DuncanRG

Hull sign Maynor Figueroa

Or any number of other staff - accountants, assistants, secretaries, agents, their friends, people close to the Liebherrs. There are all sorts of people who could know about it - and all sorts of chancers who could make it up and try to dupe the media. But even tabloids like the Mirror tend to corroborate figures like that - ie they'll hear £30m from one person and present that figure to other people for confirmation, denial or correction.

Someone tells them. Tends to be how it works

Miguel Delaney follows him but that's the only reputable journalist following him that I have on my timeline. Pinch of salt for sure

I like this. That kind of sleeve/collar with Rank Xerox design please!

Agreed, it could well make a big difference. Just have to hope that spending that kind of money wouldn't stop us strengthening in more important areas.

I'd be excited if we bought a player like Banega, but I still think it's our least pressing area for improvement. The thing I'd be most concerned about with the signing is that central midfield requires a partnership - Cork and Morgan have that understanding locked down already and there's no guarantee than Banega will slot in quickly. However, if he doesn't then I doubt he'd be dropped in a rush which could damage the team. We'll see!

No, manipulation's a poor choice of word. I'd say persuasion. Anyway, we agree it's not just money. Good.

I'm not sure what that proves at all.

Well exactly - it seems to be a bit of both. You're making a player a very good offer if you can offer him money and confidence in the club. My point was that it would be silly to say it's all down to money, and nothing to do with Cortese's conversations with the players, when clubs with equal or far greater financial clout are also looking to sign them. Not to say that we can't offer the same wages they can, simply that it's unlikely money's decided it every single time.

I bet you're delighted, Lovren would be a great addition to any team from the Middle Ages.

Why do we assume that Southampton are offering higher wages than everyone else? Lovren and Ramirez were both linked with big, rich clubs.

Agreed. Good work all round.

No.

He's gone down the pecking order this season at Lyon and some of their fans are happy to see him leave because they were expecting a world-class player and didn't get one. Some issues about his attitude supposedly as well. But I've seen him in a couple of games for Lyon and Croatia and he looks good. Strong, composed on the ball and a decent height.

I would imagine so, especially if the fee's as high as £12m. I am absolutely delighted with this signing.

Outraged that we haven't signed anyone yet. Don't they know the season starts next week?

Amusing but I'm not sure that's a particularly 'dumb arsed' question

Crikey

To be perfectly honest I haven't followed him very closely - I suppose that's your answer. I was only a kid when he left so I'm not well-positioned to really analyse his performance with us either. Just rose-tinted nostalgia for me.

My favourite Saints manager in the relatively short time I've been supporting the club by quite some way. It's possible the next decade will bring us greater success than he did, but I'll still miss those days.

...exactly

Let's not consider Ramirez in the same breath as people like Skacel and Delgado, unless you were expecting him to fit right in and score 20 goals this season. I had over-inflated expectations of Bradley Wright-Phillips which he inevitably didn't meet.

It's highly unlikely we'll know much more by the end of play tomorrow, but if he does leave then there may be a hint about coming to England, having talked with a few clubs etc