I wonder whether someone like Andros Townsend as a free agent could be an option if Sulemana doesn’t fancy it. Was training with Burnley and it didn’t work out.
I think once there’s been a serious link with a player this summer, it’s been pretty much done very quickly, probably Paintsil aside, who is messing everyone about.
Your first paragraph is an excellent point, this is exactly why deals don’t happen until deadline day or there or thereabouts, situations change dramatically.