Stuarto and this lad coming in? Merino on the way out? Who else is leaving is the real question here. Hayden/Colback/Saviet all need shifting to free up space for those 2 with Shelvey and Diame alongside them. Think it'd be overall a better group of CM's but I'd rather keep Merino...
Interesting So, take the money from Merino's sale (£12m), sell Ritchie for say £15m - buy Townsend from Palace for about £30m (quoted figure) and you've improved your squad with almost no net spend...
£30m for Townsend would be a disgraceful waste of funds when you can buy wonderkids like Justin Kluivert for half that. Ki is a good player, decent signing on a free as I'd rather we spend most of our transfer budget on a striker.
I like Ki. I think he also represents a nod towards playing football the right way. Ignore Merino (which is a side show, I really want Merino to stay but don't think Ki is related to that at all) I think Ki is an alternative/ backup to any of the 3 in the middle (Shelvey, Diame, Perez). Cards on the table, I genuinely rate him as a good player. Not amazing, but solid midtable, hardworking and not without quality.
He improves it on the basis that he wants to be at tbe club and Merino apparently doesn't - and appears to be leaving regardless
Nice that it was kept quiet - professional work. Good signing - decent player and likely a commercial boost by raising our profile with South Korean football fans. Also saves the funds for the winger and striker we desperately need - clever work from Rafa.
Do like him. Good solid player AND TWO FOOTED. Can’t say that about most footballers even in the PL which is, in itself, absolutely shocking.
Think that this might be the closest connection we’ve had. Almost but not quite. http://www.magpieszone.com/the-first-ever-asian-player-to-play-for-newcastle-united/
