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Does anyone here think we will ever consider another loan like the Broja one - one with no option but a very promising player that we wouldn't have playing for us otherwise?

The indication I get is that had our current owners been in place at the beginning of last summer we would have bid for Broja permanently, likely before he signed the 5 year contract. And we might have had a good chance as a permanent contract with us would likely have been for more money that his Chelsea one. So maybe the scenario will not come up again?

I just wonder whether it is another option we can offer young players as part of a "pathway" offer - give them a season to really impress and either go back to home clubs or get a big move. Not *as* beneficial to us as a Tino style deal but as Broja has shown - can still be very beneficial.

I was prompted on this by looking at Secret Scout on twitter who showed a video of Hannibal from Man United getting kicked to pieces (largely off the ball) in a reserve/youth team game. There is no way we would ever be able to sign him or get a loan with an option. My phone directs me to "RedCafe" whenever I type "R" in after reading it when we played them. They really rate him and want him to replace Pogba but I'd be staggered if they threw him straight in.

Incidentally they signed him for 5m Euro at 17 (rising to 10, presumably with a sell on percentage). Hopefully we will be in for the "next" versions of players like this. And Hannibal has played 8 minutes in two and a half seasons. We could go to similar young players and point to Tino and Broja and presumably offer them far more than that

This isn't me even suggesting he would be a good fit for us or we should try and sign him. Just that if we did I would assume it would have to be just a "normal" loan
 

You're right they are very good prices considering it's City and a quarter final and they've been good for the previous rounds too. But the team selections are making me think if it is worth the bother going. After the WH game Ralph was justifying it by saying it's about keeping the squad involved and giving them game time etc and hinted at doing the same again. We have been lucky to get this far and sooner or later it's going to come to a sticky end and City will be that time IMO.
If he doesn't want to have a real go at the Cup I'm not sure I'm that interested either.
 
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You're right they are very good prices considering it's City and a quarter final and they've been good for the previous rounds too. But the team selections are making me think if it is worth the bother going. After the WH game Ralph was justifying it by saying it's about keeping the squad involved and giving them game time etc and hinted at doing the same again. We have been lucky to get this far and sooner or later it's going to come to a sticky end and City will be that time IMO.
If he doesn't want to have a real go at the Cup I'm not sure I'm that interested either.
I'm fairly sure he'll got full strength for this one.
 
You're right they are very good prices considering it's City and a quarter final and they've been good for the previous rounds too. But the team selections are making me think if it is worth the bother going. After the WH game Ralph was justifying it by saying it's about keeping the squad involved and giving them game time etc and hinted at doing the same again. We have been lucky to get this far and sooner or later it's going to come to a sticky end and City will be that time IMO.
If he doesn't want to have a real go at the Cup I'm not sure I'm that interested either.

I'm fairly sure he'll got full strength for this one.

I've only gone and done it, Tom convinced me.
 
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http://sportwitness.co.uk/year-zero-arrive-club-consider-signing-two-southampton-players-summer/

Napoli interested in Bednarek & Salisu. Salisu would clearly never happen but would be good if we got a decent fee for Bednarek and brought in a top defender to partner Salisu. A back 4 of Perraud, Salisu, KWP and another on that level would be genuinely up there with those pushing for Europe.
Indeed. If we can retain Salisu and get him to sign an extension our only real option for trying to upgrade our defence is selling Bednarek and trusting we can upgrade. I don’t think anyone is signing Stephens and Lyanco has only just joined. We can’t sit on 5 specialised central defenders. If 1 or 2 weee were primarily from another position and could cover and we played 3 at the back more we could. It’s a squad management issue really