I think attitude might be a bigger problem Rob! Interesting article from Paddy Davitt on the Buendia situation. https://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwi...t-emi-buendia-arsenal-transfer-column-6882220
£40m plus Reiss Nelson would be some deal. Although I’d still hate to lose Buendia as he is so key to us and I love watching him play.
Loose link to Lucas Piazon of Chelsea. Can't see there being a lot in that unless we lose an attacking midfielder.
Chelsea are looking to sell, he’s got six months left on his contract with an option to extend for a year. Probably going to be touted around a few clubs.
Carlton Morris has joined the Tykes (Barnsley) on a permanent deal https://www.canaries.co.uk/News/2021/january/carlton-morris-joins-barnsley-on-permanent-deal/
There is another potential hitch in Arsenal signing Emi: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/foo...-Brandt-update-Smith-Rowe-fear-gossip-rumours Arsenal have had to limit their squad to 22 players because they lack home grown players.
I see West Ham have got rid of Haller (at a loss of about £25m!). I blame Haller for the probably permanent deterioration in Zimbo's effectiveness - he's never been the same after that inexplicably unpenalised tackle by Haller early in our last Prem season.
The Nyland rumour seems to be gathering pace: https://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwich-city/norwich-nterested-in-ex-aston-villa-keeper-nyland-6889584
West Ham are surely the worst-run team who don't have actively malicious owners? Signing after signing, they spend too much on "names" and flashy players, neglecting what the team need. They always seem to buy high, sell low. Maybe they've turned over a new leaf with Moyes, and freeing up funds for him to buy the less fashionable players he wants in order to build a squad, but I still expect them to drop £40m on an inappropriate attacking midfielder in the summer.
Not a rumour but interesting comments from DF about the CB situation and Andrew Omobamidele in particular: "I think in terms of centre backs that topic has eased up and more topics are important. I would never be scared to play Andrew. There was one league game when we had him ready to come on to protect a lead but there was no chance because the ball didn’t go out of play. So that tells you. But his problem is we are winning games and we have three senior centre backs all fit and in a good shape. He has lots of competition. He is totally on the right path and growing every day in training.”
Bit of a strange rumour about interest in Chelsea's Lucas Piazon, who can play on either flank or at AM: http://carrowroad.net/index.php?pos...dering-move-for-chelsea-attacker-lucas-piazon At 26 he's a good age, but he's only played for Chelsea once.
Apparently Arsenal have decided against trying to sign Emi: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1382143/Arsenal-transfer-news-Emi-Buendia-Norwich-City
Whilst City are in a better position than most Championship Clubs I cannot go along with the idea that we do not have financial problems. A look at last years accounts gives a fair idea of our outgoings and the fact that we did not make as much as most Clubs make from a season in the Premiership due to covid. Our wage bill will have gone down but will still be higher that most in the Championship but other large costs such as Colney and the Academy will have remained the same. We have had no gate income for 12 months and this will continue for the rest of the season. Our major sources of income will be the parachute payment, the up front money received for Godfrey and Lewis - these transfers are always paid in instalments - and any instalment still outstanding for Maddison. I have little doubt that unless we sell in this window we will need a bank loan to see us through to the start of next season. Loans are not a major problem especially if we get promoted and we are in a better position than most to resist a forced cheap sale. On top of that neither Buendia, Cantwell or Aarons would be interested in a move to say Sheff Utd or WBA nor would City be interested in a deal of £10m up front and £5m for the following 3 years but if Club not currently in the bottom 6 came in with an offer of £30m with £20m paid up front and wages to match there is no way that the Club or Player would turn it down.
I agree our finances probably are not great, but I think we can wait another 6 months before having to sell and see if we get promoted. TV money can fill some of the hole. Hearing that clubs like Arsenal and Spurs have taken out a combined loan of about 300 million makes you wonder what premiership finances are like. I wonder how things are going to sort themselves out in the next year or two.
I can see where you are coming from but I am certain that if the Finance Director and Board had the opportunity to go into next season debt free whether we got promotion or not they would grasp it. As you say, when we have the situation where big Premiership Clubs have to take out massive loans just to pay money due for construction of new grounds and to stay afloat then it shows how bad the situation has to be further down the pyramid.
I don't think things are quiet as bad as you suggest. Although I agree that if we don't get promoted we will need to sell more than we would like. I don't think we will have to sell in January if we don't want to. If we do go up then having put our house in order we should be able to invest more than we did last time, but because of Covid nowhere near as much as many fans would like. The current plan may be extended by 2 years because of Covid, but I think we are still in a great position compared to most Championship clubs. We might not get as much as we would like for our best players. however equally more bargains should be out there.
