Maldini

It's not like there's a load of players out there who are good enough to play RM for us though. We already have a right-mid in Garcia, we're now looking for a specific type of player to bring different qualities to the first team, we're also working within a stringent budget. We should also realise that despite our attraction at the moment and our supposed reasonable funds we should still be as frugal as we were when we had no money. We could sign Simao tomorrow if we offered £12m, it wouldn't be in the best interests of the club though, we'd be overspending just to appease the fans.

You won't get one in Ireland anyway, my sister tried everywhere before Christmas to try and get me one and had no luck. They can, but as I said they're afraid they won't all be sold and they'll have to bear the cost. Maybe there's a minumum amount they have to make on every production run or something.

If Jerzy goes he would be entitled to the remainder of his contract unless he requests a transfer. I think he's trying to have his cake and eat it too by making his position untenable but not requesting a transfer. If we were to give him a free transfer without him requesting a transfer it would cost us millions. As it stands we're probably looking for a fee to cover the wages we'll have to pay him.

They're all like that, the badge isn't available anywhere except for the club shop and UEFA.com. I think Reebok were afraid of being left with surplus stock as it'd be their loss.

Reebok won't make any more

Routeledge is definitely still there, he only signed in the summer. He was o nthe bench for them the other night.

No, our re-admittance into the CL this year is more like that. This is like winning the lottery and being annoyed because your neighbour won the bingo.

just wondering, no critical advice

He has played up front in most of his appearances this season, he played right wing for Southampton youths and England youths last season though. I think that's where he'll eventually end up too. Southampton are a bit short of quality up front so they're playing him up there.

What software did you use?

I assume whatever academy deal he has gives the club the right to sign him at 17, that could be interpreted as a pre-contract. I doubt it's legally binding though. I had assumed he would have to wait until the summer to move, but as Rushian said, technically he'll be a free agent. I think he'll probably stay until March then. Southampton will probably try and force his hand before then if anyone bids though.

Strange kind of strike Can he sign for anyone then yeah? I suppose he's technically a free agent now.

I bet they were seen going in there and some hack has put 2 and 2 together and got 5

He is a right winger though

says someone who obviously has seen nothing of the lad

Think Brown cost £3 or 4m, that was a few years back though. Routeledge cost £1.5m and is still there, he was injured until recently.

loyalty

We've spent nearly double what Spurs have in the last 18 months. They've only paid out a couple of substantial fee most of those they signed were kids and no-marks for small fees or for free.

It's probably bad news for us, less chance of them taking Diao off our hands.

I hope they get him, they might leave Kuyt and Walcott to us then. Those feckers have picked up £17.5m in the last 12 months for nothing now they've sold those 3 reserves.

He's a good player IMO, he'd cost a few quid now though, he's Blackburn's best player.

Can't see it myself. While Southampton have been playing him up front, right mid is his natural position and they already have Lennon and Routeledge.

He's a fantastic player but he's nowhere near the "best player in the world" he's being hyped as, he may well be in time, but he's not at the moment. All he has to do is control the ball and play a simple pass and it's hailed as a work of genius.

I'd say he's around about the same standard as Garcia, but while Luis fluctuates from the sublime to the ridiculous Simao is more consistent. I think £12m would be a bit steep, but £8-10m is about right. A lot of s**** has been written about him on here by people who obviously haven't seen much of him, several people have said he's slow when he's anything but. He's very very quick, works hard, is a fantastic crosser off either foot and scores a good amount of goals. The major doubt I have over him is whether he can produce on the right as he has on the left for Benfica.

He paid more for them than Spurs did.