Maldini

Why are we waiting until two days before the start of the season to bid for a guy we could have gone in for months ago?

€30m for Jones is nothing given some of the fees being paid this summer.

He was brilliant in 24/25 but he fell off a cliff last season. Big money for a risk

Anfield Sector are the ones that fabricate quotes out of thin air aren't they? Nothing on any of those journalists' accounts about Mbaye

Athletic saying it's actually a 38% share they've taken which would be almost exactly $3bn on an $8bn valuation. They confirm the option to buy in 12 months as well

Ah yeah, I'm not saying he's as good or anything, I just haven't seen a player with explosive acceleration like that since Owen. Pythagoras In Boots has done an analysis of him, not that impressed

His acceleration with the ball from a standing start is kind of startling isn't it, made me think of Michael Owen but he seems to keep the ball closer to his feet than Owen did

We need a CM who worries about what the opposition are doing a bit more. Grav and Szoboszlai are great in possession but they don't think defensively

He was over a year older in 13/14 and half this forum were selling him 6 months beforehand

Yeah, I can't see what their motivation for buying us is. There are far better ways to get your money working for you. All that's left really after that is rich men making ego moves with expensive toys and that makes me think these guys will want to have a say in how we do things without having any worthwhile knowledge to bring to the table.

Mbaye is fine because he's under 21. I'd assume a new DM will have to be English, so probably Wharton Unless we're planning to ship out Endo, Chiesa or Tsimikas

Ramsay can't be named in the PL squad unless another non-homegrown player goes though right? Assuming Barcola is going to take the last spot

Very left leaning though isn't it. Even the two 9s like to pull left

Probably gonna end up being Jacquet, Muñoz, Araújo, Barcola and Mbaye in with Salah, Robertson, Konate, Jones and maybe Gakpo going. Still feels like we're 2/3 squad players short though doesn't it.

Bryan Baum and Bhatia on the board for Bezos?

In talks with Leverkusen according to Sky

Apparently they've changed that policy now, it obviously wasn't working. Brexit has changed everything I think

Yeah he's very good, he's the fourth youth international we've lost this summer I think. The output of the academy is pretty awful when you compare it to City, Chelsea, Arsenal and United really. Had a look there and since Gerrard made his debut in '98 the only players to come through the academy (not signed at 15/16) and play over 50 games for us are: Warnock (67), Flanagan (51), Kelly (62), Kelleher (67), TAA (354), Jones (228), Bradley (78), Quansah (58) We got decent fees for Quansah, Neco Williams and Harry Wilson too but that record is pretty awful for nearly three decades worth of academy graduates

Seems like we're in a game of transfer chicken with PSG at the moment doesn't it.

They just poach all the best youth talent at 14/16, they're at it again this summer, they've signed a load of England youth internationals from other clubs. They know most of them won't make it but they'll make a profit on them when they sell them in a few years and the players and their families are happy with the contract, facilities and good coaching.

Yeah, he was their best midfielder in the run in as well. Arteta doesn't seem to like him though. I'd take him, seems like Chelsea and United are favourites though Can you give an example of a team without a DOF where it has worked in the last 10/15 years?

Endrick staying at Real

That Tzolis guy Arsenal signed got a goal, three assists and won a penalty in their last game so they might be happy enough with their lot

It's not Newsnight, we're all just chatting s***, it's gonna wander sometimes

Mo might need a house-sitter