Chez

you misunderstand me. My point was, Diallio can't be Diallo AND Lavia. Another player in the squad or outside would need to fill Lavia's position. IMO Romeu will depart and another will come in.

Nothing, but if he played tonight, how can he replace Lavia at the weekend? Someone else would have to come in wouldn't they.

also, if Romeu was leaving then we'd have a replacement lined up or a plan to play Stu or another in the middle in the event of an injury.

bad news, but Romeu or a new signing will have to step in.

Adams. They just can't get hold of him. Proper number 9 display today.

nice skills by Moi before eventually losing it.

Aribo outmuscling his man. Like that.

blast. off the line.

very busy. Lots of high speed dribbling down the line.

Havertz should score there.

Thought Che has lead the line better than I have seen before. We have gone long a fair bit, especially from the keeper and he has won a lot of headers and held a lot of stuff up that he had no right to do so. Impressed so far. Keep it up lad.

I agree with that. 'Other clubs' are always mentioned. It helps the seller and player squeeze a little more out of a buyer. I bet we are the biggest fish after him, but PSV just want more money.

his first touch looks a bit wayward at times in his highlight videos, which is a slight concern, but he has some very nice dribbling skills. He looks very positive and confident. Very right footed, but the left doesn't see too bad at all when he uses it. He goes past people nicely in a similar way to Redmond, kind of sucks them in and nips to the right of them. Decent finish on him and seems to get into the six yard box. Not sure he has blistering pace, but he's tall and leggy so covers the ground pretty quickly. I've watched another video and he comes inside a lot, which is very Redmond like, but theres a fair number of goals as a result. There's a lot to like in the clips, just a little nervous about that first touch having never seen him live.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11155409/Eredivisie-PSV-Eindhoven-sign-winger-Anwar-El-Ghazi-Aston-Villa-2-5m.html

didn't they sign him yesterday?

I really doubt United were ever in for him and have been used to create interest/a market. I wonder though if anyone else really is in for him. PSV ain't getting £38m. Certainly not from us. However, feels like with their need for money and ours for a player, a deal can be found. Is everyone convinced he is just what we need by the way? I assume he is our difference maker in the final third, and the `attacker' we are looking for and a second player, a striker, is not financially viable?

Wonder if they can afford to hold out until the January window or indeed next summer, or do they need to generate funds in this window? I would guess they'd want it now and there is of course a risk of the player getting injured during the season leaving them with nothing to sell in the next window(s). Glad to see the figure we have offered of around £21m rather than up at the £30m figure. The former feels in line with the monies spent so far by SR - and thus genuine. If the reports were that we offered £35m then I am not sure I could believe it.

Can't imagine Ralph would be happy to just have 3 players in that position, but that's all he had last year mind you, so with Lavia here, perhaps its not a big an issue for him. However, Stu was seen as suitable to play there too, but not sure Ralph still feels the same now.

I'd of thought us being able to secure his replacement/CM cover will also be a factor. AMN deal perhaps or maybe we are looking at some else like Sander Berge. He'd add yet more size/power, which we seem to have added in spades this summer.

From what I have read, he hasn't been terribly good for Marseilles the last two seasons, hence no one coming in for him. His agent certainly knows how to get his name linked with Prem sides though. Perhaps we recruit him for our PR department?

Telegraph reported this morning that we'd made a £21.4m bid (which seems very specific) but PSV want £38m... https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2022/08/29/southamptons-214m-cody-gapko-bid-rejected-psv/ Big old gap between those valuations.

McCarthy ain't gong to man united after all then... Martin Dubravka: Manchester United close to signing Newcastle keeper https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62718124

Is that another of Crook's suggestions?

he looks a pretty decent striker, but I'm guessing we want a Broja type - a guy with pace and ability to make something happen out of nothing. We'll see I suppose.

AMN feels more like a Bournemouth signing to me.