Polarboy

I read that Matic has compared this kid to Ivanovic and Vidic, and has said that he's a shoe in for the national team if he keeps developing the way he is. High praise when you look at the careers and type of players the aforementioned had and were. We also supposedly beat Monaco, Dortmund, and a few premier league clubs to his signature. Obviously if Monaco and especially Dortmund are after a player it's a good sign.

The guardian are reporting that we've made an enquiry about Tomori off AC. A name we've heard before of course, but I think I'm right in saying that this is the first time a somewhat credible source has made mention of our interest. He's right footed, pacey, comfortable on the ball, has prem experience, still relatively young at 26, and appears to be equally comfortable playing as either a left or right sided centre back. So he'd be a very decent choice if we can get him for a price we can afford. I'd be very concerned about someone from the top six gazumping us on wages at the last minutes, but I suppose that's always a concern.

I saw journalists at the chronicle saying they hope Man City aren't successful in overturning the rule that prevents clubs from basically paying themselves whatever they want from related company sponsorship, because it would "ruin" the game or something. Newsflash, the game has long gone in terms of money ruining it. The top six have done everything in their power to pull up the ladder permanently behind them, and the only realistic way another team has to compete is to be taken over by very rich owners. So Citeh have my best wishes in that respect, and I do think something will change in terms of PSR, because what's happening now with Chelsea selling hotels, teams selling each other youth players at inflated prices etc, is so transparently absurd it's unsustainable.

I was looking at DCL's injury record and it seems like he may have just had a tough recovery from the broken toe that kept him out for ages. Players usually do get niggling injuries when coming back from such long lay offs, so hopefully that's all it is and he's not going to have a career like Wilson's in terms of injury. One season obviously isn't enough data to say he's going to be fine going forward, but he was fit for the vast majority of last season. As for his goalscoring record it's unsurprising that his confidence and subsequently his goal scoring record would be down at a club like Everton. I'd back Howe to get him back to approaching a 1 in 2 striker which he managed at Everton a few seasons back.

The mail are saying that Everton value him at 35 million, and that they won't be forced into selling him on the cheap. In reality though given Everton's financial predicament and DCL's contract situation, there's surely plenty of leverage on our side to get him for less than his valuation.

I'm sceptical as well in terms of him being a replacement for Wilson, I said as much a week or two ago when we were linked again, but if he's actually going to be signed there's no point being ultra negative before he's even played a game for us. Those two bad seasons could be a sign of things to come, or it might be a significant blip of an otherwise average career in terms of getting injured. Wilson unfortunately can be written off at this stage of his career injury wise. And last season six games is relatively little to miss, and he was unfortunate getting a broken cheekbone and being Ill for the other games. I'd be more worried if he was like Wilson last season and seasons before where it's his knees, hamstrings etc over and over again. Albeit Wilson was unfortunate with the pec injury which is the type of injury that rarely happens.

I'm aware. That's why I said five out of seven seasons he's largely been available.

If anyone can get DCL back to the sort of form that saw his value go up to 60, 70 million it's Howe. I think it's still borderline as to whether DCL will be a permacrock for the rest of his career, but obviously that ship has sailed for Wilson at his age. For five out of the last seven seasons DCL has largely been fit and available to play. Given our financial situation DCL might be the best we can get for how much we want to spend.

In fairness to DCL he only missed six games last season in the PL, with a few being for a broken cheekbone, and the others for illness. 32 games is a lot more than Wilson has managed in a long time. The two seasons previous were poor for him injury wise, but as back up to Isak there'll be a lot less pressure on him physically. Last year of his contract and still 27, he could be a bit of a bargain, as has already been said, if Howe et al can negotiate a fair price. Edit. Looked at Wilson's stats and he has been available for roughly the same amount of games for a couple of seasons previous to last season, but he was being managed by Howe in terms of minutes where as DCL was starting most games last season. Obviously keeping Wilson as well would be ideal, but that seems unlikely in terms of FFP.

He's agreed to go to Bayern according to Ornstein as well. At least that's what I've read indirectly of the Athletic. Apparently even Chelsea couldn't afford the wages he was after.

I think we've read the same i article 😂

The i are saying that Madueke off Chelsea might be an option for our right wing if they manage to land Olise ahead of us. Can't say I'd be a fan of helping them fill the bank back up after getting a player we were after, and he's not exactly an exciting name. In fairness to him though he is still very young at 22, and he looked like the only player who was half bothered at times last season for Chelsea. If he is seen as a serious option then Eddie and the rest of the recruitment team obviously see something in him.

Yeah weren't Chelsea close to signing him last season? Seems like Fred Flintstone and co have that one sewed up unfortunately. Again it's not impossible to get players to choose us over the London clubs, but when the player is already settled there it does seem a bit of an uphill task. Plus whatever way you look at the shambles they've been in recent times, Chelsea were ridiculously successful when a lot of these players were growing up. So they are still seen as a prestigious club to join.

https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/13151805/newcastle-target-james-traffords-best-bits-of-2023-24-premier-league

Yeah that makes no sense at all. To bring one injury prone player in for another, or to even bring him in and relegate Wilson to third choice makes little sense either given they'd both be on massive wages and could easily both get crocked at the same time.

Douglas in the i has said that there could be another big name July suprise much like the Tonali signing, hopefully without his particular added suprise. So if Kelly and Trafford aren't exactly floating your boat then we might get some big name excitement yet. I'd imagine it will be a player for that right wing slot. So maybe a Chiesa or someone of that ilk. We have heard Bowen's name mentioned but that would be serious money, so I can't see it happening. I'd take Mbuemo for the right given he'd be a bit more realistic and cheaper than Bowen. They both of course have the added bonus of being able to play as a centre forward.

Leicester supposedly want Longstaff for 15 million, but that's according to the Mirror so take it for what you will. As much as I've criticised him I'd be holding out for 20m at least given the current state of transfer fees. But Longstaff seems like a good pure profit sacrifice when we have Tonali coming back, and Miley in the background, who can both do that cover ground and mopping up job.

I missed that 19/20 season. Yeah in fairness that is a concerning amount of time on the treatment table. But given it's a free transfer it's much more viable in terms of taking a chance on his future availability. If we had been paying 30 to 50 million in a transfer fee I'd be less sanguine about it given the other areas in the team that need strengthening. And that's the point really. Do we take a chance on Kelly's fitness in order to facilitate spending elsewhere.

Just read that Tosin was coached by Maresca when he was at Citeh, so it's maybe fair enough that he went given he had a previous working relationship with him and he won't have to move house. Whether Maresca lasts more than a season or even few months at Chelsea is separate issue though.

He's had two bad seasons back to back, but I wouldn't write him off to be as bad or worse than Wilson at this stage of his career.

Maybe Maresca has spoken to him, actually wants him, and has given assurances about playing time etc, but as a Newcastle journo was saying it's likely that Chelsea upper management see him largely as a free asset given their financial issues, as opposed to a piece of the jigsaw of their first 11. If it's the latter then Chelsea are welcome to him. Unfortunately this could have major consequences in terms of the level of attacking players we can go after, given it's unlikely we'll find a bargain and or free transfer on the level of Tosin, and will therefore have to spend 30 to 50 million if Howe is set on getting two centre half's with Botman and Lascelles out until at least Christmas.

The same Italian journalist who was one of the first to confirm Botman signing has said that Kelly is done and dusted to be signed on a three year deal when the window opens.

Ratcliffe and Ashworth are supposed to be the top of their respective games, but on recent evidence they're both gormless twats.

The mail confirmed the Chelsea offering Tosin a contract story, but they also said that we're still the favourites and are confident of getting the contract signed. That's the shite thing about transfer windows, we have to wait in this limbo until the 14th of June until any deal can become official, which obviously gives other clubs the opportunity to get in Tosin and Kelly's ears.

Getting shot of Longstaff and bringing in Ederson, for example, off Atalanta would be ideal. I've nothing against Longstaff, and he clearly loves the club, is a Geordie, gives his all etc, but if I have to watch him sky shots, or miss simple crosses/passes into the box for another full season it will send me demented. And he actually managed to score a few last season compared to previous seasons, but his ratio is shocking. Bruno, Joelinton, Sandro, and Ederson would be an immense set of mids to have in terms of keeping each other on their toes in order to make the midfield three week in week out and adding quality to the bench.