SuperSAINT

Cheers for posting. That's the 1st I've heard about the virus. Plays his cards close to his chest about new signings.

Well, they want to spend £30-35m on a 2nd choice right back, so I figure that they would.

Let's not get too cocky. They still need a 2nd left back.

I read the other day that if they don't land VvD, they don't plan on bringing in another centre-back.

I think that's what Liverpool are trying to do with Coutinho money too. Keita & VvD together at £70m a pop seems like a ton of money that they don't usually tend to spend.

Worst case scenario about the VvD situation is that we sell and start doing our shopping at the worst time of the transfer window.

I'm sure we'd love to sell him to anyone other than them, but if they are the only club knocking on the door (and they offer us the money we want) then we will sell. It's depressing, but it happens nearly every year so I don't know why so many people forget it.

This will have a knock-on effect....

BREAKING: @Arsenal reject a £10m bid from @WBA for defender Kieran Gibbs, according to Sky sources

I'm 90% sure the Fonte replacement(s) were found last season & played for us last season. Would def need an aerial beast to replace VvD.

Re: interview with Pellegrino. @adamleitchsport: A bit more stuff coming tomo where he says there are a few positions he would ideally like to strengthen but weighing up lots of things

We will never be able to replace VvD's all around awesomeness. The primary attribute we would need to replace is aerial dominance, because that was the glaring weakness without him. £60m plus Sakho, with Liverpool paying his wages.

How much is the damn loyalty bonus worth? He's probably going to go from £70k to £170k a week!

People need to remember that new contracts in football just mean players get more money before they leave. It doesn't mean they stay for the duration of the contract.

When Tom28 struts into the forum tonight like...

VvD changed agent & it was Ronald's agent. The writing has been on the wall since that.

@SkyKaveh: West Ham & Galatasaray in talks to sign Senegalese midfielder Badou N’Diaye from Turkish club Osmanlispor. Valued at £10m

@SimonPeach: #SaintsFC insistent behind the scenes that Van Dijk won't go anywhere. Similar reluctance means #MCFC not hopeful of getting Bertrand @SimonPeach: Question is can #SaintsFC stay firm? It's a fine balance keeping best talent & harmonious dressing room. Key few weeks ahead

He needs to play in games that matter. We've now got Olomola & Seager now out on loan. This now paves the way for some of the U18 strikers to push on into the U23's.

Problem is, Liverpool are the only people likely to pay anywhere near what we want. (If they actually make a f*cking bid).

Could be a way to guarantee we win the Checkatrade trophy though

I don't get why he'd be at Staplewood unless it was virtually done? No way we'd be able to keep it this quiet without anyone getting a sniff of it.

The big issue with the VvD situation (as well as many others) is that it's going to hinder our business if we drag this out to the end of the window. I'm assuming we will either stick to our hardball stance or we will give Liverpool a deadline to submit a bid by. We've got a game of poker, with potentially £70m riding on it.

Is it much different to when Lallana left, though?

The last few pages of this thread, Charlie