If we're willing to pay £26m for Silva, I can't see why we aren't willing to meet the £33m release clause for Seri. I mean, I know £7m is hardly small change, but Seri's a longer-term investment so that's a deal that would pay itself off in the long run - unless we're thinking that, as Seri has two years on his Nice contract, we can come back at a later date to negotiate a better deal...which is a risky move, given there's probably a dozen clubs having the same idea. The Pau Lopez Saga is still ongoing, although Sport (the Spanish sports paper, not the English tits paper) are claiming we've reached a fee of £2.17m (plus the £600k loan fee for last season) - while there's some speculation that says the stories linking us with IFK Gothenburg goalkeeper Pontus Dahlberg were leaked by the club to spook Espanyol. Since we haven't signed our annual winger yet, allow me to make a suggestion: Fiorentina winger Federico Bernardeschi has rejected a new contract, and as he has two years left on his deal Fiorentina want to cash in now.
The chances are he's being offered more money elsewhere and I've heard that he harbours a desire to move to Real Madrid or Barcelona. I should imagine that we've looked at him and moved on out of necessity. Shame, he's a good player but he won't be the last good player we can't afford to compete for. In the current market, with our spending restrictions, if we can land someone like Silva within our budget we will be doing ok, especially if we can keep Toby Alderweireld happy with a new contract and have capacity to increase wages for Dele Alli, Eric Dier and Harry Kane before next summer.
I know little of Silva but if he's any good then he'll be a welcome addition. We need some experience at the club, not just WiP youngsters.
Today's random winger: Yeferson Soteldo, the 5'3" Venezuelan who plays for Huachipato in the Chilean Priemra Division, with Don Balon speculating we're preparing a bid of £15.8m. Anyone who thinks this looks an awful lot like his agent testing the waters to see if any European club is interested is obvious making things up...
City are being linked with our former "target" Cengiz Under. I think we should quickly submit a £25m bid, and try not to laugh too loudly when they retaliate with a bid of £40m...
Why are we being linked with so many wingers? We basically use two formations, almost exclusively, and neither of them has wingers in it.
I really rate this kid. He plays just like Son from the other side of the pitch. Could Citeh be fabricating an interest to pressure us on Walker? I would if I was them and I knew of our interest in the player. Plus, United are said to be interested and they could buy him just to stop their local rivals from doing so.
O Jogo have written an article saying that Ricardo Pereira's time at Porto is up, yet in this article (and list of potential suitors) there's no mention of us. This means one of three things i.) We have dropped our interest in Ricardo Pereira ii.) O Jogo forgot that we exist ii.) O Jogo can see that Walker's not going anywhere
Poch has correctly identified that when Rose or Walker are out, there is no one - not even Son (prefers to cut inside) - who can skin his man and get to the byline. As a CB by trade, I can attest that there is nothing more terrifying than a quality speed merchant beating your full back and preparing to either cut it back from the byline or drill it into the box. In those situations, your angle to the ball makes it impossible to keep an eye on it and your man at the same time. You are almost invariably backpeddling into a congested area, praying that your keeper doesn't wipe you out. One wrong move and it is either an own goal or a tap in. In fact, we were trained to try to put it out for a corner and regroup from there. Utterly terrifying and not a tactic we've excelled in under Poch.
Probably because we sign at least one every single year 2016-17: N'Koudou 2015-16: Son, N'Jie 2014-15: N/A 2013-14: Lamela, Chadli 2012-13: Sigurdsson, Dempsey (technically) 2011-12: Falque, Ceballos 2010-11: Pienaar 2009-10: Kranjcar 2008-9: Dos Santos, Bentley Logic dictates we'll add to the pile at some point - not least because the last winger we signed who actually cemented their spot in the team was a certain Welshman we signed in 2008...and, no, I don't mean Chris Gunter.
I thought we were bad at signing strikers until I read that list. There's a fair degree of unfulfilled talent. Thinking of Dos Santos and Bentley makes me feel physically sick. I thought that Fazio might have been a winger. When he 'played 'for us he was certainly no centre half.
Fits my model that our transfers work quite well. 20% successes, 30% sold at a profit, 30% sold without loss, 20% duds. But almost none of those are out and out wingers really
From Sky transfer centre Tottenham defender Connor Ogilvie has signed new two year contract and immediately joins Gillingham on a season long loan, according to Sky sources. Those itk, will he ever make the first team squad?
Gills fan on twitter suggesting he is a left sided defender either FB or CB, as we have signed him I assume he tall? (everyone we have signed this window has been 6' +), Can anyone shed any light on we might be getting?
Leicester's £25m bid for Itchy Nachos has sparked predictable media storm about the future of Demarai Gray. Just as predictably, we are being linked with him by a couple of hacks. TBH I wouldn't mind signing him at all. Seems a real talent and is comfortable playing anywhere across the '3'. However, still has 3 years on his contract and would also have 'English Player VAT' applied so won't be cheap. In today's market I'd expect at least £30m.
I thought that we should've gone after Gray before he signed for Leicester in the first place. His price made it something of a no-brainer. Liverpool were heavily linked with him, but decided that £3.7m was too much to pay. £8.7 for him and Alli? Nah. If we could get him at a reasonable price and ship out some of our deadwood in that role, then I'd be happy. Overdoes things a bit at times and needs to work on a few aspects of his game, but the ability's there.
Federico Bernardeschi has handed in a transfer request at Fiorentina amidst reports he's trying to force through a move to the Premier League. I'd say he's worth a punt as his direct passing would make us less predictible against teams who sit back when playing against us, because at the moment the only other direct passing obtions wee have are Toby and Dier.
Prepare to update the OP again: Clinton N'Jie appears to still be at Marseilles, which would mean OM took up the option to make his loan permanent Confirmation from either side would be nice...
