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Bookies react to betting. I struggle to think that one little Twitter rumour has led to enough betting for it to move to 1/4. So either something else has meant a few big bets, or they're privy to something which had shortened odds (but not enough to suspend betting)

Baseless rumour I think. Bookies seem to think theres something in it though..

I think (not at all ITK, just my hunch) this deal is done and we're waiting until we have Hause, Mings and El Ghazi in the bag and doing a big joint announcement. Seeing as all 3 have already been here a year, any of them on their own (whilst great business) probably isn't worthy of the fanfare they'd want. All 3 together could make quite the media splash though.

Interesting. Maupey talk a smokescreen or reckon there's a move for both in the pipeline? Maybe with Davis going on loan for a year?

I can see Bowen getting a lot of offers very soon. Cracking player and only 21/22? Feel sorry for Hull fans as this sort of thing keeps happening; clubs who can't hold to their best players just can't progress unless there's a serious stream of academy talent coming through.

These points show that Maupey would be a gamble - not a bad signing. Had we not taken the gamble on McGinn (OK, it was only 3m but by Championship standards that's still a decent chunk) then he could still be playing reasonably well for Hibs and now being linked to a few clubs for 5-6m. Sometimes a new challenge and new motivation can really unlock a player - combine that with the fantastic coaching and facilities we have, you don't need to sign a player proven at a certain level, you have to trust your scouts and coaches to find and create the player you want. Yes, Maupey is expensive at 20m, but his lack of experience shouldn't put us off, especially if the manager knows him this well and thinks he can succeed, and our club scouts and watched him and agree.

This is frighteningly accurate. However : LB CB - Mings , hopeful this deal will get done CB - Hause - stories are this is done RB DM LM RM - El Ghazi - stories are this is close to done CF - obvioisly actively pursuing this position with talk of Maupey, possibility still of Abraham. So that's half the list already very much in the pipeline. Plenty of time left in the window. It is funny how many big money signings we need to make just to assemble a similar squad to last year... whereas most promoted teams spend big to add on to the squad that got them promoted. That's the curse of loans.

Buttler gets us so close.. but then gets out the ball after getting his hundred. Going to be tough chasing these last few without him, he needed to be the one to keep the run rate in order.

I feel he's an option a bit different to El Ghazi, who is a bit more direct and classic winger. I think Jota will be encouraged to cut inside a bit more, when we're better suited to play narrower. Options are never a bad thing. It's like Pep weighing up between Leroy Sane or David Silva... only, a little bit further down the ladder.

I think that's more Charlie Daniels being moved on than a direct implication for any deal for Mings (with us or otherwise).

Good work Randy. The thing a lot of other clubs praised us for pioneering.

And Adama Traore came from Barcelona whilst Delli Alli was signed from MK Dons.

Bruce has good Utd connections remember. If he didn't rate Gollini I respect his decision to go with someone he either knows or has had trusted contacts recommend to him. If we did want to make it permanent then I'm sure Bruce can negotiate a deal. Right now I agree that there's not seeming much of an improvement though.

Gabby put in a real shift yesterday. Justified his inclusion over McCormack after the recent reports. Still can't wait for Kodjia to come back though.

Yeah, I think he's misjudged personal issues in translation. 'My gate was stuck' doesn't really suggest personal issues as we know it. I'm still struggling to get my head around that as an excuse though. I once got blocked in by a car so couldn't get mine out, I got a taxi to work (was expensive too), with the sort of money they get paid you'd expect a level of effort to get there, so maybe that does suggest there's some depression issues or something? Something like that happening triggering it and draining energy? No idea really, all very strange though

It would make sense for Barnsley to want him/them for the Leeds match. The money involved isn't enough for the whole 'risking the move if he picks up an injury' thing. They say 'go out and get us a result against Leeds, say goodbye to the fans properly and then you can go'.

He got tired though. Understandable given the work he put in. Shows how we need Hourihane too. Without Lansbury I think we'd have lost yesterday. With him we drew. Had we had him and Hourihane I think we'd have won.

That's why they increased it to 3 points for a win. When it was 2 for a win, settling for a draw - a 'share of the spoils' - was more appealing than going for the win and risk losing. So the last 10-15 of matches was just a display of sidewards passing.

I like Westwood. In a time our club has seen so many passengers not prepared to put a shift in and collect their pay for as little as possible, he's been making a huge effort every match and by reports in training too. Sadly he's too timid and quiet to be what we need in the middle, and he lacks the technical ability to allow his football to do the talking. I would want to see him stay as a squad player, but Lansbury and Hourihane would be such an improvement on him it's difficult to justify him beyond that. Very likeable player, never let us down in terms of passion or attitude, but frankly not good enough to take us forward.

I'd like to see how McCormack plays with a decent midfield before considering him for loan. There's a couple more games left in January yet, and loans can be done beyond. Would be mad to get rid now that we've worked on the service to him. Yes, Kodjia has looked better, but that's not to say Ross doesn't have a roll to play

When Amavi is back we'll have a totally new back 5 to last season. This makes me happy.

OptaJoe: 276 - Mile Jedinak has made 276 interceptions in the PL since August 2013; 68 more than any other midfielder.

Confirmed.

Not the article i read, but there's a lot around. I hope yours is right, but I'm sceptical. Would be a hell of a message to English football though if we were to spend ~50m in the second tier.

The rumours are 'fee agreed', very different to personal terms. We're talking about someone who's tried to engineer a move to Roma, and is now linked with Juventus. Convincing the player to join us is more of a battle than offering Bologne a lot of money.