Pez1974

I would love another top quality CM - and I would love to think we could get £25m for Luiz, £10m for Sanson and/or £40m for McGinn to fund it (numbers drawn at random from VT!) and ensure the club is financially sound. But getting the right player in and the right players out, for the right prices, is very very difficult. And we shouldn't take the Tony Xia approach to transfers and risk the future of the club. My point is that I don't think we need to sign one now to make good progress. I think that in Iroegbunam we have an absolute gem who might just be this season's Jacob Ramsey, and if we can get 20 starts out of him, he will progress massively and give us enough to progress as a club. There will be games this season where we can rotate the CM position and get results, because constantly playing only our first choice 11 is a issue we've had since O'Neill days, and it has cost us regularly. For example, I worry that McGinn is constantly knackered. I think that he has hit his ceiling, and that he won' be a starter in a years time - but perhaps if we (and Scotland) don't flog him relentlessly, he can be at his best for 30 games a season and therefore the player we'd all love him to be.

Top 10, maybe top 8. We lost twice to Watford - 6 points right there, which would put us 9th (I know it doesn't work like that(, but we threw away so many points (Leeds, Wolves, Burnley, Palace, Brentford) - I think the team is almost there. Carlos and Kamara are huge signings, and improve our defensive capability massively. Ramsey is another year on, and with Kamara, we won't have our midfield flogged to death. Digne for a full season instead of Targett; Coutinho with a full pre-season, alongside Buendia, a fully fit Bailey. Plus the youngsters like Iroebunam, Archer, Kessler all have something to bring to the squad, and more experience. I understand that fans want us to push on - but we can't spend silly, and have to build. I still haven't heard the name of the centre forward to replace Watkins and Ings, who would come here and definitely make us better.

Not me. I think they did the work they knew they had to do, early and brilliantly. We don't need another midfielder. We'd like one, but we've improved options and experience, and 3 out of Kamara, McGinn, Ramsey, Luiz, Sanson, Nakamba, Iroebunam - plus perhaps Chambers, Ramsey (A) and Buendia in the centre gives us a lot of options - and maybe Carney would like to play football next season in return for an autograph? We don't need another striker. Watkins, Ings and Archer for the system we play is plenty, and Keinan gives us a different option, plus Bailey will be like a new player in a different system. I suspect we do need to see some players out the door, in order to avoid a bloated squad, and the wage bill rising out of control. AEG, Traore, Guilbert, Hause - there's potentially £15m-£20m there, before we shift one of the CMs, and perhaps Keinan. The outgoings aren't totally in our control, so it wouldn't surprise me to see 3 or 4 departures in the last couple of weeks, which trigger 1 or 2 more incomings.

Jumps on to check if anything has been reported. People are debating Lukaku. As you were.

We were definitely in for him - so either we're happy to only bring in 1 (and Kamara on a free was amazing business), or we were put off by either his preference for another club (wanting to be in London?) or, er, something else. The debate of whether we need a second is one for the fans - but we've spend money elsewhere and the pot isn't infinite. We might need to shift players first, so Spurs have got in before we can. Delighted with Kamara though.

Dale Stephens has been released by Burnley It would be nice to get one of these long awaited (and best forgotten) transfer rumours over the line. Just to make all the effort of years ago worth it.

I really don't want to correct you, as I massively suspect you know exactly what you've said. It's just that I don't

Rumours that a couple of clubs are interest in McGinn for about £50m. Rumours that Zinchinko is available for around £50m. I know what I'd do having watched yesterday. I love McGinn's attitude and energy, but he's at his peak, and I don't think he has another step in him. Top clubs know when to move players on for maximum benefit - I think it's time.

Getting the manager of a championship team to become our assistant (having just got them promoted) - that's a serious piece of business. Doesn't feel quite right, someone leaving a second tier club to become an assistant - but once again, we've done our business well

Don't agree. The 6th to 15th positions are all very interchangeable. If we hadn't decided to have 2 days off when we played Watford, we're 9th (I mean, pick any out of about 8 games this season where we just threw points away). I think we need another CM if we want to be a team challenging the Sky 6, depending on whether Ings and Watkins find their scoring boots again over the summer.

I am sure he wants to play at the World Cup - who wouldn't? - so he needs a strong start to the season. Even if he's not in the squad now, injuries, loss of form in others, or his own form and experience could get him on the plane. As much as I am sure he loves the club - this must be on his mind, and play a major part in his decision.

Seen a few reports already that Sevilla needed to balance their books by 30th June, and that this guy could be sold cheaply to do that. £26m ain't that cheap, but this is a lot less than was initially thought. Apparently, this will allow Sevilla to demand a better price for Kounde - which sorta makes sense, as they'll now have to the end of the transfer window. So that's 2x La Liga teams we've probably had one over based on financial needs. As an accountant, Mr Lange, take a bow

We really do know how to conduct our business, don't we. Welcome Carlos (he's says, thinking this guy will be straight onto VT to check out his welcomes!)

I am going round in circles on this one - and of course it depends on which Luis Suarez comes. If he could do a job - start a few, and be a sub (5 subs next year?) for the season - he could be amazing. But would he want that? And the wages mentioned (£150k a week?) for the kind of minutes we've seen from Young this season, sounds like a lot. Plus...we have Watkins and Ings; we need to let Archer develop (again - is Suarez great for this, or a hinderance?). And then there's Keinan Davis who Gerrard seems to keep saying is a key squad member (personally, I think he's going to Forest in the summer, hopefully for a good wedge as they've been promoted). I think for Suarez to come in - one of Watkins or Ings may have to leave. We usually play 1 up top, and we'd have 5 people vying for that spot unless we sell. I trust the recruitment team - and I'm glad I do as I have no idea what to make of this one.

Genuinely credible reports of both Tarkowski and Carlos. Are we playing one against the other? Are we trying to sign both? Or is it all just BS? If we sign one - I reckon that's Hause out the door,. If two - does this mean Mings is likely to go, as Konsa is injured, and Chambers just arrived and has versatility? If Mings is likely to go, I would have expected to hear whispers as clubs would have to be asking by now? Quite good fun to watch really! (Bassey too - but I think that's a LB cover, with versatility, rather than a third.)

There's plenty of others. What I was genuinely asking was if he is better or not, given the huge likely differential in cost? I don't know. Seems you don't either (fine, of course). And yes, people gravitate to certain things perceived as being better - but reality is sometimes/often different. Which is why I think a few people on here are asking for a genuinely opinion?

Djimi Traore has won the Champions League. Within a couple of years he was on loan at SHA. Milan Baros ended up here. They had Igor Biscan on the bench. Andy Robertson got relegated with Hull (I know, I know - Harry Maguire) La Liga is a very different league - is the extra money (which would be £10s of millions) really be worth the difference in a player that's the same age? Or is a proven PL player the better option, given the likely savings? (And I accept that PL proven isn't everything, but it is something) (Genuine question)

Good player. Terrible record with injuries. This is the sort of deal that Liverpool manage to achieve - flogging a player for way over the odds. (Wilson, Ward, Solanke, Brewster). No thank you.

I don't know why we can't do both? I love Mings, but he is far from perfect. Chambers has done fine; Konsa has gone backwards this season, and Hause is either injured or a permanent sub. We need better in the CB position, and Tarkowski is that. Not perfect but better. And in Hause (perhaps as high as £10m), Konsa (once recovered - £20m?) and perhaps Mings (£25m? £30m?) - we have players who we could sell on for the decent fees I've indicated. And remember - the fees being commanded and mad right now - so why can't they be a bit mad for our players? We also have 3x lads in the U23s who the club have high hopes for, so it's important. Free transfers are brilliant when building a squad. Chambers came in, contributed well and gives us options. For nothing other than the wages Tuanzebe was on (there abouts).

Appreciate that, and this is only theoretical. TransferMarkt.com has his current value at £20m. We can argue, but they are an independent source, so it isn't all BS. As a salary, that's about £80k a week over 5 years, before adding agents fees etc. Sportrac.com list his current salary at £2.6m a year - so about £50k a week. Again, they may not be right, but it sounds about right to me I think anything up to around £80k a week (all in, including bonuses) is OK for me - we'd still a lot better off over 5 years (about £13m) than buying him at those figures. I don't think we'd pay him much more than that - and we shouldn't. I also don't buy the random figures punted out by the media. I agree it's not 'free' as the player takes extra (and agent), but it's rarely the Mbappe scenario where he basically takes the transfer fee for himself.

I'm sure there are 'better' options than this guy for that position, but the key for me is getting the balance of the transfer window right - and free transfers help massively with that. We can't have a top level player in every position (well, not for a few years). If Tarkowski joined on a free, and it means that we could (for example) sell on Hause for £10m, then the net spend difference with this approach compared to (say) Botman is maybe £50m - which we can put towards another position - which might be the Konsa replacement. If this means we have Chambers and Tarkowski as our back-ups - that sounds a lot better than Axel and Hause, as these 2 would genuinely push for a starting position. Plus we have Bogarde, Swinkels and Feeney coming through, and if they are as highly thought of as rumours say, then someone at 29, and on a free, might be the perfect bridge for them - and the club saves a fortune. At some point very soon, we have to start balancing FFP the right way, rather than being on the edge all the time.

If we can get this - it's a no-brainer for me. At worst....he comes for free on (say) £100k a week. Over 4 years, about £20m. We can sell Hause - maybe get £10m for him, and save his wages. Even if Tarkowski is 3rd/4th choice, we have better depth, and probably save money over the next 4 years. If he would come for a role whereby he has to fight for his place - that's up to him.

It's great for us fans - but perhaps more importantly, having Coutinho and Kamara already on board (and Digne from January) - there is a clear message to other targets. Rather than the project 'powerpoint' (as someone brilliantly described it), we can now point at the players we have - much more real and exciting for anyone.

With all this competent, early doing business - deadline day is going to be a massive let down. Again. Lange out.

I think we'll be looking at more than one - Chambers has come in for nothing, and given us a good option at the back, and a passible DCM for games against the lower teams. Imagine if we could get Tarkowski and Kamara on frees, maybe even Suarez as a reserve (personally, I'm a long way from convinced about the last one). We could sell Hause and maybe Sanson - bring in £10m-£20m in fees, save some wages, which could fund their wages for their whole contract, whilst strengthening the squad. Literally - free upgrades! Signs of a well run club is being able to pick up the bargains. As many Citeh fans pointed out - they bought Grealish (or maybe should've bought Kane) for less than they'd made on selling academy players over the past 2 or 3 years.