Of course we should sell any player where someone will pay us more than we think he is worth to us. That's the way we've gradually been building up a deeper squad.
I'd take Milner on a free but wouldn't be interested in paying a transfer fee for him (basically, I'll take him in summer but not Jan). Sounds weird but he's on big wages at City (I think) and would likely want near to what he was earning there and while I think he's a good player, I'd only be interested in getting him on a free as I don't think a fee + big wages is good business for a player we don't desperately need.
The full quote: http://www1.skysports.com/football/...ars-to-stay-after-sheffield-united-first-leg? Pochettino insists he has no intention of selling the misfiring striker, nor anyone else and said of the Spain forward: "I am happy with him. I am the same as before. All players are in my plans and (there is not) any news. "I expect all players to be here because we have ahead a lot of games. We are still in four competitions and I think that we need a strong squad to take on all games that we have in the future." Pushed to confirm Soldado was not for sale, Pochettino retorted: "Any player is (not) for sale. Any player. "We want to keep all players because we need all players, a strong squad. "No more comment about that because I repeat always the same: I am happy with the squad." Do we need to hire the interpreter he had at Southampton for days when he's asked about the status of players?
I don't think I would take Milner. There's no doubt he's a good player, but he's on very high wages, he seems at a very similar level to our current starters, and I'm not sure we need more competition for places. At this point I would go for a standout youth player, or, just maybe, someone of a higher quality than anyone we have at his position. I don't see us getting the latter, incidentally.
There's not one mention of Spurs in today's BBC Gossip column, no, not one. Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! James McCarthy anyone? Player plus cash to be offered.
Twitter is mentioning James McCarthy more now. Potential Kaboul and/or Lennon + cash. Obviously the amount of cash that goes is a big part of the deal being good for us or not but Everton need another CB I think and they could do with another option out wide too. I think we could stand losing either or both of our players there - Kaboul has generally looked shot this season and Lennon isn't getting much of a look in regardless as we might as well make him work for us somehow. We'll have to wait and see if theres any truth in the rumour. I haven't seen much of McCarthy but he seems a Ryan Mason type - lots of energy and a decent passer (as you'd expect from a player Martinez seems to like). He's a similar age too at 24.
McCarthy would be a strange one. Like you say would compete with Mason, who has just graduated up successfully, and Stambouli who is a recent purchase. Would almost certainly mean the end of one or more of Dembele/Capoue/Paulinho. More likely the 2 former seeing as Pauly has goals
Rabiot watch: http://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnatio...nhams-interest-in-french-midfield-star-waning Bugger...
He is highly rated and rightly so. Not only is he a very good defender, he has a great attitude and a real winning mentality. Personally I rate him a better prospect than Milos Veljkovic. This is a great opportunity for him and he is eligible for Camnridge's cup game with Manchester tomorrow.
Mason is really inconsistent(not unusual for a young player) and apart from Bentaleb I don't think any of our other midfielders have looked good enough to rely on either. I'd quite like us to keep Paulinho but I wouldn't be surprised if he can't wait to leave as he's not getting the games at the moment. Not sure about McCarthy but If Pochettino thinks he fits into his system then it could be a very important signing. Kaboul going would leave us needing another centreback though so I'm not very keen on this deal.
Mason has looked a little jaded to me in the last couple of games. I know he's has a 4/5 game injury layoff but it could just be that he needs a few days. Youthful inconsistency is a factor too. While bringing in direct competition for a promising Academy product isn't always right, I think it is here because it allows us to offload a surplus player or two, and Mason may well be pushed on by having direct competition of a similar age. He seems to have the fighting spirit for Spurs that would make him want to improve himself and get a place. We still have 4 senior CBs if Kaboul goes of course. I never thought I'd say this 3 or 4 months ago but I'd lose Dembele and Capoue (in that order) before Paulinho. Dembele is too limited and can be such a passenger, like yesterday, and Capoue looks inconsistent in form and attitude to me.
Id like to keep Paulinho, good cover for Eriksen in the number 10 position. Always has a goal in him.
Ever so slightly updating the OP... Permanent: IN OUT Kyle Naughton - Swansea City (£5m*) * = unconfirmed Loans: IN - Returns DeAndre Yedlin - Seattle Sounders Milos Veljkovic - Middlesbrough IN - New Out - New Grant Hall - Blackpool (season) Milos Veljkovic - Charlton Athletic (season) Dominic Ball - Cambridge United (season)
Lots of tweets about us signing Konoplyanka for £7m - I think that's all come about from a story the Metro has posted claiming it's a done deal. I look forward to discussing this topic in the Summer and next January etc.
