S-Clarke

A nice bit of instability to start the season for them then. He's a bit of a mental head, so he probably punched their owner or something. But he did an amazing job for them at the back end of the season, so it's damaging.

I think a lot of these links will be somewhat agent/media driven, given that the world and it's dog know that we're going to sell morgan and need a top quality replacement. But he's another top, top player. A really high level.

Well, no. Because we seemingly have a plan, we knew what positions we're replacing (if we do have to) and we have the same manager. So no, not the same scenario what so ever.

The situation with us though is that we wouldn't get more in January, after this window his value will just drop. In his current contract status, his peak value is probably £25-30m, it will go down from here. I reckon as the window goes on and clubs are still bulking at the £25m+ we want, then we'll negotiate lower. I don't think we fancy the risk of running someone as valuable as him down to a single year, plus there's the added need to replace him. You can't just sell Morgan, fill his place with Reed and expect to be as competitive. On one hand we have an element of power at this moment in time with regards to demanding the fee, but as the window draws to a close, the player will dictate what happens in my opinion. And by next summer, we hold very little power and would probably only get £15m tops for him. I'm pretty sure he will go sooner rather than later, and whilst you have to admire us for sticking to our guns re: the fee we want, that may change as the window moves on when it becomes obvious that clubs aren't interested.

John down the pub?

Doh'. long day.

What would worry me slightly if I was a WHU fan, is that there seems to be no real strategy behind their transfers. ''We need a better cb, a better striker, a better full back, a better midfielder''. ''Let's ship out Noble, Tomkins, Downing''. If they do get all these ''big names'' and get rid of their dependables, then I don't think it's going to be pretty. They're obviously thinking they will join the elite in this league because of their mega stadium, which they haven't paid for, but it doesn't really work like that. You'd have thought the most sensible option would have been to gamble once they have next years TV deal and PL football at the new place guaranteed, to do it before then is a bit silly and smacks of a bit of impatience. It's probably exciting for WHU fans, but clubs that spend like they may do never end up having an amazing season.

It could work, or they could fall flat on the arses chasing targets they can never get.

Are you kind of missing the point of categories? They're designed to take advantage of what will be the most popular and highest attended games, which will be the top clubs, the Bournemouth game because of how it will be billed (even though it isn't a derby!) and the last home game of the season is almost always a sell out. So, what's the problem? It's no different than it is any other season, really. I'm sure you'd be the first to complain when we don't sign player x because we don't have the money. This is a way to maximize the revenues at the club as much as possible.

To be fair, if it was Mancs phoning talk sport then they're likely to be your arm-chair-never been to a game type of fan. To be fair to them, reading through redcafe they all want him. They think he should be their number 1 singing this summer.

To be fair to him, he didn't want to stick around just ''in case'' we lose Morgan and Wanyama, which neither is totally 100% guaranteed. The lad wanted to play football every week, he wasn't going to get that here last season. We did offer him a deal, but he wanted to go. First team football - right now - is what he wanted. We critisie players for picking up pay and sitting on the bench, but to his credit he apparently took a lower deal wage wise, to get himself first team football. No one did anything wrong, it's what happens in a situation where you are so well stocked in a particular area. Cech at Chelsea is an example, you could use the argument...''well, we need to keep him just IN CASE courtois gets injured, or sold'' - but loyal players deserve better than that, in my opinion.

Maybe we should rename this thread? Seemingly they've not given us what we wanted, and they haven't been back since. So it's all still pretty much up the air, explains his presence at pre-season. It will probably happen I imagine, but as usual most media outlets have seemingly jumped the gun (Including Sky, who are backtracking as usual)

I never bought the idea that Juanmi was a striker for us, he was always going to be used at best - as floating AMC type. I remember reading that Koeman mentioned that he likes the way JWP can create attacking possibilities, so I think it's fair to assume that he primarily see's JWP as 1 of the 3 behind the striker. Given that we had both Djuricic and Elia last season, I think we'll be after another as well. Unless Gaston decides to adapt to English football.

About £8m apparentley

He's a wide attacker isn't he? They#'re clearly going all out on every front right now...

I think it seems as if Utd are keen, they have been negotiating to a point. They have seemingly agreed terms with Morgan and his agent, but are yet to negotiate a serious enough bid for us to accept. It should only be a matter of time though.

Maybe, but I'm pretty sure we'd have had £4m, £9, and the £7.5m put aside for all our 'loans to buy' from last season, without relying on sales to complete them.

So...potentially Ramos to Man Utd, they've bid £28m for him (although that prob won't be enough). Ramos has apparently told Madrid he wants to leave, and that he's committed to doing so this summer. So...even Real Madrid have situations where their top players want to run! They seem to be trying the Galactico model, don't they? Ramos this year, Di Maria last year, Falcao (ok, he flopped).

I may be wrong, but I think the only way Porto are able to pay ''up front'' is via some sort of third party ownership scheme? So in theory, whilst he outright leaves Marseille, he's still not owned in full by Porto. That's what I've kind of gleaned/read from some articles anyway.

If only our friend Adam could have acted in such a way. Although to be fair, Lovren did turn up to pre-season. I remember Cork walking behind him and making some sort of joke.

He took a good corner v Man City.

Atletcio are making that near enough impossible for him. I can't see him staying there, to be honest. The way they're touting him around is a teller. I think if he leaves that club, he will come here - that's been my belief from day one. Just let Madrid play their games for however long. To be fair, he's their player, he had a storming season, so they're entitled to test the market and see what they can get for him. But it just doesn't seem too fair for Toby.

Let's not get excited here. I think he's been a good professional and turned up and trained today, just as he should do (quite a few players can take note). But it's clear Utd want him, and £24/25m shouldn't be too much of a stretch for them. I think it's a damn good price as well. It will happen.