S-Clarke

They haven't signed either player yet, and they're automatically going to be better than us. Didn't we have this with QPR last season? oh...and Norwich the season before?....and WHU the season before that? Never mind.

There was and still is something fishy about all of that! But that's water under the bridge now.

I'd love to sign Krychowaik - but I cannot see him throwing away CL football for us, he's already on decent enough money. It's probably a non-starter, unless he's not happy and needs to move for personal reasons - but nothing suggests that. But even if that was the case, there would be plenty more suitors.

They don't need to be interested in him though, all they have to do is recall him from us.

I wouldn't think resale value is ever really on the minds of Utd/Chelsea/City/Madrid etc. Here and now is what they want/

Sam Vokes could be worth a sniff, was prolific the last time hw as down there. Beckford. Ince would get you goals from midfield.

To be fair, they snared brown from WBA last season - or the season before. So not really one of their own.

Djuricic...Elia..? do they know something we don't??

The centre half is aware of the furore his transfer has caused and been in touch with Southampton manager Ronald Koeman to express his appreciation for bringing him to the Premier League. He said: "I understand that there is some disappointment. I have sent a text message to Ronald and thanked him for a great year. He gave me a lot of confidence and made me a better footballer. "I gave 100 per cent for Southampton and wish everyone luck for next season."

Whilst the Londoners fund the refit...! This is just my opinion, but I think they've gambled a year too early. They're not there yet.

Yep, I wasn't actually saying that was a benefit they have over us.... it's a benefit they have over a lot of elite clubs all around Europe. They're a very good window for talented South American's to go to, play well, get a big move a year or so later with less worry about work permits. They'll never have a settled team, but I doubt their fan's care too much. Great city, always competing in the top competitions and getting the chance to see some stars at their club most seasons.

I look at Porto's model in recent seasons, and whilst it's not using their academy like we do, their transfer profit is extraordinary. They bring in players like Fernando and Mangala for small fee's, then sell them on for a combined 50m. Same with James Rodriguez, Jackson Martinez. Then they just dip into the South American market and get the next talent for a couple of seasons. Falcao started out there too. Benefit they have is they don't have the work permit wranglings to worry about, so they have first dibs on those talented South American's.

Gylfi Sigorrdson maybe, but then he's done the ''big club move'' thing, so they may be safe with him for a bit longer. If that Montero fella keeps improving, he could be worth a decent amount. Shelvey will probably, at some point, command a £15m-£20m fee, because he's english.

At the end of the day, as with Morgan this year, Lallana before, if they have seasons of that level which get the big clubs sniffing, then it means that as a club we've had a really good season - so we're in a much stronger position to replace with as close as the same level as possible. I've accepted our position, it's not really ever going to change. As long as the top clubs are interested in our players, then we're doing something right.

Just read up on it, minor operation apparently. Doesn't sound serious as the Mexico coach is just saying about ''not risking him straining it''.

I'd be quite happy with Hector Moreno myself.

There's plenty more defenders out there other than Ogbonna and Toby. To be honest, I feel we've dodged a bullet with Ogbonna anyway, he was a bit of a comedy-act at Juve this season.

He did say he'd been in the gym during his rehab and has bulked up. I'm sure Les said as much as well.

If he comes back and hits 15-20 goals next season, and gets back into the England fold, I would expect him to go. Won't be cheap mind you, but there would be big clubs sniffing.

[video=youtube;be-4MefL-F8]

West Ham are still seemingly throwing money in all directions, without any real strategy They've now been ''turned down'' by Carlos Vella after agreeing to pay his £22m fee.

I would say that Gaston has had 1 too many opportunities here, but he would probably offer more/the same as Elia and Djuricic did - so not against keeping him, if he's happy being part of a squad. I still don't believe English football is suited to his talents in anyway, but if we don't get a worthwhile bid this summer, then we might as well keep him.

It's phased over the period of the contract, isn't it? So this £4.5b deal (or whatever it is) will be phased to all clubs over the length of the contract, until it's renegotiated again. Just imagine if you gave West Ham all that money in one hit, Jack Sullivan would have an orgasm.

Depends really on the club, but in most cases you do see structured deals whereby it staggered over a few seasons, and added with goal scoring/international and appearance clauses before it hits a certain fee. I imagine only the likes of City, Utd, Madrid etc will buy outright straight up. So that's why when you see we purchased Osvaldo for £14m (or whatever it was). We probably only paid about £4m down payment when we bought him.

Yes, I thought that. It makes a nice change to read his responses when he's seen a game live.