Saint Charlie

Clasie's agent saying he has no interest in signing for Saints or West Ham.

Lambert started enough games last season to be classified as a regular FFS. Off the top of my head at least 30 something of our 38 league games and probably more than Lovren did.

Jeff/DPS - maybe you were right?

He is definitely more a striker who could possibly do a job out wide than a winger, but no team gets through the season with just one striker, and he offers a different threat from Pelle hence us being interested in him. In our setup with the likes of Tadic and Ramirez to thread balls through to him, and Pelle to play off - he should do ok. Decent in the air, good level of pace, and high work rate. A good player who when he is playing well is a pain to play against whereas most of our players seems quite "nice". Also never really caused any trouble at a club from what I recall.

Transfer paperwork to be completed in a few minutes according to Valeriu Argaseala, President of Steaua. Player has left Romania and due to sign today. Source: @VladR and also @rbaicu

Just thinking that he would have had 1 day to train with teammates whilst Yoshida and Fonte have had the whole of pre season playing together.

End of the day, Hull are set to get 12m for Long and then spend 10m on Troy Deeney. Who is getting the best of that deal? One has played over 100 PL games, the other none. One has been in prison, the other hasn't...similar age. The prices are crazy this summer, if you don't pay them then you wouldnt be able to bring anyone in. If we sell Jay we would all expect us to ask for at least £20m, which is would probably make a player like Long worth somewhere in the region of £10m by comparison.

Safe wouldn't be a bad option after the Osvaldo, Mayuka and to a lesser extent Ramirez options. Seems like a good character in the dressing room, and also on the pitch is a little bit niggly and a tough competitor which we lack slightly in our current squad.

Signing Long is a massive coup for the club IMO.

Would be a bit silly if we did play him really. Not exactly giving him a fair chance of being successful.

Was always going to be the case once Cortese left because we were apparently overspending. We are a different (more sustainable) club now. Re Long, worth everyone remembering it isnt his fault the fee is high. He deserves support the same as anyone else and if he does well fans will love him.

Dembele is a silky player, still has so much potential.

Yes. Pulis signed him for Stoke.

Shall we offer 6m then and be happy when they reject it and just carry on with one striker? To say you will be more upset with a signing than a sale is just odd. The money is nothing to you, it will never be in your account and you will never even know the terms of the deal. Is Long the best striker around? No. Is he better than what we have? Yes Does he have attributes none of our others do? Yes Will he give Koeman more options? Yes Has he got extensive experience of the PL? Yes Will he score some goals for us? Yes Is he overpriced? Yes Are all players overpriced at the moment? Yes Would we be a stronger squad for signing him? Yes

Its N'Zonzi who Palace are after...

So he isn't coming then? Maybe failed the medical. Centre back is by far our weakest position and to be honest the biggest disgrace of the summer is that we havent replaced Lovren yet. He officially left about 3 weeks and unofficially about 3 months ago FFS.

Exactly right. The game has gone mad, not Saints. We have been paid big fees and we have paid out big fees. A few weeks ago people were talking of asset stripping so lets be thankful we are actually starting to add players. All of the signings this summer have a decent pedigree and Long is no different.

He can play wide, can play through middle on his own or with Pelle. Works hard, is quick, makes runs in behind which none of our current players do and knows the PL. Forget the fee, it is almost irrelevant to a fan just like the amounts coming in. He will do a job and add competition up front.

Wouldnt suprise me. I have him down as being behind Davis, Wanyama, Ward-Prowse and Taider in the midfield stakes as fsr as Koeman sees it. Thats without Morgan entering the debate and without Reed who is seen as a great prospect. We arent offering Cork a new deal so by that logic might as well sell rather than lose him for free next year.

Benteke and Lukaku were two years ago or more. Bony fair enough but after Osvaldo, Mayuka, Ramirez etc it is perhaps understandable that we are looking at someone with PL experience, especially seeing as we already got an unproven player in Pelle.

Prices this season are mental. 7m for Ulloa Leicester set to bid 10m for Deeney. 11m for McCormack 9m for 29 yr old Pelle By those figures 10-12m is the going value. Besides, you can never really tell on reported transfer values. Often the full amounts are never paid/received and its all paid in installments anyway.

Some of the Ings stuff on here is OTT. Its like his fan club FFS.

We wouldnt be spending that much for him to sit on the bench either. I many ways Pelle was the one that was overpriced. Older than Long and no guarentee he will adapt. Long is a good solid Prem striker with attributes we lack. We have cash and no doubting he will add to the squad.

K Billy says he went home on Sunday. Perhaps not as close as expected. Or he went so he is ready to move here.

Maybe his injury was worse than expected?