What do people make of us being continually linked with him? Personally think he is a good Championship striker but not sure whether he's a long term solution for us, would rather seen Armstrong and Mitrovic given a go up front rather than spend big money for him (Fulham spent £11 million on him in 2014).
We'll probably want another striker to make up a full squad (assuming Cisse and Riviere go). They may not see Armstrong as good enough for the top end of the Championship. We can't afford to bring a player into the team and hope he scores goals.
He's a 20+ goals a season striker in the championship, so signing him would be a no brained for me; we need a regular scorer and can't just hope that Mitro and Perez start scoring more. Would nicely also make a statement from Rafa that he's ignoring Ashley's stupid under 25 rule. £12m is a fair bit for a player turning 30 in the championship, but considering we paid £6m for Riviere, it's surely money well spent.
One of the guys I work with is a Fulham season ticket holder and I went to a few of their games with him last season. He scored 23 goals in a frankly piss poor side, very mobile, plenty of Championship experience and done the business goals wise for a few seasons - personally, I think he'd be a great signing for us. With respect to fee - £12m is his buyout clause but only for Prem League sides. If we want him, the suggestion is it would be closer to £15m - however Fulham are totally screwed for cash, so if Ashley plays hardball we might get for closer to £12m - may well depend on Palace as they've supposedly been sniffing around as well
Not for me, would rather stick with what we have got in Mitro, Perez and Arma then see if we can get a loan player off one of the clubs for cover. If we are playing one up top could see something along the lines of: Townsend - Perez - Aarons Mitrovic which would get goals under Rafa's stewardship. Rather we start looking at defenders. RB, LB, CB are all essential buys IMO.
Got to see who leaves as well, think there's a chance we may need one or two in midfield as well as 2 or 3 in defence, like Lascelles, Mbemba and think it will be good for Mbabu to have a year in the Championship. Also heard that McCormack is supposed to have an attitude problem.
He's good but over £10M good? Bollox he is! If he was a PL team would take him. Can we start by getting in defenders and then at least one winger before the media's obsession of Geordie's obsession with a striker
I don't mind if we are adding him to a left back, centre back. First and foremost we need a clear line on who is remaining. We need an answer from the likes of Gini, Sissoko, Tiote- because like it or not that would be a massive chunk of our starting midfield gone. There are loads of decisions to be made - GK Krul, Darlow, Elliot, Woodman - it looks like all four will stay - if Krul did go to bring in finance I wouldn't see any need to replace him RB Janmaat, Mbabu, Sterry, Anita - had to say but I assume Janmaat will want out. If so we may need one but I quite like little Vurn there to be honest LB - Dummett, Haidara - looks like both will stay. Prob both championship left backs. I'd prefer to see Haidara melted down and made into tyres. Dummett I'd prefer to see moved to 4th choice CB. I'd like us to sign one from these shores who is young and can develop under Benitez guidance. CB - Colo, Saylor, Lascelles, Mbemba - Saylor is gone. Colo you'd have to think will be. I'd like to start with the other two but I still think Mbemba may be sort after. Indeed Lascelles could be. We must get an experienced centre back in. Hopefully we will retain those two, add an experienced one, and then just use Dummett and Mbabu as extra cover DM/CM - Tiote, Saivet, Colback, Shelvey, - I think we'll lose Tiote which is a shame as he looked back to his best under Benitez. Saivet - I haven't a clue what we have or if he will stay. Colback has found his level. We will likely need a holding midfield when Tiote goes. I don't rate Shelvey on what I've seen but probably good at the level. AM - Aarons, Townsend, Sissoko, SDJ, Gouffran, Gini, Ameobi, Thauvin, Roberts - Loads of options but I think SDJ, Gini, Sissoko, Thauvin will definitely want out. I would want rid of Gouff, Ameobi. That only leaves Aarons, Townsend, Roberts so at least one or two needed. Particularly in that central AM unless we play two up top with Arma/Perez dropped off - I'd imagine Townsend, Aarons would be vulnerable along with Gini, Sissoko, Thauvin for sale CF - Riviere, Mitrovic, Cisse, Perez, Armstrong, Toney - I'd hope Rafa has sense to rid us of Cisee, Riviere. Toney needs to go back out on loan. So we have Mitro, Perez, Arma - I'd want a goalscorer. A guaranteed goalscorer. I think Rafa has a decent sized job on his hands if people **** off.
Assuming that Rafa isn't stupid, he knows that this current squad wont get the 90 or so goals needed for promotion. Forget the money, the club has to speculate and spend over the odds if needed. Not sure about McCormack, but, if we go for him, that's fine and another striker to go with him wouldn't be a bad idea either. Mitrovic will be missing for the first four games, so even if he stays he could have a job getting into the first XI if we get off to a good start. Personally I don't think Rafa trusts him on both attitude and ability to score 20+ goals. It says a lot when a half-arsed, unfit, misfiring out of form Cisse is picked ahead of him.
I don't think he is worth 12-15 million at his age I am afraid. I know he scores goals and that is what we need so for a season or two to get us up maybe but it's a big risk. Is he that much better than what we have..... I'm not sure.
If we are talking £12-15m, the question that needs to be asked is not can he score 20+ goals in the Championship next season, but could he next year, at the age of 31, score 15+ goals in the Premier League (assuming we manage to get promoted). Otherwise we will be having the same conversation in a year's time and be back to square one (assuming promotion, etc, etc). I'm not sure if he's at the age and level we will want long term and certainly not for £12-15m. Another thing I see on Wikipedia is he's only 5' 9", and if we are going to have Armstrong and Perez in the attack next season I wouldn't really want another vertically challenged striker brought in. Who's the next Andy Cole? That's who we need. Like Cisse, but with a brain, a first touch and a comprehensive understanding of the off-side rule. Fast, clinical, natural finisher, and the right age. I think that is probably the kind of striker Rafa will be looking for. Does he exist though and can we afford him?
Steven Fletcher is out of contract in a few weeks and looking for a new club. I think he'd be alright in the Championship and definitely worth a look at with no transfer fee.
