Has the transfer market returned to what it was 5 years ago?

[magneto]

With the Mancs now getting Owen Hargreaves for 18 Million or whatever the heck it is, does this mean we will have to pay a massive amount for a squad player?

 

If we had ownership 2 years ago I think we would have got away with spending just under 40 million and getting 4 quality players in. But now 40 million is being spoken about for just one player (Eto'o, Torres etc). Even Lucas is coming for 6 million pounds (an unproven Brazillian).

 

So who are we gunning for? A new striker, a new defender to replace Sami, a new left winger and perhaps a new right back to add some competition for Stevie Finnan.

 

How much are we gonna spend?

[RedNik]

Reading into some of the valuations being thrown about

ie 12m Bellamy, 15m Bent, 30m Eto'o - I'd say we might well be out of that slump.

 

The expensive ones for us are going to be the striker and left winger. I Imagine that will cost us from 40 to 45 Million Pounds. A new centre back would bring that number up to 50 M.

 

Arbeloa is good enough competition for Finnan.

 

So 50 million, plus 10 for Leto and Lucas = 60 M. outlay.

 

We'll probably recoup something close to 20 million (remember if we're buying in an inflated market, we're also selling there). Cisse 6M, Bellers 8, Flo Po 2, Gonzalez 4 - I think we'd reach the 20 M. mark fairly comfortably.