Why would we have to sell players to raise 50-60m? I suppose FFP but still... I thought all the profit from sponsorships would sort that out?
We also need to make space in the squad for any incoming, so need to offload some. It's all part of the same thing, sell to make space and add to the transfer kitty. If we are planning to sell a few, then to me it's a good sign.
Maddison would likely playing in RCM Right now we have Bruno, Joelinton, Shelvey, Willock, Longstaff. I'd assume it would probably be shelvey going as Willock and Longstaff have more potential. Shelvey has had his day. But then again I don't think having 6 CM options is bad really. One back up for each position.
I've been thinking about new faces coming in. They'd be taking the place of some of the players in the squad. We're presently 3rd top, so these bunch have properly performed. On the other hand, some of the squad who don't play need moving on. It's hard but necessary.
Third top with Shelvey, Fraser, Lascelles, Manquillo and others - Wood - playing a bit part at best. With our funding, you then replace these guys with Maddison, Diaby, Skriniar and Drameh, what can you then go on to achieve?
And the likes of Ritchie, Murphy and Lewis are in our current 25 man squad too, so plenty of scope for upgrades.
Don't forget we pay transfer fees in installments now too. So Madders could cost us £10m a season over 5 years. We could sell and get money up front or inbound installments too. All the time our commercial revenue will be climbing and climbing....
It'll be harder to move Shelvey on now that he's triggered his automatic contract extension (based on number of appearances). Not sure whether anyone has already mentioned that to DPP at all.
Shelvey still had a role to play at the club. To remind us of the bad times and keep our feet firmly on the floor.
Not sure whether this has an effect on FFP or just on cash flow. My understanding is that when you sign a player you book him in at full value as a cost and then depreciate him over the remaining years of his contract. Then if you sell before contract end you book the difference between sale price and remaining book value as profit or loss. Or that's how I would do it anyway!
Guess the first test of whether we are planning a serious attempt to buy Maddison in January will be if he is not available to play against us on Boxing Day as 'his head isn't in the right place'. Hopefully Pope, Wilson and Trippier have all been unofficially tapping him up while they have been sat on the sidelines with him in Qatar.
His head and the rest of his body - in Newcastle negotiating a contract, instead of being in Leicester for the match.
