Polar opposite end of the scale Man U have signed Martinez.- center back at 5'9... must mean Ten Haag is going 3 at the back because if you have a 5'9 CB as part of a pair you just target them from crosses surely?
He's not my wish, I just think the profile fits 100%. I'd go all in for Isak first, which I suspect they have done, but Sociedad are obviously one of those expecting obscene money. There's definitely something in the air about height up front. Something's gone round the coaching circles I reckon, last season and again ahead of this season - City have suddenly dropped the false 9 and gone all in with the world's best No.9 who's also a big lad. Eddie knew something too which is why he went in for Wood - he just hasn't worked out as expected. This is why I think we were after Ekitike when others looked better - he's tall. David of Lille, for example, is allegedly available at less than £40m and is a top player - but he's small, and we've had no link at all which is odd all things considered. I think we enquired about Scamacca but he was presumably sold the London dream by West Ham. Again, big lad. So looks like we're bringing in someone to help alter the play a bit, and have realised that Wood is gash.
Yeah, maybe, again that’s clearly the remit isn’t it? Just working down a list I reckon. Ekitike. Isak. Scamacca. Sesko. Sasa. So we’re still working way down the list. Will be nice if one day we have a top target and can actually get them. Maybe not in this case, still feel Ekitike was a dodged bullet.
Gives us cash immediately, makes us more attractive to deal with (can pay more up front on structured deals). Also sends a message that we're not bankrolled by Saudi, so helps with the 'Newcastle Tax' being added to deals. Finally, the PL have really clamped down on owner cash injections so we're doing things they can't stop.
It's about the balance sheet. So basically the PL will pay us, regardless of what happens, a minimum of about £100m (for arguments sake). However, the actual cash will only hit the Newcastle bank account in three instalments - first is mid-September, 2nd is mid-Feb and third is after end of season. Subsequently we WILL get a lot of money, but can't spend any this Summer. So what we do is we get cash from HSBC right now to pay for players (right now) and then when the balance sheet is inspected (July 1st) it will even out and be zero. So it's another way of playing daft PL fair play games whilst allowing us access to £100m+ this Summer. It's the kind of thing usually done by speculative promoted teams - Leeds two years ago, Forest this year have done the same. Was the kind of thing Ashley was dead set against as the risk is you could do an Everton, spend loads, be worse off and be lumbered with debt, **** players and high wages. We're WAY smarter than Everton - Staveley knows football inside out, Ashworth, Eales, Howe all have much better idea than Moshiri/Lampard ever will so we will be much better in our recruitment. Whilst I moan about the need for a striker, they are just trying to make sure it's absolutely on the money as often as possible. The thinking from the owners will be - invest now, push hard for a top 8 finish, then when the kit and sponsor deals are renegotiated we can bring in big money. Throughout this season, our new legal counsel will tirelessly challenge the PL's attempts to block our commercial deals. In time, we'll win and start to change things. We've already got some cash swapping Carling for Madri, for example, as the new 'official beer'! But things like Noon (on the sleeve) will then sign to the front of the shirt giving us £30m+ a year, way more than Fun88.
Now I know nothing about how the finances work but I believe we've taken out money to get some deals done now using the money we would have at the end of the year to get them done soon, in the hope they will have a much bigger commercial deals lined up next year to allow them to do the same. I don't see any other reason, personally, to have the option there to have £140m now when you could wait 8/9 months to have that money unless it's being spent in the short term.
I think Sesko is going to be some player, personally... I'd rather bray £30m on him than go for Isak. All day long. Filth against Liverpool last night.
If this is to believed we can forget about signing him. https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1646946/man-utd-transfer-news-benjamin-sesko-liverpool
I don't think we'll be able to get him... But I believe we should try harder than for anything else we've been linked with this window, Diaby aside.
Bit of a vague rumour online about Benoit Badiashiele again. Too much money, IMO. Would be a great signing though.
