A bit of both. The way he behaved the 2nd time he rejected us is a major one but I've never thought he was that great. I still don't. Canny dribbler, good stats last year without a doubt but his finishing reminds me of a certain Liverpool forward. People will disagree, and he may come good. He may become elite, I just don't think he will. his goals always seem to have a touch of luck about them, rebounds, ricochet's, going in off posts and crossbar's etc.
It's the rejection. Especially a double rejection. Chippy refused beers from him at 8am, 8:30am and 9am on the morning of the final and Magdad didn't take it well at all.
Firstly, if we're seriously after Ekitike lets get the ****ing deal done, £75-£80m whatever it is, ****ing pay it and move on. Secondly, we have said from the get go Isak is not for sale. That being said, if someone were to make an absolutely ridiculous offer then I have no doubt we would "consider" it but no more. If Chelsea want £100m for Isak then a £200m offer for Isak is probably enough to get people round the table. I'd be gutted if we sold him and if we did it would have to be for stupid money but £200m would get us 3-4 very good players amortised over 3-5 years, I'd be less bothered if we sold him to a team outside of the PL, PSG/Barca etc but for Arsenal, Bin Dippers etc, then they have to pay a premium I'm afraid. Lets just call him a ****ing generational talent and that's clearly enough to inflate his value by £20m - £30m easily. They look like they're gonna lose Diaz and with the unexpected and tragic loss of Jota they are going to need to react, Ekitke/Gordon probably fit that bill quite nicely but if they'll have to part with some serious wedge if they want any of our players, and by serious I mean astronomically stupid! Lastly, this whole Ekitike thing may well be a smokescreen, if it is get whatever deal is hiding behind it done and dusted. I don't believe it is btw so lets get it done, and show the players we have here currently that we mean ****ing business. Another strikers for Isak to either play alongside or off, or take some of the load if/when he needs rested, as well as bringing his countryman (Elanga) to the club is enough evidence for me that we are wanting to keep the players we have, build around them and support them and provide us with the much needed depth that we've craved for years to make a serious assault on the Top 4 whilst also competing in the cups comps. And whilst I'm on, I don't think a look at Osimhen would be a ridiculous alternative, not sure on wages but I think Napoli are after £70m or so for him (he's 26). Think I'd still prefer Ferguson (20) for £30m or so, hes more the type of player/character that would flourish under Howe, played in the league before and can more than handle himself in this league.
I'd love it if a PIF club teased them with huge 'offers' for Nunez and others, but strung it out until deadline day and then didn't follow it through.
Okay which one do you want? You have until the end of next week. We'll chuck in Nunez if you play nice.
I’m 100% with @Magdad on this. One decent season hasn’t changed my mind and £75m is way too steep. I did wonder about the smokescreen idea, far fetched though it seems - but we could theoretically have Arsenal, Liverpool, City, Chelsea all done in the striker market. Even the bigger European clubs like Napoli, Bayern, PSG wouldn’t be looking. That leaves Isak alone, then who is left to then come in? Those likely available include Vlahovic, Sesko, Openda - any others? Or is the smokescreen idea fanciful and we’re really just unaware of our place?
Yeah it's just a 1st bid and they'll go again. I don't think Liverpool want him. If they want Isak they'll keep sniffing around and get someone else in.
