that ManC have decided to offload Doyle. Just £10m and he can be someones, just not ours I hope. Much happier with Darling and Medic thank you very much.
We'd never pay that price, but Doyle could fit comfortably into Manning's back 3 formation with WB's where the flanking CBs have to cover for the WBs at times. Córdoba is our only good fit there. It would be useful to have another left footed option though Crisene took that role yesterday with Diallo as WB.
Meanwhile, Knapper keeps forging on: "In the directors' box sat soon-to-be City recruits Mirko Topic and Jovon Makama, who were interested onlookers. Topic has completed his medical and all that remains before an official announcement is paperwork. The Serbian will join in a £3m move from Portuguese side Famalicao as Norwich hope he can finally fill their defensive midfield void vacated since Alex Tettey and Oliver Skipp's departures. City have struck an initial £1.2m deal to sign 21-year-old Makama after being impressed with his physical profile and encouraging League One displays. He feels like an attacking wildcard, but one that Manning and his coaching staff are excited to try and mould. His homegrown status is a bonus but Makama is viewed as a first-team option and one that could play a key role across that interchangeable forward line that Manning is constructing." https://www.pinkun.com/sport/norwic...ity-2-0-nac-breda-connor-southwells-pointers/
I think beyond the up front transfer prices (which only tell us so much, but don’t look terrifying) I am reasonably confident guessing that this Summer’s activity is down to a significant relaxing of the wage limits we have had previously. I’m cautiously optimistic about the club spending more on player salaries - if you don’t loosen up and spend on wages, it is difficult to progress. But let’s be cautious because we won’t see the impact on the club’s accounts for c.18 months and we all know where paying too massive wages gets you if success doesn’t come with it. The optimism comes from the fact that Attanasio has spent twenty years investing in the Milwaukee Brewers and so knows how to play the long game in sport.
Mahovo was previously a LCB, so I’m sure it’s a role that he could adjust to. I know a lot of people liked Doyle but other than his decent passing ability I thought he was a bit of a liability defensively, not great in the air, rash in the challenge, sucked out of position too easily and incredibly slow. A great attitude though
The absentees from yesterdays game, namely Duffy, Hills and Slimane, look likely to be heading out of the door with Manning confirming that they were simply not selected as others are ahead of them and that he has had conversations with each of the regarding their future at the club. I’d love to keep Hills as he is a fan of the club but I think he’s on record as saying he wants first team football now after 2 successful loans so a permanent move is most likely. Their is said to be Championship interest in Duffy. It’s a real shame with Slimane, there is a definitely a player in there as were all calling his signing a bargain before his injury last season
I didn't know that about Mahovo as a LCB, but that is an advantage. Crisene moved over to the LCB role yesterday.
