Chez

They've got the offer already written out. Just cross Eze's name off and replace with Dibling. Job's a good'un.

Possibly the drop in division would make him more viable/useful? Having a guy to come on near the end of games to offer fresh legs and a degree of control would be handy. Of course, if his legs have gone then there is no point.

I don't. Fernandes isn't a defensive midfielder. Not sure Charles is to be hinest. Whenever I watched him for Wednesday he didn't seem to play a holding role. I wouldn't imagine Romeu intends to come back to England.

we'd get a defensive and attacking midfielder rather than two that haven't really filled either position.

he can be signed by a club after the window closes I presume?

Plenty of posters have questioned whether the club has put all its eggs into one basket, spent too long on one player, not moved on or set deadlines etc. but if the reports are accurate, it obvious that we have bid for Spertsyan, tried Rudoni and then moved onto Azaz. No reason the former two are not still options, but enquiries or even bids for multiple players seem to have been made. We may still end up with none of them, but moving on to fourth, fifth or sixth choices might not be preferable.

the transfer window is good fun. You don't have to watch Sky Sports News.

the counter offer story sounded bogus to me.

Of course they are going to come back in for him. You don't bid £37m and call it a day. I have little doubt they will end up paying the £45m+£5m. He's mustard and Everton know it. Everyone know's it. But not everyone is ideally placed to buy a potential star at the price we want.

When I watched us early season last, I thought we looked a bit disjoined, but the quality of players like JWP stood out. When he left, the quality went down, but the side eventually started to play as a side. This time around I feel exactly the same. Our pattern of play is a little bit all over the place, but the likes of Fernandes and Charles have that extra quality. When Fernandes and Dibling leave, we need to get it together in terms of tactics and patterns of play.

Losing JWP was the fundamental reason why we struggled in September. He was ideal to play Martin's keep ball and it took a while for his replacements to gel and do the same. Losing Fernandes might have a similar impact, assuming he plays the next couple of games and has a major impact. We will need to start again in September with Spertsyan. Hopefully the new attacking midfielder can hit the ground running and we don't have a similar slump.

Leeds have been linked with him since about January this year. The need for a creative midfielder and Farke having managed him helps connect some transfer move dots. Have they made a bid? The last time they pipped us to a player it was Junior Firpo who turned out to be garbage. Obviously there was the Gakpo tug of war too.

I am not sure anyone really thought we would retain them, so rebuilding a side capable of winning the league and perhaps having a few good enough to help keep us up, was always on the cards. If they don't depart, which would be a surprise, that would be two positions filled if we were promoted. Do we need to improve wide attack and AMC if they both stayed?

Got to say the difference Fernandes made on Sunday compared to the previous week was noticeable. Dibling only had a few minutes, but there is no one else offering his ball retention and dribbling ability. At this level, those two and Robinson would be a handful for opponents. Not exactly a surprise seeing as we want the best part of £100m for the pair.

It was an interesting hypothetical discussion about how fans would see the window if we didn't buy or sell anyone from here on in. Not sure my reply needed your nitpicking about the other positions we could buy players if we had a massive cash injection, but I guess that's what you do. That said, I agree, we'll get a keeper in come what may. I said keeper because I couldn't think of another position (other than right back) that we might buy a player (ignoring the attacking midfielder and right winger that would be needed to replace Dibling and Fernandes). Maybe a right back and a left winger? Returning to Forester's original question, how would you see this transfer window if there was no further movement MLG?

Interesting. IMO, if Dibling and Fernandes go, no matter who we bring in, we get weaker in their positions. If they go, we may have the funds to also buy a right back and a keeper, so strengthening in other areas, but I still think the drop off in quality from Fernandes and Dibling to Spertsyan and Guilavogui should not be underestimated. No one in or out. I'd be happy with that outcome. Not sure the CFO or the two players will be too chuffed.

The72 website suggests Plymouth, Barnsley, Orient and Reading are all looking to get Ballard.

If either player's contract sees them get a percentage of the sale, they are going to be very happy indeed!

They will price him as they see fit.

I specifically used the word "impressive". Did he impress you in the championship? I haven't really made my mind up about him.

It's impossible for all but the top two or three clubs to keep their best players, But the window of opportunity for smaller PL clubs is bloody tiny...

possibly, they certainly have a good eye for a championship talent, but THB hasn't been overly impressive, even in the championship, has he?

He's got one year left of his contract at Inter. He started the CL final. Not sure he's quite ready to drop down to the championship.

wise men say only fools rush in.

I guess we are caught in a trap and can't walk out because we love him too much, baby.