Saint Matty 76

Not actually any definitive links yet but Buchanan would be a nice signing on the right. Thought he was really impressive at the WC.

Scary one. The drop off to him from KWP is absolutely giant.

Mara staying. So it’ll just be Che out and Stewart in I assume.

If it was this, it'd be fine. However, it's reported as a buy option so we could just end up back with him for next year after lending him to Wolves for pennies in the year we really needed him.

Yeah, really weird this. Done lots of brilliant work this Summer but this is the first piece which is extremely strange to me (Tella similar but not quite as bad).

Edit: wrong thread

Not fussed if ABK goes, more than happy with Harwood-Bellis coming in. Sulemana would be an added bonus to keep around, but I wouldn't lose sleep if we somehow got the fee we're asking for. KWP and Che at this late stage would put a dent in the promotion push for sure. Che because his replacement is injured and KWP because we can't go from having the two best RB's in the league to Ben Johnson and James Bree in one window. Any of the other rumoured outgoings are good news to me; Djenepo, Mara, Onuachu etc...

Brutal final 48 hours for Sunderland.

Yeah that'd be the worry, seeing as Armstrong has looked mediocre there and decent anywhere else. It's not like Mara would've started either I suppose.

I suppose it could be Stewart in for Che and Ballard in for Mara? Risky but I don't think I'd be too disappointed seeing Ballard get Mara's minutes. The obvious issue with this being who plays up front whilst Stewart is currently/and potentially injured.

Mara going, not too big a surprise but it definitely means we need another on top of Stewart.

I'm excited about the signing. There seems to be absolutely no doubt on the players ability from the Sunderland side of things, just understandable doubt regarding injuries and his remaining contract length leading to some acceptance of the sale. Obviously there's the worry that players lose a great deal after an achilles injury, but you'd like to think we've done our due diligence on this area. Fingers crossed we're also happy to commit £10m~ because we've been made aware he's back pre-October, because our September is brutal.

I just can't quite understand the idea of having to fund a striker ourselves and letting Wolves have Che temporarily, only to be in the exact same situation next year if we don't go up, or to have a striker back who is just decent at the level if we do. I imagine we'll get a couple million as a loan fee and Wolves will have an option around £15m which they likely won't take, but I'd struggle to understand this move.

The difference is they (understandably) didn't want the guy and this is our best attacker. Che's biggest use for us is in the Championship, as we've all seen he's a replaceable level player in the Prem. Not sure what the benefit of us getting him back next year (maybe) when we're (hopefully) back in the Prem?

That is pretty baffling to me, I have to say.

Honestly god knows how it works. I'm sure they have clever ways of diverting the payment until next year. Either way it'll be disappointing.

Strange rumour. Would have to be a way of Wolves fighting FFP with an obligation to sign, considering his contract will be up anyway.

I don't disagree, but it is nice to be signing players who people are raving about. Usually they haven't kicked a ball at all.

Ah, the neutral aspect is completely void then. 😆 Still, definitely talked myself/been talked into being excited about the signing.

Not sure if this has already been posted, but one of the neutral Football League accounts posted this about an hour back -

Fuck no, just an optimistic idiot. Unless it happens in which case I'll delete this reply immediately.

IN: Harwood-Bellis (Loan) Stewart Lewis-Potter (Loan) OUT: ABK (Loan) Sulemana Adams Onuachu (Loan)

I think ABK will go on to have a great career if he can get a metal shoulder put in place, but getting anything around £25m and Harwood-Bellis on loan would be some more very good business financially.

Welp, sorry Nixon. Absolutely love that signing and it means I'd not be fussed if ABK goes in the last couple days, it'd just be a nice additional bonus if he does stay. Fingers crossed there's a buy option in there as well.