S-Clarke

Downes and Sugawara coming in will severely soften the KWP leaving blow. KWP will always be one of my favourite players, gave us everything and I didn't really want him to go - but if he really wants to go and won't commit then we're doing it the right way here, losing a top player but getting stronger from it. Exactly what we did in Koemans first window.

Back to the Slovakia formation, Guehi back in for Konza - back to a back 4, with Trippier left, Walker right. Saka right wing, Foden left wing. Basically, all wrong.

From everything I've read on Sugawara, he is very highly rated. Regular International for Japan, played European football last year. Inter Milan's first choice to replace Denzil Dumfries should he move (but he hasn't yet, so they've waited too long). Youtube video for him for those who haven't seen him - He's like a Japanese version of KWP really in where he plays, how he plays, the threat he provides etc. I can't help but feel that the club have pulled off an absolute masterstroke with this.

He must get complete freedom on the bench tbf. The 'leak' today, which is pretty much nailed to happen I think, is that Shaw misses out again and Trippier once again plays left back.

Enjoyed that one, great game. Spain fully deserved though, they have been the best team by a country mile in this tournament. Fully deserved finalists, wonderful team to watch. They have a bit of everything.

What equates to Premier League standard to you? Was pretty regular for Brighton last season and was pretty solid I'd say. We're not going to be able to find a better GK, at his price (£5m quoted), with PL experience.

What a fecking goal that was, amazing. No stopping that. This has been a great game so far, Spain have been miles better.

Love Maya, feels a bit harsh to speak about him in the defectors thread! I think he's still working for us unofficially! - I'm 99% sure he will be having a huge impact on Sugawara joining us.

He was also a pretty regular scorer for Albania, and did rack up the numbers in Vitesse before - he was rated very highly over there. What made him really good was his power and pace running with the ball, the biggest question mark I have now is that severe ACL injury he had. You never recover the same explosive pace as you had before an injury that severe, it just doesn't happen - so straight away, a really good portion of what made his game so effective has been nullified quite a bit. He's probably a decent-ish PL striker, will get you a few goals if played regular, but he's not what he was and never will be again. It's a shame as his potential was huge in my opinion, he had that unique combination of pace, height and power which made him pretty formidable.

Could be a clever move. Maybe forfit some of the fee with KWP, maybe 10-15m for him ensuring it inc. Downes. and £10-15m spend for Suguwara. Potentially gain 2 players and some $$ left over change.

Don't forget Mara!...hmm ST situation is mega urgent for sure, I hope we're not putting our eggs in the Stewart investment. I quite like Gift Orban, now at Lyon. Think he only joined in Jan, but didn't do much - I'd put in a loan offer, see what they say. Briel Embolo - is he out of our reach? Had a decentish Euros, but hasn't played for ages for Monaco. Again, I'd approach with a loan and see what they say. French clubs will be falling over themselves for money.

He had a really strong start to the season, looked like he was going to rip it up. Got a bit of an injury and it set him back (out for 2-3 months), wasn't the same player in the 2nd half of the season at all - partly probably because of the injury, and also because teams may have figured out how to counter him. I'd put his output for Hull on par with Frasers output for us, so if we get Ryan in then we're pretty much level pegging on that front. edit: just noticed you were talking about Delap, not Pihilogene. Somewhat same applies though, he got a long injury middle part of the season and was out for some time.

He certainly would be a good signing, if we get £20m for KWP and buy him for 10-15m then we'd have pulled off a mega deal. I do still think we need to replace Bree though, so another backup is rqd either way. (unless we're looking at a CB to cover there)

Their owners are minted for sure, but as we see with this PSR rubbish these days, it doesn't matter how much your owners are worth - it's about revenue in relation to your outgoings, they just have the extra headroom at the moment as they've been lower league for 2 decades, so haven't spent big. Good strategy really, spend big now and establish themselves, increase revenue further and just top the side up in the forthcoming windows.

Not minted per say, just not handcuffed like the rest with FFP. They've just had a huge increase income and haven't spent a great deal in previous years due to their league status, so they can realistically spend all of that new PL income and not be slapped.

Yeah he's a good CB, he's like Lyanco but with actual footballing ability. He backs up the 'pashon' with the technique. There is good value to be had shopping in the South American markets if we're still fixated on that £10-15m bracket. Charly for me is proof in that.

Yeah you're right - Forest signed him for £35m a year or so ago. Definitely one we missed the boat on, although I can't recall him ripping up trees at Forest (although no one has there due to their bat crazy transfer policy)

Sanagre, that's the other one. He went to PSV didn't he?

Camara is the sort of signing that other (non top 2) PL teams always manage to get over the line (Palace with Cheick Doucoure as one example, Villa when they signed Guaye from Lille, Pape Gueye at Spurs etc) and they end up being a mega success in this league. The French league is full of decent and athletic CM's. It's just our luck that the one time we tried we managed to find Ibrahima bloody Diallo. The same summer Palace signed Doucoure I think. I really, really, really hope our scouting is better.

He would have been 4 or so years ago, not now. Reed makes sense, I can understand that one. Jack Cork is a signing an ambitious L1 side would make for a season, not a Prem side serious about being competitive.

I imagine the club are keeping him away, don't need his attitude polluting the place again.

He is a talented player, when Watford signed him he was seen as a bit of a wonderkid. It's true that his form has dipped up and down quite a lot, he hasn't really hit the hights they hoped he would when they signed him - but last season was his most fruitful for sure. Like you I was massively impressed by him at SMS, the best player on the pitch that day. He's your typical ''play anywhere across the front'' attacking winger. There's a player in there, but still lots of rawness. Only has a year left on his contract so potentially not crazy money.

The loans will be where our big, side quality improving signings come from IMO. But we'll need to be patient and wait until the back end of August.

He's on somewhere between £120-135k per week apparently. We'd need him to drop that by 60-70% before he's affordable to us, which he obviously won't do. I can't see WHU subsidising any wage that much either.

Many people thought Fonte wouldn't handle the step up the PL, and that Jos was the better fit. Total opposite happened there. It's not really fair throwing the ''only Championship quality'' rug over players who have never, ever had the opportunity to prove themselves any higher. Wood, Edwards, THB, Will Smallbone, Stewart etc all full under that hat. It's probably more fair to say ''Unproven players'' rather than ''Championship standard''.