It's amazing how quickly a story can spread from an innocent photo. He's only here with the Brazil team for the Olympics. AVB is his old boss, why wouldn't he visit him? If he signs for anyone while he's here it will be Chelsea. They've got the financial power that we don't have. Whilst it's possible for us to spend £30 million on a player, the likelihood of it happening are almost zero because any player worth that much carries a wage demand that would take the deal to around £50 million. You can't stick a £30 million player on the same wage as someone worth £5-10 million. We will never spend that kind of money on any player for that reason... including Moutinho.
how do we know if we can or cannot afford this? no one actually knows the answer. but for me, the outlook so far is more possible than impossible. all we know is there's reports of investment. that's it. But there must have been some sort of injection into the club, as we've broken the wage barrier. In fact, we've shattered it. bale is apparently on over 100k p/w and Ade is rumoured to be earning £115kp/w when/if he joins. over the last 5 years, we've accumulated a net spend of just 6 million. and as everyone knows, we're a profitable club. In addition, the wallet was pretty much closed under redknapp. we're also looking at getting £35+ for modric. Finally (i've kept this till last) but there's reports of 100 mill to spend. (this is the bit that could easily be bullshit, but relates to the investment) but overall, for me, the evidence suggests that we could potentially afford someone like hulk. I don't understand why it's being written off. In the past, this would have never happened for various reasons. But something is going on at the club. The increase in the wage limit is just the start. Yes, the photo of Hulk might just be AVB chatting and he might have been there to see sandro. But I wouldn't mind betting AVB's killing 2 birds with 1 stone. There far more reason to be open minded these days, that's all I'm getting at. (when do we ever sign players this early in the window, for a start!!)
Last week it was Moutinho, yesterday it was Falcao, today it's Hulk. Not that I'm noticing a pattern here...
As Roo points out, he's probably just there to see Sandro and possibly have a chat with Uvini, if there's any life in that deal. We appear to have been linked with about half the Brazilian Olympic squad too, so he could be there to see one of the other players. That he's been pictured talking to someone that he knows isn't that shocking and I can't see us competing with Chelsea to sign him. If they balked at the price or wage demands, then we simply won't be anywhere near paying out what's being asked for.
Porto are very hard to negotiate with, you won't get a deal just because of the AVB link. He'll easilly be 35-40 million plus big wages.
Surely if we were to have a large investment as you suggest, it wouldnt be wise to be letting this be public knowledge just yet anyway, as this would then inflate the prices of the players we are in for. IF (and its a big if) there is investment that is coming into the club I would imagine this will not be announced until the end of the transfer window or at the least once we have done the majority of our business. so it is very possible!!!
It's surprising none of the papers have used this to link us to Leandro or Oscar (or, for that matter, Uvini) - a little lateral thinking goes a long way.
It is ridiculous how we get linked with every conceivable big name, and many that aren't. Besides, I would be totally against this. I really don't rate Hulk. Granted, I haven't seen that much of him, just some Brazil games. But those games consist of 1. Announcers bigging up Hulk to extraordinary degrees. 2. Hulk being crap. I think his nickname has created a hype machine.
Maybe this is the conversation... AVB: A'right Hulkster? Hulk: Ah, Andre, how are things? AVB: Not bad, not bad... Hulk: So I hear you've got a new job in London? AVB: Yeah, I'm in charge of Spurs now. Hulk: Ah, so you want a job with a little dignity do you? AVB: Yeah, although it would be nice if journalists stopped asking me questions about those ****wits from Fulham I wasn't allowed to manage. Hulk: I thought you were their manager? AVB: Yeah, but I wasn't allowed to manage the team. Hulk: Ah, I get you. AVB: On that subject, I hear you and Oscar are linked with moves there? Hulk: Yeah, it's mainly paper talk. Like I'd want to join a club where Frank Lampard starts games in 2012... AVB: Really, then maybe you and Oscar could join me for a chat later on...
Can't see it myself. Just because there's a picture of them means nothing although the media will love it. If we were to sign him, it'd mean we'd set up as a 4-3-3 with Hulk on the right - probably the end of Lennon too...
