Niall1905

We're just being used by PSG to bait Madrid into an offer, they're desperate. They've offered him financial incentives to keep him at the club as a hail mary to try and win the CL last year. They didn't and he's going to (rightfully) take them to cleaners and they're scurrying to find a resolution. Saudi was financially plausible as they could potentially match or improve the package he is set to make from his loyalty bonus'. But without that option, Madrid are surely the only ones that could come close, but why would they? They'll get him much cheaper next year. Could genuinely see a scenario where PSG accept a highly reduced offer which involves Madrid covering the loyalty bonus'. They'll use us and any other club to keep it as high as possible.

Do they need rid of him the same way that we need rid of Lukaku? If so, just offer to take him at their price as long as they accept ours for Caicedo 🤭

Bang on, this. And to the extent that if any of the ones in your squad leave, I would see that as an indication of additional business being done on incomings. Hall is the only wildcard for me. We haven't seen huge amounts of him, but he almost feels too versatile to not have in the squad. Other consideration being Gallagher, with the noise of him being up for grabs. I dont think Casadei would fit the gap. Maybe thats where Hall comes in.

I thought he did okay. Looked confident on the ball and played some good balls in behind. He looked like he tired a lot second half, a few winces and grabs at his lower back after lunging into blocks. Could see it a lot for the penalty mistake. Would be harsh to hold it against him though as he was the constant in an ever changing back 4.

Jackson looks real quality. Great link up in tight spaces and has buried the first real chance he’s had

Gallagher is always going to benefit from being adaptable. He could theoretically do a job in any central position (although if he ended up as a lone DM we'd be in trouble) and also be adaptable as a wide forward if we got desperate. I agree he could be useful funds for Caceido and another, but we'd potentially need someone equally adaptable.

Think its a ball for when he made his debut. However, trying to zoom in on the text on the glass is a challenge worthy of the ball itself.

It truly is fascinating how we have become harsher with incoming negotiations as our needs for players has grown. Seems like 12 months ago when our squad was full to the brim that we couldn't wait to pay an asking price. Now we've got needs across the pitch we're watching the pennies. Not saying we are wrong to do so, but just another interesting impact of our turbulent last 12 months or so.

Wow, really good start to pre season. Exactly what we (or maybe just I) needed after the way the end of last season went. Of course its only Wrexham but it was really exciting to see so many of the young players putting in a performance that makes you question if they could make the squad for this year. Can't wait to see if the levels are maintained if/when they become more integrated with the more established starters. Casadei could be an absolute revelation as midfield depth. Jackson looks rapid and very comfortable on the ball. Cucu was probably having palpitations watching the attacking threat Maatsen provided down the left.

It may have just been the Wrexham defenders being a bit slow, but there were multiple times he was almost released in behind/chased a long ball with scary pace

https://twitter.com/FrazFletcher/status/1676939935838871554?s=20 No idea how reliable this guy is, but would be weird if true. Surely we aren't just going to get rid of all our experienced players?

Spent the last hour or so trying to find this beauty, albeit in horrible quality. Going to miss Dave!

Agree completely. Where its not uncommon for clubs to end up with a squad of players bought for different managers, we've got (had) a squad of players bought for different managers by different owners with different visions. Mistakes consistently made by all parties have led to this. No doubt we'll have let go a couple that will make us regret it but if its going to work with Pochettino this feels like the best way forward.

They'd be stupid to. They'll have a hard time pulling similar levels of talent if they're known to go back on their word/take the p**s. I'd imagine a lot of the 'pull' that they have is based on how well they develop players and move them on to big clubs at a sensible profit.

What a bloke. Maybe never reached the heights of Terry, Lampard, Cech and co in terms of ability, but he is certainly up there in terms of importance to the era that followed our first champions league win. There's a lot of discussion going on at the moment about players understanding what it means to play for Chelsea and there is no doubt that Dave got it.

Talk of letting him leave if he's not 100% invested in us is silly. We can't afford to be reactive when there are so many outgoings as things stand. We can talk of Badiashile and potential for overlaps in development but the reality of the situation is that Thiago Silva is our only guaranteed quality centre half this year, there are plausible doubts about the rest. They may all turn out to be great, they could all be s**t. Even if Levi is unsure, tell him to knuckle down and get on with it (as long as Pochettino wants him). Our contract situation is strong so at worst if we give it a year and it doesn't go exactly how we want, his value wont have depreciated to the point that we can't get a decent fee. His promise to date will be enough to keep it at a decent level.

I wonder how it would impact signing announcements too, especially with talk we are trying to push the Caicedo deal through before we fly out

We need to stop this precedent we have set on loaning failed signings asap. Saudi have given us an out by taking a lot of our deadwood and easing any financial pressure we have and making it less important to get him off our books. Those Italian clubs need to start coughing up or accepting swaps.

The Athletic article mentions us being keen to comply with Mounts wishes. Whilst I agree with you and also find it a little bit concerning we appear to be quite happy to roll over, maybe Mason is pushing harder to leave than we would expect.

Ornstein now saying weve countered a £45m + 5 offer with a £60m + 5. Given all the other movement today, feels like we could see this progress now ☹️

Annoyingly he's going to be perfect for them. We're desperate for goals from anywhere so having someone like Kova in the middle can be restrictive in some ways. City on the other hand, don't need goals. Everything he does best is going to stand out so much in that side.

They're having a laugh with a £30m bid for Colwill, as you know full well that if he was a Brighton player his fee would be at least double that to take him away from them. I'd imagine they know that but are trying to strengthen their negotiating position if we are going to engage in talks for Caicedo. Still, if they're going to play as hard as they do for parting with their assets, they can't complain if other teams start pushing back

Those calling for us to keep him, whilst I get the sentiment, it's telling with the lack of Elite European interest. He is extremely reliant on his work rate, agility and stamina. If he comes through the injuries he currently has and is 70% of the player he was then you could argue to keep him. But the reality is that the next injury is only just around the corner and there's likely going to be a continual regression from now until he retires. #At this stage, if he had 1-2 years left on his contract you wouldn't be getting rid of him. But if we're talking of renewing and him wanting longer than that (I have no idea if this is true or not), it would be a massive risk at a time when we can not afford to get much more wrong.

We can't afford to let an academy player go on a free, given their value in terms of FFP book values. I really want Mase to stay but there's no doubting his form has faltered more recently. Its a shame that his contract situation is where it is as I think a season under Pochettino would be great for all parties. We get to see how he settles and if he can find some form and he gets to see what sort of environment our club is in after another year of the new owners. I hope a lot of these stories aren't true and there's just some posturing going on between the club and his agents.

Really sad to see him go but there hasn't been much sign of his injury record sorting itself out. Really hope our recruitment is on point this summer as there are an increasing number of holes that need filling (Don't lower the tone)